Publication Date: 2024
Iran (05786967)62(2)pp. 236-245
Made in the midst of the Sasanid period, Sasanid silver vessels are one of the most important relics of the period that along with abundant archaeological data, convey valuable insights into the cultural past of Sasanid society, the people and their beliefs. The artworks carved on these vessels, besides their aesthetic features, cover a wide range of subjects in the political, social, religious, and cultural spheres. Although the Sasanid silver vessels have been the subject of many pieces of research, what is less noticed, is the iconographical analysis of dancers and their garments. The present study, which is based on the theory of Erwin Panofsky, examine the attires of dancers carved on four Sasanid silver vessels from the perspective of religious tendencies of Sasanid society. The results show that due to the religious nature of the Sasanid rituals, the dancers and the costumes they wore were closely connected to the religious beliefs of the Zoroastrians. © 2022 British Institute of Persian Studies.
