Sofalineh

Sofalineh

The Symbolic Evaluation of the Motif of the Horse in the Potteries of the Seljuk Period

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
ّFaride MohamadZade 1
Leyla Zangene 2
Fakhrodin Mohammadian 3
1 Master's student in Archeology (Islamic Period), Faculty of Archaeology, Isfahan Art University, Isfahan, Iran.
2 Master's degree, Archaeology, Birjand University, Birjand, Iran
3 Doctoral student of Department of Archaeology, Babol University, Babol, Iran
Abstract
In the history of Iranian pottery, the Seljuk period can be mentioned as the golden age of this art among the other present arts of this stage. Such potteries are significant for their design features and motifs. The motifs of the pottery of this period speak of the creativity and genius of the artists of this era and were executed with special skill and artistry. Various motifs such as animal, herbal and human motifs are used in the pottery of this period, and each of these motifs includes various meanings and concepts. The image of the horse is one of the animal elements used in Seljuk period pottery and was widely used in various forms in the pottery of this period. The present research has analyzed the symbolic meanings and forms of this image in the composition of the pottery of the two cities of Ray and Kashan during the Seljuk period by following an analytical and descriptive method. The results of the research show that the motif of the horse in the ceramics of the Seljuk period has appeared in various themes such as hunting, banquets, court ceremonies and war. Moreover, independently as a symbol, the motif of the horse represents freedom, power, speed and beauty and thus such concepts are manifested in the form of a horse.
Research aims:

Acknowledging the themes and symbolic meanings of the motif of the horse in the ceramics of the Seljuk period.
Studying the form, position and placement of the horse figure in Seljuk period pottery.

Research questions:

What symbolic themes and meanings are used in the horse motifs on Seljuk pottery?
What are the visual characteristics of the form, position and state of the horse on Seljuk pottery?
Keywords
pottery
horse motif
symbol
Seljuk period

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Sofalineh
Volume 1, Issue 2
September 2025
Pages 157-175