Assessment and analysis of symbolic drawing of animal motifs (paintings) onpotteries of 3rd and 4th century AH in Iran

The symbol of invisible character is visible in an appearance that initiated a crucial role in men life with the creation of human being and start of the thinking. Symbols are in various forms including animal, plant and geometry, out of which animal symbols attained significant position in different periods of man life due to similarity of human and animal. Through assessing various animal symbols in each period, a horizon can be obtained of intellectual viewpoints of that period. From among different periods of history, animal symbols existing on the potteries of 3rd and 4th century AH in Iran are the subject of the present study. In the mentioned centuries, the designs of the animal symbols on the potteries are not drawn attentively. Among the paintings on these potteries animals like horse, goat, fox, falcon, camel, lion, pheasant, partridge, dove, fish, hoopoe and cheetah are used. In this study, the reason is discussed for the symbolic use of these animals. The aim of the study is theoretical which is implemented in an analytical-descriptive methodology by the use of documents. The goal of this study is identifying the beliefs and views of the pottery artists of the period. The results show that large numbers of animal paintings are used on potteries in 3rd and 4th century AH.Among the paintings, both real and imaginary animals are observed. Each of these paintings is a symbolic indication of a particular concept in human life. Certain paintings are designed attentively and some others are weakly designed.