"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
⤵️
2: also Ctesiphon
Also with the famous wings motif from Sasanian era
⤵️
3: possibly another one
⤵️
4: From Kish, Iraq. Not sure if someone has read this as a monogram yet
⤵️
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
⤵️
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.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
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
⤵️
1) Mele Hairam: a number of important late Parthian-Sasanian finds. Likely a fire temple
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)
⤵️
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
⤵️
Some other important Sasanian objects @ Great Museum of Khorasan
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
⤵️
"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."
⤵️
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
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