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May 10 6 tweets 4 min read Twitter logo Read on Twitter
"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 @On_Persia

May 8
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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Read 14 tweets
Apr 30
Wild Boar heads in Iranian architecture. The head alone is likely representation of deity of victory, Verethragna/ Bahram (بهرام)

سر گراز در معماری ایرانی

Photo: multiple stucco fragments @philamuseum from Tepe Hissar, Sasanian

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One example from Tepe Hissar

I wrote about boars in more details before, and gave many examples of boar heads as well as boar hunting etc. across various media in ancient Iran

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Ramāvand, Qalā Gūri, #Sasanian

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Read 8 tweets
Apr 29
Earliest depiction of #Simurgh/ Senmurv (سیمرغ) in the world I am aware of: sealing, Excavated @ Bandian (بندیان), 5 C CE (i.e., 401 - 500), possibly reign of Bahram V

Firmly establishing this motif as #Sasanian. Now @ Great Museum of Khorasan (موزه بزرگ خراسان)

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Various seals & other objects were found @ Bandian. As far as I know, this particular one hasn't been fully published.

Some of the other sealings & seals from Bandian

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Some other important Sasanian objects @ Great Museum of Khorasan

4: excavated throne leg.

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Read 8 tweets
Apr 23
Virtual Museum: The Tillya Tepe (Tillā tapa: Golden Hill; طلا تپه) Treasure, northern Afghanistan (Khorasan)

I hope these objects will remain safe. Photo: From March 1990 National Geographic magazine article

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"The hoard is a collection of about 20,600 ornaments, coins & other kinds of artifacts, made of gold, silver, ivory, etc., that were found in six burial mounds erected for five women & one man, with extremely rich jewelry, dated to around 1st C BCE-1st C CE."

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I'm not going to write too much here.

Most images have descriptions. So you can enjoy the treasure and read more if you like

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Read 32 tweets
Mar 21
Iranian #Nowruz (Sasanian Middle Persian/Parsig: nōgrōz) is ancient, but an even more ancient name for the celebration is Nāvā sardā

I've looked at ~ 20 articles on Nowruz, but unfortunately can't find anything on its more ancient roots... Can anyone help? 🌼🌸

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I find it fascinating because by all accounts in Sasanian Middle Persian & modern Persian, year = sāl

Only in Parthian, old Persian & Avestan is it Sarad > sard, which points to the name likely being more ancient.

From excellent thread by @ArnoAlahverdian on Armenian Nawasard
here:

we learn the term goes back to Old Persian, (possibly Parthian)

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Read 12 tweets
Mar 19
#Nowruz (Nouruz, نوروز, Наврӯз, MP: Nōgrōz) 🌸

Iranian New Year traditions in ancient Iran, especially Sasanian era, based on newly published papyri & other sources

نوروز در زمان ساسانیان: بر اساس پاپیروس های تازه منتشر شده و منابع دیگر

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I previously wrote on sources mentioning "nogruz" or Nowruz, as well as some of Nowruz' history:



For more, also see Iranica articles for traditions both before & after Sasanian era: iranicaonline.org/articles/nowru…

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Generally, we see great continuity in various aspects of Nowruz celebrations. We can say it was, like other feasts & major celebrations, about preparing for the feast & with very ancient Indo-Iranian roots

Like other feasts, there was merriment & food, as there is today

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Read 39 tweets

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