A Comparative Study of the Structure of Pre-Islamic Iranian Textual Symbols and the Incantation Symbols of the Islamic Period

Document Type : Original Article

Author

P. H. D., Department of Graphics, Faculty of Art and Architecture, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.

Abstract

Ancient written material consists of symbols and signs that have evolved from pictorial cyphers to alphabetic letters. Calligraphy in Iran is an imperative symbol of civilization since ancient times and a number of these written signs have continued in the Islamic period. The main issue of the research is how ancient Iranian textual signs survive on the hexes of the Islamic period as part of traditional Iranian graphics. The research method is descriptive and analytical and data is collected via library contents through identification and image reading. The research findings indicate that a number of the “good” symbols that appear in Iranian hexes are formally rooted in the oldest meaningful texts including Poroto Elamite and Linear Elamite. The visual structure of a number of ancient Elamite linear signs (Poroto Elamite and Linear Elamite) can be identified on the incantations of the Islamic period. In some cases, the new enchantment signs, in combination with other motifs and geometric signs, have a distinct appearance and behold a detailed affiliation with the old textual signs. These symbols are the shapes of uneven forms, squares, circles, triangles, crosses and zigzag lines and the plant symbol that are associated with the influential elements of life. The combination of image and text in the incantations are based on a meaningful aesthetic system. Geometric symbols derived from ancient written texts are shaped structures that have formed the basis of the writing of some spells. This feature can be considered as one of the principles of the overall page layout of the enchantments of the Islamic period.
Research aims:
1. Identifying the similarities and differences in the structure of ancient Elamite linear signs with the symbols of Islamic incantations.
2. Interpreting the symbolic meaning of common signs of pre-Islamic texts and spell patterns of the Islamic period.
Research questions:
1. What are the similarities and differences between the visual structure of the ancient Iranian textual symbols and the symbolic motifs of the enchantments of the Islamic period?
2. What are the symbolic meanings of similar signs in the ancient texts and incantations of the Islamic period?

Keywords

References

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Islamic Art Studies
Volume 17, Issue 40 - Serial Number 40
February 2021
Pages 231-249

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