Sacred Beads of Pearl Necklaces of Sasanian Kings Based on their Coins

Document Type : Research Article

Author

Research Institute of Culltural Heritage and Tourism, Research Centre of Linguistics, Inscriptions and Manuscripts, (RCLIM),Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

The Avesta and Zoroastrian manuscripts, in Pahlavi language, have been studied, interpreted and translated numerous times over the past century. The study of sacred numbers, only based on the above-mentioned texts, has also been a part of printed scholarly works. The reference to the Indo-European background of the numbers can be seen frequently in past works.Although in the background of this research, reference has been made to textual studies such as Indo-Iranian sources, but archaeological evidences have received less attention.This paper deals with a specific topic that is the sacred Zoroastrian numbers and entanglement with Sasanian coins. For this purpose, the author stresses on the number of pearls (beads) of the necklaces, headbands, hangings of the royal hat, and shoulder stripes based on the coins. The author will focus on the known sacred numbers such as 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 21, 24…to prove the claim. Also, the article draws a clear line between necklaces worn in the batllefield, on coins and in bas- reliefs (Royal Scenes). In addition, the presence or absence of the beads of the pearl stripes on the shoulders or chest have been suggested as gender sign as a key question of this article. This restudy will show a new part of religious aspects on the royal Sasanian art.The author believes that the number of the pearls on the kings’ necklaces or headbands have followed a systematic structure from a single string to the two strings, from the rise to the fall of the empire. Also, I will briefly refer to texts to support archaeological evidences

Keywords

References

Akbarzadeh, D. 2004. Parthain Inscriptions. Tehran: Pazineh.
Akbarzadeh, D. & N. Schindel. 2021. Sasanian Coins of the Bank Melli Iran (Piruzan Collection). Tehran: Bank Melli Iran.
Akbarzadeh, D. 2022. A Note on Sasanian Glassware and Zoroastrian Sacred Numbers(Sasanian to Post-Sasanian Periods), Iranian Journal of Archaeological Studies 12/2: 37-45, https://doi.org/10.22111/IJAS.2022.44780.1252
Akbarzadeh, D. 2016. A Note on Calligraphy of Zoroastrian Pahlavi Manuscripts, Journal of Orient 52/6: 5-9.
Alram, M. & R. Gyselen. 2003. Sylloge Nummorum Sasanidarum (SNS 1): Ardashir I-Shapur I. Wien: OAW.
Alram, M. & R. Gyselen. 2012. Sylloge Nummorum Sasanidarum (SNS 2): Ohrmazd I-Ohrmazd II. Wien: OAW.
Bahar, M (ed). 1990. Bundahish. Tehran: Tus.
Benveniste, E. 1973. Indo-European Languages and Society. Ed.I.R. Palmer and G.C. Lepschy.Miami: Miami University.
Dabirsiyaqi, M. (ed). 1959. Zartoshtnama of Zartosht Bahram-e Pazhdu. Tehran: Ṭahuri.
Daryaee, T. 2009. Sasanian Persia: The Rise and Fall of an Empire. London: I.B. Tauris.
Dustkhah, J. 1991. Avesta: the Oldest Hymns of Iranians (I-II). Tehran: Morvarid.
Fukai, Sh. & Kiyoharu Horiuchi. 1969. Taq-i Bustan (I-II). Tokyo: Tokyo University.
Ghirshman, R. 1962. Iran: Parthians and Sasanians. London: Thames and Hudson.
Gulacsi, Zs. 2001. Manichean Art in Berlin Collections (I), Turnhout: Brepols.
Harper, P.O.1981. Silver Vessels of the Sasanian Period (I), ed. By P. Meyers. New York: MET.
Martinez, J. & M. De Vann.  2014. Introduction to Avestan (Intorduction to Indo-European Langauges) (1). Leiden-Boston: Brill.
Mazdapur, K. 1999. Tales of Garshasb, Tahmuris, Jamshid (M. U. 29). Tehran: Agah.
Mazdapur, K. 1990. Shayest-na-Shayest. Tehran: Reseach Institute of Humanities.
Meskub, Sh. 2019. Introduction to Iranian Myths. 3rd. edition. Tehran: Farhang Javid.
Les Perse Sassanides (Fastes d’un empire oublie). 2006. Paris: Musee Cernuschi.
Schindel, N. 2005 (online). Sasanian Coinage. In Encyclopædia Iranica, edited by Ehsan Yarshater. New York: Columbia University https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/ sasanian-coinage
Schindel, N. 2016. Kushano-Sasanian Coinage (Kushanshah II). In Encyclopædia Iranica, edited by Ehsan Yarshater. New York: Columbia University https://www. iranicaonline.org/ articles/kushanshahs-02- coinage .
Tafazzoli, A. 1995. Sprit of Wisdom (Minu-ye- Kharad). Tehran: Tus.
Trikha, J.K. 1991. Rig Veda (A Scientific and Intellectual Analysis of the Hymns). Bombay: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.
Iranian Journal of Archaeological Studies
Volume 13, Issue 2
2023
Pages 103-116

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics