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Ancient Iran Profile picture
@iran_antigua
May 8, 2023 • 14 tweets • 9 min read • Read on X
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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

⤵️ ImageImage
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

⤵️ ImageImage
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

⤵️ ImageImage
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

⤵️ ImageImageImage
#Sasanian Bazeh Hur

⤵️ Image
Comparison between the 4 sites

⤵️ ImageImageImageImage
Bazeh Hur and Shilgan

A large number of stucco and other pieces from recent finds in Iran are unfortunately unpublished

⤵️ ImageImage
Further comparisons between the 4 sites

⤵️ ImageImageImage
Other examples

These from Fire Temple in Qale-ye Dokhtar, Khorasan

⤵️ ImageImageImageImage
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 @iran_antigua

Ancient Iran Profile picture
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
Ancient Iran Profile picture
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 ...
Image
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Read 15 tweets
Ancient Iran Profile picture
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
Ancient Iran Profile picture
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

⤵️ ImageImage
We see examples of this royal audience scene @ Persepolis, here reconstructed from the fuller image @ Apadana, and another modern recreation @ Zinat al-Molk House

⤵️ ImageImage
Read 9 tweets
Ancient Iran Profile picture
Jun 17, 2023
History of Dogs in Iran

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

⤵️🧵 Image
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) ImageImageImageImage
likely hounds and the last one in the last tweet being an older type of mastiff

Also consider this Kassite Mastiff, @metmuseum

⤵️ ImageImage
Read 30 tweets
Ancient Iran Profile picture
Jun 10, 2023
Study of Colour in #Sasanian Iran

We have enough reference materials for study & recreation of colours in Parthian-Sasanian eras

Photo: Etchmiadzin Gospels, likely 6-7 C CE depiction of 3 magi

⤵️ Image
Together with refs to royal colours, like Hamza al-Isfahani's Tarīk̲h̲ sinī mulūk al-arḍ wa ’l-anbiyā, we can work on recreating colours of that era

I've talked about colours in Achaemenid era, though that needs updating. Previous threads on motifs etc:
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

⤵️ Image
Read 43 tweets

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