:: Volume 7, Issue 26 (5-2018) ::
کیمیای هنر 2018, 7(26): 85-103 Back to browse issues page
Sasanian Art: Iconography or Iconoclasm?
Neda Akhavan Aghdam *
Abstract:   (4572 Views)
The history of Zoroastrianism is not rich in terms of visual documentation and one of the reasons declared is their opposition to the iconolatry. In their view, making image is considered to be a disregard toward religious affairs, as well as an attempt to a bad creation; the result of image making would be to provide the evil forces a place to enter, hence it is considered a sin. On the one hand, Sasanian who were biased Zoroastrians have depicted the images
of their sacred gods on the rock reliefs though they were stubborn opponents to standing images and sculptures. That’s why some scholars regard them as iconoclast and believe that iconoclasm movements in Christianity and Islam are inspired by them. On the other hand, some have said that Sasanian follow aniconism movement in the creation of their god images. But according to pictorial and literary works of this era it seems that they had no imagination in imaging their gods.
Keywords: Sasanian, Zoroastrianism, icons, iconography, iconoclasm
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Type of Study: Research | Subject: Special
Received: 2018/02/22 | Accepted: 2018/10/13


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Volume 7, Issue 26 (5-2018) Back to browse issues page