بررسی نقش مایه های حیوانی در فلزکاری قرون پنجم تا هفتم هجری

Animal designs on metal objects from the 5th to the 7th century A.H. are among the most beautiful and meaningful designs of the post-Islam era in Iran.Animal motifs indicated cosmic elements that expressed deep concepts of astronomy and astrology in the form of designs, reliefs, prayer inscriptions, etc.Belief in supernatural forces and seeking help from these forces or conquering them existed since ancient times, and human beings were always looking for a way to make their life and horoscopes successful by attracting these forces. Attributing natural manifestations to animal traits and using animal characteristics such as physical strength, escape trick, habitat, body anatomy, and also obvious characteristics played a major role in animal symbolism. In ancient times, these symbols were used for manifestations such as the moon, the sun, some planets and several constellations, and mostly to show the change of seasons and the passage of day and night. With the arrival of Islam in Iran, as well as the advancement of astronomy and the illustration of astronomical books, some symbols found more or other meanings and more symbols were added to them. With the introduction of Kufi and Naskh's script in the decoration of objects, creativity and artistic genius were renewed. The use of human and animal heads in writings containing prayers and wishes for good and blessings for the owner of objects was very popular. The use of animal and human motifs in the letters of the inscriptions and the use of these motifs between the letters of the inscription, in addition to the beauty of the line and pattern, turned the writing into a mysterious form. The method sometimes made it difficult to read the text. Although the symbols sometimes contain the threat of eclipses of the sun and the moon and evil, but bringing clear symbols and texts containing prayers for good and prosperity, they promise the victory of good forces over evil and happiness. The widespread use of animal motifs in the fifth to seventh centuries A.H. as well as the creativity and skill in its implementation, justify the study of the initial and later meanings of these symbols. Perhaps by this means, in addition to understanding the concepts of symbolic motifs, one can also understand the constructive idea. The purpose of this research is to reveal the concepts of animal motifs on metal objects of the 5th to 7th centuries of A.H. and to deal with the primary meanings of these symbols, in this regard, it addresses the following questions: 1. Are the animal motifs of the metalwork works of the 5th to the 7th centuries A.H. the only creative continuation of the motifs of the predecessors? 2. Or is the image of these motifs telling the beliefs and mythological concepts of the people of that era? This research is descriptive-analytical, adapting and collecting studies using library sources, using information from famous museums and observations including visiting museums and using archives of domestic and foreign museums and analyzing information based on image analysis. In this research, four samples from the National Museum of Iran - Islamic Period, five samples from the photos in authentic books and seventeen samples from the photos available in museums around the world have been used. The necessity and importance of the research is because although previously, studies have been conducted to investigate the astronomical and astrology concepts of animal symbols on the objects of the above period, these studies are mostly on specific objects with specific symbols and the same meanings by the authors. Different things have been investigated on these index objects, and the basic concepts of symbols have not been investigated. Summarizing and integrating concepts and examining motifs in various (and not only famous) works has been the goal of this research. Animal symbols on the objects studied in this research show that the purpose of depicting animals on the above objects is not only to create visual beauty and fill the surfaces but also to explain the traditional and ritual meanings of the past along with the symbolic concepts of mythology and astrology. Belief in the ability to align otherworldly forces in various works expresses hope for health and status and good prayers for their owner in this world and the hereafter. Especially the food containers, such as teapots, from which drinking water brought health and happiness. A belief that exists even now. The motifs used in this article include rabbits, goats, lions, deer, and crabs, which in many cases are placed separately, following each other, facing each other, as part of plant decorations or inscriptions. The two patterns of hunting dog and cow are briefly examined in the margins of the above topics. It is worth mentioning that birds and imaginary creatures are not the subject of this research.