Analyzing the Images with Shiite Contents of Ilkhanid, Timurid and Turkmen Periods according to Shiite (twelver) Discourse

In the current article a number of images with Shiite contents of Ilkhanid, Timurid and Turkmen Periods according to Shiite (twelver) discourse is studied. Shiite discourse is a solid set of concepts, beliefs and narrations which reproduces itself in Shiites individual and social lives controlling their mentality. It is logically expected that it has appeared in the form and content of images with Shiite contents. Therefore, this is important question about images with Shiite contents comes into consideration that can anyone look at these images as Shiite ones? In order to answer this question, the images of Shiite holy figures and form, content, narration and the presentation method were evaluated and analyzed in the images of the considered periods according to important and central concepts of Shiite discourse. The aim of this study is to explain and describe the main features of Shiite images and their differences from religious ones. The research method here is descriptive analysis and the data are gathered from librarian sources. The research results show that according to Shiite Discourse, the images of Ilkhanid, Timurid and Turkmen Periods cannot be considered as only Shiite images because of the representation of Shiite contents and presence of Shiite figures; for the main feature of Shiite images is that their contents, forms and representation method by using signs and visual elements, must be according to concepts, beliefs and narrations of Shiite discourse. It makes Shiite images different from religious ones.