The Iconography of Plant Motifs in Ancient Iranian Art with an Emphasis on Seals and Coins

Subject Areas : Archaeology

Mona Montazeri Hedeshi ¹ (PhD student in Archeology, Department of Archeology, Faculty Of Literature And Human Sciences , Miyaneh Branch, Islamic Azad University, Miyaneh, Iran.)
Bita Sodaei ² (Associate Professor, Department of Archeology, Faculty Of Literature And Human Science , Varamin Pishva Branch, Islamic Azad University, Varamin-Pishva, Iran.)
Hossein Alizadeh ³ (Assistant Professor, Department of Archeology, Faculty Of Literature And Human Science, Miyaneh Branch ,Islamic Azad University , Miyaneh, Iran.)
Hassan Derakhshi ⁴ (Assistant Professor, Department of Archeology, Faculty Of Literature And Human Science ,Shoushtar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shoushtar, Iran.)

Received: 2023-04-11 Accepted : 2023-07-24 Published : 2023-08-11

Keywords: ancient iran, Iconography, Plant Motifs, Coins, Seals,

Abstract :

 The examination of religious texts is based on traditions and myths that play a significant role in the formation of visual culture of societies؛ The culture that is displayed in the form of symbols in works of art has led to the transmission of the message through the image. By examining symbolic images, one can understand the ideology that governs societies. One of the symbolic images in ancient iranian art is the role of plants. The purpose of this research is to identify,interrogate and interpret plant paintings in order to identify their place in religious and mythological beliefs and their continuity and in the historical period of ancient iran. This qualitative research was done with descriptive-analytical approach and library-field method. The statistical population studied includes eighty seals of achaemenid period,two hundred and fifty parthian coins and six hundred and ninety sasanian coins, which were investigated with an emphasis on plant motifs.The statistical population studied includes eighty seals of achaemenid period,two hundred and fifty parthian coins and six hundred and ninety sasanian coins, which were investigated with an emphasis on plant motifs. The results show that there is a significant connection between plant motifs used in the seals and coins of ancient iran and the religious beliefs and myths of iranians. Palm,rosette,lily,pomegranate,oak and grape motifs are repeated motifs that are also discussed in avesta and bandhashen religious text.