Naturalism in Sassanid Art

The Persian Sassanids Empire, were the originators of a magnificent culture and art representing the ‘Parthian’ and ‘Achaemenid’ legacy with all its naturalistic manifestations. There are numerous architectural works, reliefs, paintings, woven fabrics, antique dishes, metal objects, glass things and war ordnances that have been remained from this era due to the presence of treasured coins with symbolic engravings and the calligraphy of Pahlavi era. The Sassanid art is considered as the ‘Modern Persian Art’ comprising the past traditions, and has established the Persian Paradise or Earthly Heaven in the history of world architecture by presenting the magnificent and distinctive landscapes in the form of holy sanctuaries/worship places, palaces and hunting grounds. Additionally, in the fields of architectural decoration, relief, fabric designs, ancient utensils and objects, the Sassanids were applying the natural elements in a symbolic form. The Sassanid art has been appeared in a wide range of lands from ‘Fars’ (Persia) to ‘Ctesiphon’, ‘Kermanshah’, ‘Sistan’ and ‘Azerbaijan’, relying on the naturalistic ideas and believes in the goddess of Mehr and Anahita, and following the Zoroastrian believes, as valuable works in various branches of art has been remained accordingly. Most of the architectural works of this time, including worship places, palaces, hunting grounds and 34 ‘reliefs’, have been established t next to the Natural elements such as mountains, water and trees in the heart of Nature. The Sassanid can be considered as the greatest landscapers in the history of Iran (Persian land), as the worship places, palaces and hunting grounds, and their ‘relief’ on mountain walls and cliffs can be referred to as the great indication of these architectural works.