24 #Iranian motifs & designs used for centuries from China to Rome: Part 2 |
۲۴ طرح و نقش ایرانی که از چین تا روم برای چند صد سال استفاده میشده: بخش دوم |
Talked about 10 motifs before. The rest fall in category of animals & plants, besides geometric patterns
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11) Boars: widespread among Iranian groups. It's likely where Zoroastrianism or more generally Iranian religions have been practiced, that at least boar heads could be symbols of deity Verethragna (Bahram: بهرام):
Depiction of boars was very popular across media in ancient Iran. It didn't just have one meaning. When a king is hunting a boar on a plate for example, it's highly unlikely to be depiction of deity Bahram.
But some do appear to have significance when added to clothing etc.
1: @metmuseum , Iran or China
2: al Sabah Collection, Samangan Province, northern Afghanistan
3: @GWTextileMuseum
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Later on we see the same boar design in Sogdia, here at Afrasiab site
3: from Central Asian Clothing book, Maitdinova
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Once again, this motif is nothing but Iranian, depiction of an Iranian deity and for various positive meaning put on clothing. It should not be called only "Central Asian". That is a crime against ancient Iranian history and identity. It's erasing Iran's name
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We also then have numerous depictions from China, for example this one: excavated from Tomb 138, Astana,
Turfan, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, 1969
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More Iranian boar motif/ designs found in China
1: from Astana, @NMnewdelhi
2: Likely partial, same design, @V_and_A
3: Astana
4: Turfan
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More Iranian boar motif/ designs from Central Asia or China
2-3: now in Japan, from Central Asia
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Now among Avars of Caucasus
A mug and its design. Likely borrowed from Iranian Alans in area, or other Iranian groups
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Among Iranian Alans
Interestingly, among Alans usually the symbol is more abstract (photo 2)
It's transformed into what's called the double-axe symbol in Russian literature, or you could think of it as somewhat like the Batman logo!
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It was Very popular among Alans on all sorts of clothing and even other objects of daily use
Achaemenid Royal Audience Scene, inside shield of Persian soldier on so-called 'Alexander Sarcophagus'
4th C BCE, from Sidon, @ Istanbul Archaeology Museums, Photos: Fluorescent UV & Reconstruction
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An older drawing without some of the details (1);
There are parallels, precedents to #Achaemenid royal scenes in Assyrian, Elamite, other Near Eastern art. Drawing in photo 2 for example is likely of an older, Elamite seal which continued to be used in Achaemenid court
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We see examples of this royal audience scene @ Persepolis, here reconstructed from the fuller image @ Apadana, and another modern recreation @ Zinat al-Molk House
Treatment of dogs was very different in ancient Iran. They were considered beneficial, helpful animals and were to be treated well.
Photo: Persian hound or Saluki, 16th C CE
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I started this research to show Simurgh should not be called the "dog-bird". Along the way, I found ancient & modern breeds across the Near East and Central Asia regions, with a lot of continuity
For example see these Assyrian (1-3) & old Babylonian examples (@britishmuseum)
likely hounds and the last one in the last tweet being an older type of mastiff
Some references from Parthian era: we can certainly assume the colours did not change in Sasanian era, and like many other ways, the same colours were used later on as well
Ref 1: Parthian era textile with colours like purple