Sasanian art: Difference between revisions

'''Sasanian art''', or Sassanid art, was produced under the [[Sasanian Empire]] which ruled from the 3rd to 7th centuries AD, before the [[Muslim conquest of Persia]] was completed around 651. In 224 AD, the last [[Parthia]]n king was defeated by [[Ardashir I]]. The resulting [[List of shahanshahs of the Sasanian Empire|Sasanian dynasty]] would last for four hundred years, ruling modern Iran, Iraq, and much territory to the east and north of modern Iran. At times the Levant, much of Anatolia and parts of Egypt and Arabia were under its control. It began a new era in Iran and [[Mesopotamia]], which in many ways was built on [[Achaemenid]] traditions, including the art of the period. Nevertheless, there were also other influences on art of the period that came from as far as China and the Mediterranean.<ref>Harper; Cotterell, 177–178;</ref>

 

 

==Sculpture and rock reliefs==

[[File:Naghsh-e rostam, Irán, 2016-09-24, DD 12.jpg|thumb|The triumph of [[Shapur I]] over the Roman Emperor [[Valerian (emperor)|Valerian]], and [[Philip the Arab]], [[Naqsh-e Rustam]].]]

Free standing sculptures are rare in this period, compared under the Parthians. The [[Colossal Statue of Shapur I]] (r. AD 240–272) is the single outstanding exception to survive.

 

 

==Stucco==

 

==Paintings==

At [[Bishapur]] floor [[mosaic]]s in a broadly Greco-Roman style have survived, and these were probably widespread in other elite settings, perhaps made by craftsmen from the Greek world.<ref>Keall for Bishapur; see Harper for other sites</ref>

 

File:Parte della composizione a più registri della sala cerimoniale (blu), pendjikent, sett. VI, cam. 41, angolo n.o., 740 ca. 2.JPG|Sections of wall-paintings from [[Panjakent]], c. 740

File:Relief plaque with confronted ibexes, Iran, Sasanian period, 5th or 6th century AD, stucco originally with polychrome painting - Cincinnati Art Museum - DSC03952.JPG|[[Stucco]] relief with confronted [[ibex]]es, 5th or 6th century, once with polychrome painting

File:Coupe de Chosroès.JPG|The so-called "Coupe de Chosroès", metal and [[hardstone carving|carved semi-precious stone]]

</gallery>

 

==Architecture==

 

The grandest buildings of [[Sassanid architecture]] were very large palaces in brick, with high vaulted halls, that were important in the development of the [[iwan]] in [[Islamic architecture]]. The Sassanids further developed the vaults and arches used by the Parthians, usually with a large opening to one side of the hall in iwan style.

 

==Coinage==

[[Sasanian coinage|Sasanian coins]] are a particularly important source for a major reason; they are easily datable from all periods of Sasanian history. Using the name of the ruler's image on the coin in [[Pahlavi scripts|Pahlavi]] and it can be used to date other works of art. The front usually shows the image of the ruler, sometimes together with a son or wife, rarely with both. On the back there are several scenes, including an investiture or an altar, on which the eternal fire is burning. The tradition of these designs begins with the rather stiff image of [[Ardashir I]] (224-242), and under [[Shapur I]] (240–270). Under [[Shapur II]] (310–379), it is again made of the same material, while the detail modeling is slightly decreased. This is, however, important again later. In the following period the designs are often highly stylized and have been partially recorded.

 

Another group of metal goods are present; richly decorated vessels whose shape may have been adopted from the customs of the Mediterranean.

 

File:Anahita Vessel, 300-500 AD, Sasanian, Iran, silver and gilt - Cleveland Museum of Art - DSC08129.JPG|The "Anahita Vessel", c. 300-500, gilted silver: the female dancers may be Zoroastrian religious images or bacchantes, followers of the cult of the wine god Bacchus<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.clevelandart.org/art/1962.294|title = Anahita Vessel|date = 31 October 2018}}</ref>

File:Woman and water buffalo rhyton, c. 600-700 CE, silver, Sasanian, Cleveland Museum of Art.JPG|[[Rhyton]] with female head and [[water buffalo]], c. 600-700, silver

 

==Influence==

 

Sasanian influences are found in medieval Byzantine textiles, jewelry, and architectural sculpture. A notable example of Sasanian-influenced decorative motifs can be found in the fifth- and sixth-century floor mosaics of [[Antioch]]. The Sasanian motifs did not appear before the fifth century in Roman-Byzantine art, but the impact was long-lived.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hoffman |first1=Eva R. |title=Late Antique and Medieval Art of the Mediterranean World |date=9 February 2009 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-1-4051-8207-2 |page=45 |language=en}}</ref>

 

==Literature==

*Cotterell, Arthur (ed), ''The Penguin Encyclopedia of Classical Civilizations'', 1993, Penguin, {{ISBN|0670826995}}

* [[Kurt Erdmann]]: ''The Art of Iran in the Time of the Sassanids''. Berlin 1943, 1969