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Contributions for the Identification of the Human Bust on a Winged Disc in Iranian Arts

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Archaeology of Iran in the Historical Period

Part of the book series: University of Tehran Science and Humanities Series ((UTSHS))

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Abstract

This paper focuses on a very controversial symbol to be observed pretty often in Achaemenid art, the winged disk surmounted by a human bust also called “winged Genius”. Despite its origins to be individuated in ancient Egyptian solar prototypes, this element was adapted in Achaemenid art through Urartu and Assyria. In this author’s opinion, the solar disk with human bust probably pointed at a representation of the main deity of the Zoroastrian pantheon Ahura Mazda. Its later adaptations can be observed in post-Achaemenid art such as in the coinage of the kings of Persis. It was possibly transformed in a successive phase in the spread wings motif to be found sometimes on Sasanian crowns as a pedestal exalting astronomical symbols.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    See: Catalogue London, 2005: cat. 203; Dusinberre (2005: 91, Fig. 6).

  2. 2.

    See: Shahbazi (1974), Shahbazi (1980). According to Dietrich Huff (2008: 39), the wings of the symbol under discussion should be considered as an allusion to xwarrah while the human bust depicts Ahura Mazda.

  3. 3.

    See: Shenkar (2014). It is worth remembering that at Naqsh-i Rustam there are also four Achaemenid tombs. Several Sasanians rock reliefs were carved just under those tombs that could have also inspired more than one generation of Persian artists. No divine busts but just royal busts sometimes appear above spread wings usually in the shape of vegetal elements: Harper (2006: 77–81).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of History and Civilization, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, China

    Matteo Compareti

  2. Creative Innovation Base for Chang’an and Silk Road Cultural Communication (B1803), Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, China

    Matteo Compareti

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  1. Matteo Compareti
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Correspondence to Matteo Compareti .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Archaeology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    Kamal-Aldin Niknami

  2. Department of Archaeology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    Ali Hozhabri

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Compareti, M. (2020). Contributions for the Identification of the Human Bust on a Winged Disc in Iranian Arts. In: Niknami, KA., Hozhabri, A. (eds) Archaeology of Iran in the Historical Period. University of Tehran Science and Humanities Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41776-5_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-41776-5_13

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