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Ancient Iran Profile picture
@iran_antigua
May 10, 2023 • 6 tweets • 4 min read • Read on X
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"Nišānscheibe": Nishān (personal/clan device) discs in #Sasanian art

1: Well known one from Ctesiphon

These are, when more complex, usually referred to as monograms

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2: also Ctesiphon

Also with the famous wings motif from Sasanian era

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3: possibly another one

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4: From Kish, Iraq. Not sure if someone has read this as a monogram yet

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I previously talked about how some scholars have attempted to tentatively read some monograms

Some examples here similar to the last one on our list

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5: Tepe Hissar

Not sure if someone has read/ deciphered this one either. But it shouldn't be too hard given many similar ones have been published in the past couple of decades. Image

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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

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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
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

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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
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

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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

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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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