A Comparative Analysis of the Flags in the Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp within the Context of the Shahnameh Text and the Religious-Cultural Traditions of the Safavid Era
2
Assistant Professor, Department of Painting, Faculty of Art, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
10.22111/jart.2025.51254.1076
Abstract
Throughout history, flags have served as powerful symbols of authority, identity, and cultural affiliation, shaping social and political structures. This study examines the religious motifs and inscriptions on the flags depicted in the Shahnameh of Tahmasp and explores their connection to the cultural and religious imperatives of the Safavid era. It seeks to answer the following questions: How did the religious and cultural beliefs of the Safavid period influence the motifs and inscriptions on these flags? To what extent did the painters of the Shahnameh of Tahmasp remain faithful to Ferdowsi’s original text in their flag designs? This research aims to analyze the religious motifs and inscriptions in the Shahnameh of Tahmasp, particularly regarding their adaptation to the values and characteristics of the Safavid period. Additionally, it investigates the similarities and differences between these motifs and historical examples of Safavid-era flags. Using a descriptive-analytical approach and a bibliographic research method, data has been gathered from reliable historical sources and museum documentation and analyzed through comparative and descriptive analysis. The findings reveal that the flags in this Shahnameh reflect Safavid-era visual traditions and religious concepts more than Ferdowsi’s textual descriptions. This research enhances our understanding of the intersection between art, history, and culture during the Safavid period, particularly in religious and political iconography.
sheykhihaye moghaddam, E. and Keshmiri, M. (2025). A Comparative Analysis of the Flags in the Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp within the Context of the Shahnameh Text and the Religious-Cultural Traditions of the Safavid Era. Visual Art Studies, 2(1), 37-56. doi: 10.22111/jart.2025.51254.1076
MLA
sheykhihaye moghaddam, E. , and Keshmiri, M. . "A Comparative Analysis of the Flags in the Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp within the Context of the Shahnameh Text and the Religious-Cultural Traditions of the Safavid Era", Visual Art Studies, 2, 1, 2025, 37-56. doi: 10.22111/jart.2025.51254.1076
HARVARD
sheykhihaye moghaddam, E., Keshmiri, M. (2025). 'A Comparative Analysis of the Flags in the Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp within the Context of the Shahnameh Text and the Religious-Cultural Traditions of the Safavid Era', Visual Art Studies, 2(1), pp. 37-56. doi: 10.22111/jart.2025.51254.1076
CHICAGO
E. sheykhihaye moghaddam and M. Keshmiri, "A Comparative Analysis of the Flags in the Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp within the Context of the Shahnameh Text and the Religious-Cultural Traditions of the Safavid Era," Visual Art Studies, 2 1 (2025): 37-56, doi: 10.22111/jart.2025.51254.1076
VANCOUVER
sheykhihaye moghaddam, E., Keshmiri, M. A Comparative Analysis of the Flags in the Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp within the Context of the Shahnameh Text and the Religious-Cultural Traditions of the Safavid Era. Visual Art Studies, 2025; 2(1): 37-56. doi: 10.22111/jart.2025.51254.1076
)