The courtly, hunting, and musical motifs of ancient Iran in the paintings of Umayyad palaces Case study (Khirbet al-Mufjar, Qasr al-Hayr al-Gharbi, and Qasir al-Umra)
Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 M. A. in Islamic Art, , Department of Islamic Art, Faculty of Art, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Islamic Art Department, Faculty of Art, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
10.22080/jiar.2025.29041.1047
Abstract
The palaces of the early Islamic centuries in the former borders of the Sasanian Empire have been proposed as a model of art and architecture in the scope of Umayyad culture. The existential philosophy of Umayyad palaces in the Islamic era was formed in line with the attitude towards the ancient culture of Iran and Byzantium, and they gradually became a symbol of government authority in the development of architectural patterns and urban development. To the extent that private palaces in the space outside the cities, as a structural and decorative indicator, inspired by the ancient art of the East, have become a symbol of the political power and social power of the Umayyads in the development of art and architecture of this era. The present article is a fundamental-theoretical research with a historical, artistic approach in a descriptive-analytical manner and documented by written sources. Its aim is to examine the similarity of decorative motifs in paintings with courtly, hunting grounds and feasting subjects of the Umayyad palaces by identifying indicators influenced by ancient Iranian art during the Parthian and Sasanian periods. In line with the above goal, the paintings of prominent palaces and the influences of native patterns have been examined. Finally, although the motifs used have many similarities with each other, it must be acknowledged that the type of design and subjects fully reflect Iranian Eastern traditions.
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Volume 3, Issue 5
May 2024
- Receive Date: 19 April 2025
- Revise Date: 08 May 2025
- Accept Date: 08 May 2025