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May 8, 2023 14 tweets 9 min read Read on X
Sasanian stucco from eastern #Iran

گچبری ساسانی در خراسان

In recent years, at least 4 sites (Bandian, Mele Hairam now outside Iran's borders, Bazeh Hur, Shilgan) have been excavated which give us a much better idea of this art form in eastern Iran, including Khorasan

⤵️ Mele Hairam
1) Mele Hairam: a number of important late Parthian-Sasanian finds. Likely a fire temple

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This piece is amazing

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I'm still waiting on more publications from this site

but see publications by Barbara Kaim, e.g., Victorious fire at Mele Hairam, in: Historical and Cultural sites of Turkmenistan

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2) Bandian: I've talked about this major site before and here will only provide a few examples of stuccos

There are also MP inscriptions at this site which have been published

The main paper to refer to for comparisons of all 4 sites is "Sasanian Stuccos of Northeastern Iran" Image
by Labbaf-Khaniki, 2021.

More from Bandian

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Other examples

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3-4) Bazeh Hur, Shilgan (and their comparison to the other sites)

First these pieces @ museum of Khorasan. I'm not sure what site they're from

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#Sasanian Bazeh Hur

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Comparison between the 4 sites

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Bazeh Hur and Shilgan

A large number of stucco and other pieces from recent finds in Iran are unfortunately unpublished

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Further comparisons between the 4 sites

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Other examples

These from Fire Temple in Qale-ye Dokhtar, Khorasan

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A few more comparisons.

Overall, these 4 sites are v important in history of Sasanian art, including stucco.

I'm sure more and more ancient sites will be found all around Iran, as has been the case in the past few decades. ImageImageImageImage

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More from @PersiaAntigua

Sep 15
Origin of the Sasanians?

Please forgive me, but I'm getting excited here... I may have connected some dots that were left unconnected before... Image
1: In "Ardashir and the Sasanians' Rise to Power" by Dr. @tourajdaryaee & "ReOrienting the Sasanians" by Dr. @sasanianshah I did not see these connections.

2: For some reason various sources note the name of a "Indo-Parthian" ruler as "Sasan", for example ...
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in "Problems of Chronology in Gandhāran Art":

and "The interrelation between Indo-Parthian and Kushan chronology", 1992. This second article seems to provide some clues:

3: if the chronology @ Taxila is accepted, we in fact have an interesting... cvaonline.org/PublicFiles/me…

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Read 9 tweets
Sep 14
Detailed Study: Let's talk about this important motif & standard in ancient Iran 🧵⤵️ Image
Here's the deal: 1: various Iranian groups, like others in Eurasia, used various standards or banners in war

2: like others in Eurasia, Indo-European or not, Iranians valued various types of crosses for thousands of years, including the "swastika" ... 4000-3500 BCE, Susa, Louvre
3: In ancient Iran, various clans, parts of the army etc. had their own standards & symbols. But we can perhaps say 3 stand out:

1: largely in Achaemenid period; 2: with a long history
3: dragon standard: largely among eastern-northern Iranians (Sarmatians, Parthians, etc.) ...

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Read 35 tweets
Mar 30
Rhytons are rather rare in Sasanian Iran. But one known shape shared with others in Central Asia as well is the compact horn & gazelle's head protome

This one only entered the Smithsonian in the 80s, though it was known since the 60s ... ⤵️ https://asia.si.edu/explore-art-culture/collections/search/edanmdm:fsg_S1987.33/
Based on the analysis in "Ancient Iranian metalwork in the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and the Freer Gallery of Art" it's likely early Sasanian

In any event, similar ones were used for centuries in West & Central Asia

Partho-Sasanian rhyton, excavated @ Babylon ... Image
Rhyton in private collection, Russia ... Image
Read 7 tweets
Jan 7
Achaemenid amphora & amphora-rhytons

Depiction: Armenian delegation, Persepolis

⤵️🧵 Image
Other depictions @ Persepolis:

1: Armenian
2: Lydian
4: Medes


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Amphora with griffin handles, Karaburun ...
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Read 15 tweets
Sep 13, 2023
Some additional notes on Sasanian instruments, from the MP text Khosrow and Ridak:

A) This instrument is the barbat (with later changes called oud (photo 3)), not "win"/ ون, I made detailed notes on it in multiple threads



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B) Some sources note "win" and "win-kenār" are types of harp, e.g.,

بررسی ابزار موسیقی دوره ی ساسانی بر پایه ی متن پهلوی خسرو قبادان و ریدگ

Although some sources note these could be instruments from India

Azarnouche translates the first 3 to French as... Image
"Le joueur de (petite) harpe, le joueur de harpe (droite?), le joueur de lyre"

C) An interesting consideration is this: could we use the maxim of interpretation/ construction Noscitur a Sociis: “know a thing by its associates”?

It would make sense for tambur and barbat Image
Read 7 tweets
Jun 18, 2023
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

⤵️ Imagehttps://www.metmuseum.org/a...
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

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Read 9 tweets

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