Sofalineh

Sofalineh

Illustrating the Epic and Mythological Literature on Sgraffiato Pottery; by Introducing the Pottery Samples of the Institute of Bonyad Museums

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mohammad Ebrahim Zarei 1
Khadijeh SharifKarimi 2
Fakhrodin Mohammadian 3
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Boali Sina University, Hamedan, Hamedan, Iran.
2 Master of Archeology, Boali Sina University, Hamedan, Hamedan, Iran.
3 Doctoral student of Department of Archaeology, Babol University, Babol, Iran
Abstract
Myths are a significant part of societies' beliefs and cultures. In addition to the oral and written history of nations, traces of myths can also be found in the remaining works. The use of epic motifs has been effective not only in the art of painting, but also in pottery motifs. The decorative motifs of pottery can be an echo of the cultural, social and political developments of societies of various historical periods. Some of the drawings on the pottery are taken from an ancient heritage with a mythological emphasis. These works, similar to historical texts, have a great contribution in preserving and introducing the myths of a society. This research aims to study the interaction between the themes of Persian epic literature and Sgraffiato pottery motifs of the 4th and 5th centuries Hegira located in the collection of Bonyad museums. In the process of this research, the analysis and origin of these pottery motifs are often depicted based on the poems and mythological themes discussed. Data is collected via library research. Findings show that the function of the continuity and influence of myths in a symbolic way on the belief of the people, especially the pottery artists during the middle Islamic periods, is imperative due to the values and national identity of the past.
Research aims:

A study and analysis of illustrative themes and symbolic concepts of Sgraffiato pottery.
Examining the degree of imitation of Sgraffiato pottery designs from mythological and epic themes of ancient Iran.

Research questions:

What was the inspiration of pottery artists in depicting Sgraffiato pottery and selecting their themes?
How did the characteristics of epic literature appear on the Sgraffiato pottery motifs and how is it different from other story motifs of other potteries?
Keywords
mythology
epic literature
Sgraffiato pottery
Bonyad museums
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Sofalineh
Volume 1, Issue 2
September 2025
Pages 43-65