پیکره (May 2022)
Recognition of Inscriptions and Decorations of Safavid Talisman Shirts Preserved in Iranian Museums
Abstract
Problem Definition: Safavid Talisman shirts are a particular type of ritual clothing, the most prominent feature of which is the extensive use of inscriptions and calligraphy. In addition to the script, all kinds of decorative and symbolic motifs, astronomical signs, and Talisman tables are also used in this shirt. These clothes, as their name implies, were often worn during the war and under armor, and the purpose might be a kind of amulet to achieve conquest and victory on the battlefield.Objective: The purpose of this article is a visual and content analysis of the elements used in the Safavid Talisman shirts to clarify the relationship between the concepts of inscriptions and motifs and to understand the influencing factors on the shirts, taking into account the political, social and cultural conditions of the Safavid period. This study addresses two questions, "What are the features of the Safavid Talisman shirts in terms of visual structure and content, and what inscriptions, motifs, and symbols are used in them?"Research Method: The research method is analytical-historical, and the materials have been collected in library and field studies. The statistical and study community also includes three examples of Talisman shirts from the Safavid period, which are preserved in local and national museums.Results: By examining the samples in the museums of Iran, it was found that the content of the inscriptions and motifs used in the shirts are related to each other, and the themes of the holy texts, symbols, and signs used in them somehow express victory, overcoming enemies, and protection against all kinds of challenging conditions. The political, social, and cultural conditions governing the Safavid period and factors such as religion, superstition, and archaism are among the most critical factors influencing the existing samples. Accordingly, in addition to using calligraphy as the dominant decoration, the use of ancient symbols is also the most important common feature of these artworks.
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