Analysis of the Origins and Concepts of the Geometric Patterns of the Islamic Period in the Persian Art

One of the most mysterious and extensive decorations of Islamic architecture, especially mosques, is geometric patterns. Studies on the history of the emergence of geometric patterns in Iranian art shows a six-thousand-year history. The present research seeks to answer what are the historical roots of the emergence of geometric patterns in the works of the Islamic period, and are these motifs contain implicit and sequential concepts. The purpose of the research is to express the historical background of geometric patterns in Iranian art and examine its possible implications. The main hypothesis of the study is the continuation of the life of ancient geometric patterns, especially Elamite’s works on the architecture of Iranian mosques. The research method is descriptive-analytical and collecting the contents is performed using a library method through note taking and picture reading; the method of data analysis is qualitative. The philosophers have attributed the origins of the emergence of geometric designs to Mesopotamian, Egyptian, and Iranian civilizations. According to this research, the fundamental geometric designs, decorating the buildings of the Islamic period in Iran, are related to the concept of fertility and abundance, and its history in Iranian art could be attributed to the remains art from the era of Elamite and the works discovered from the ancient site of Haleil River. In ancient Persian works, geometric patterns simply appear with the repetition of individual and single-shape elements, the combination of several geometric shapes are rarely seen together. The difference between these patterns and Islamic architecture is the emergence of diverse, mixed and extensive geometric shapes combined with Islamic philosophy of unity in plurality.