Neither has any art. It was not easy for Byron to go and visit Persepolis: in his book, we curiously read about his exchanges with Herzfeld, the German archaeologist who was conducting excavations and research at the site. Herzfeld did not want to grant Byron any permission to visit and more importantly to take photos of…
Tag: persepolis
Envisioning a Buyid heritage – ‘Amid al-Din at Persepolis 444/1053
In one most famous paper, Oleg Grabar asked ‘Why Write on Buildings?’. And the prominent scholar proposed some reason, and some perspective from which inscriptions and graffiti can be seen and studied. The main point is: if you write something on a wall, probably it is intended to be read, and understood by a certain…
Enhancing the Persian element – Abu Kalijar’s inscription, Persepolis 438/1046
Finding a Buyid inscription carved on the stones of the ancient palace of Darius, in Persepolis, does not seem to be anything new. And indeed it is not. Anyway, the fourth Buyid inscription of Persepolis, carved to commemorate Abu Kalijar, grandson of Baha’a al-Dawla, is quite interesting for some peculiar features.
Hunting in Persepolis – Baha’ al-Dawla’s inscription 392/1001
‘Adud al-Dawla was the first Buyid ruler to set in the stones of Persepolis a reminder of his presence, in 344/955. Some time later, his third son, Baha’ al-Dawla, did the same.
Remembering a battle: ‘Adud al-Dawla’s second inscription in Persepolis
Probably shortly after having the first inscription carved in Persepolis, ‘Adud al-Dawla returned in the ancient Persian site to make another inscription, celebrating his victory over Isfahan.
A Buyid inscription in Persepolis (344/955) – reading the past in the past
I like the Buyids: a small dynasty originally from Iranian plateau that ruled Iran and Iraq, or at least parts of the territory, between the 10th and the 11th century. They produced finely made metalwork and beautiful silks, among other things. In their art as well as in their ruling style, they pursued the Iranian…
An inscribed ewer from Iran – from the object to the political ideology
Calligraphy is widespread in Islamic architecture of course, but it can be found also on a series of portable objects: woodwork, pottery and for course metalwork. In these cases the content of the inscription is strictly connected to the use of the object.
SquareKufic 