Investigating the animal and plant motifs on the coins of the first Sassanid kings(from Ardashir I to Hormozd II)

Document Type : Research

Authors

1 Member of the academic staff and director of Department of ancient languages and texts , Research center of Linguistics, Inscriptions and Texts, research institute Cultural Heritage and tourism

2 ُscientific staff, Department of ancient Iranian Inscriptions and Texts, research center of linguistics, inscriptions and Texts, research Institute of cultural Heritage and Tourism

Abstract

The motifications carved on Sassanid coins contain themes that reflect the culture, art and mythological and religious beliefs common in that era. These motifications are manifestations of ancient deities such as Ahura Mazda, Anahita, Mehr, etc. They are humanistically depicted in Sassanid coins or are a visualization of deep mythological-artistic beliefs and thoughts that seek a social event (internal or external) symbolically, in the form of animal motifs on the crown of the Sassanid king. The first Sassanid coins were multiplied by the role of Ardeshir I's right profile on the coin and the role of the firekeeper behind the coins, the rotation of the Shah's profile to the right was a visualization of the great change that occurred in the iconography pattern of Sassanid coins compared to the iconography pattern of Parthian coins, and behind the Sassanid coins, the role of the fireman replaces the role of the Parthian archer. This motification is preserved with little transformation until the end of the Sassanid era as the fixed role behind the coins. Some of the questions related to this research are as follows: What is the meaning of the anthropological depictions of ancient deities on Sassanid coins? When did animal motifs enter the Sassanid coinage art? One of the main objectives of this study is to investigate the deep themes and beliefs that lie in the coins of Sassanid first kings. By examining these motifs, it can be concluded that the changes that have occurred in the depiction of Sasanian coins are caused by the political-historical events of that period. This research was done by descriptive-analytical method and based on library and field studies.

Keywords

Ancien Culture and Languages
Volume 3, Issue 2 - Serial Number 5
March 2023
Pages 189-204

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History

  • Receive Date: 20 August 2023
  • Revise Date: 27 November 2023
  • Accept Date: 28 November 2023

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