Study and Analysis of Animal Motifs in Sassanian Art

Abstract

The art of the Sasanian era in Iran contains numerous examples of animals, mythical creatures, various elements of nature, and symbolic motifs. This art represents a millennia-long artistic process with open doors to all foreign cultures. According to the tradition of the land that nurtured it, it has been transformed and adapted over time. It is an art whose radiant brilliance extends to the world's furthest corners through architecture, reliefs, and small, functional objects. Sasanian art is adorned with various plant and animal motifs imbued with symbolic meanings and profound concepts, depicted on palace walls, silver vessels, engraved stone seals, and silk fabrics. The repetition of these visual elements was primarily connected to political purposes and religious propagation. They bear an explicit or sometimes ambiguous expression rooted in the specific beliefs of that era. This research seeks to answer the question: which fundamental beliefs of the Sasanian period are reflected in these symbolic and mythical motifs? Evidence indicates that many of the ideas and beliefs manifest in the art of this period were drawn from the millennia-old heritage of the Iranian people. The present research has been conducted using the historical method. Information has been collected through available library resources and the visual study of examples of artistic works housed in domestic and international collections. The research focuses on the motifs used in Sasanian art, specifically examining those influenced by the artistic traditions of ancient Iran. The methodology employed in this study is descriptive-analytical and historical, based on historical documents and evidence.