Iconographical Analysis of the Royal Hunting Scene on the Sasanian Bear Hunting Plate of Abkhazia Museum

Abstract

The bear hunting silver plate housed in the Abkhazia Museum stands out as a distinctive example of artwork from the Sasanian period. Its portrayal of bears being hunted, alongside the utilization of a lasso as the primary hunting instrument, renders it a unique specimen among Sasanian hunting vessels. This study employs an iconographic analysis approach to investigate the scene depicted on the plate, which has been previously attributed by Lukunin to Bahram I, the fourth ruler of the Sasanian dynasty, prior to his ascension to the throne. The objective of this research is to offer a comprehensive analysis of the entire scene depicted on the plate, followed by a detailed examination of each motif in isolation. Finally, an evaluation is provided regarding the realism or symbolism inherent within the scene, drawing upon available information. This study constitutes a descriptive-analytical inquiry into ancient Iranian art, drawing upon data collected from both library sources and online visual repositories. © 2024 University of Tehran. All rights reserved.