1
M.A. in Art studies, Neyshabur Art University, Neyshabur City, Khorasan Razavi, Iran.
2
M.A. in Archeology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil City, Ardabil Province, Iran.
Abstract
Symbols have broader functions in the Islamic era in comparison to the pre-Islamic time, the cause of which may be the change of religion and spiritual approach that occurred in the Islamic world. During the Seljuq era, which was one of the most significant times of the prosperity of science, art and economy in Iran, the astronomy developed as well, so that its influences on numerous arts from this era can be seen. This paper studies a unique terracotta document from the Seljuq era, decorated with human and animal motifs in terms of astronomical notions. This tablet which was unearthed during the recent archeological excavations of Shadyakh (1379-1384 SH), headed by Mr. Rajabali Labbaf Khaniki, is one of the strangest findings in terms of astronomy and one of the most important documents of the Seljuq era in terms of the ending of solar eclipse. In this paper we tried to discover the facts with regards to the motifs of this terracotta tablet, and we faced the two following questions: -What spiritual and conceptual functions did the motifs of the discovered tablet have? -What was the function of the terracotta tablet in the mentioned period? The overall goal of this research is to study the conceptual motifs of the terracotta tablet and to analyze and compare them with similar motifs. This study used the analytical-observational method, based on field research (referring to the original work) and library sources. It seems that this terracotta tablet bears symbolic signs to complete lunar or solar eclipses and it was used in metal casting.
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