Explanation and Analysis of the position of court women on the rock reliefs and coins related to Bahram II (276-293 B.C)

Authors

1 Ph.D. Student of Ancient History of Iran, Department of History, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Isfahan.

2 Assistant professor, Department of History, Faculty of Social Sciences, Payame Noor University, Tehran, Iran

3 Associate Professor,Department of History, Faculty of Literature and Humanities,University of Isfahan

Abstract

Bahrām II was crowned as the fifth Sasanian king in 276 A.D. When he came to the power and crowned in the court, like his ancestor, Ardaxšīr Bābakān, he tried to depict his victories over the enemies and also his crowning on the rock reliefs in order to legitimize his kingship and stabilize his power. Among Bahrām II archeological and artistic works, his rock reliefs and coins are very various and prominent, compared to his ancestors which shows a change. Also, among Sasanian kings, women’s presence in Bahram II rock reliefs is more seen than any other Sasanian king, especially in his coins. Based on written evidences and in a descriptive-analytical way, the current research aims to analyze the position of women in the reliefs and coins of Bahram II. Based on the written and archaeological evidences, the widespread presence of women in the coins and reliefs of Bahram II -compared with his predecessors- can be attributed to the special status of some court women and their empowerment during the reign of Bahram II.

Keywords

Main Subjects


Alram, Mishael, (2012), The First Sassanian Coins, Sassanians, edited by Vesta Sarkhosh Curtis and Sarah Stewart, translated by Kazem Firouzmand, Tehran: Nashmarqas.
Amouzgar, Jhaleh, (2012), Mythological History of Iran, Tehran: Samt.
Oshidari, Jahangir, (1371), Mazdisna Encyclopedia, edited by Fereydoun Fatemi and Shams Langroudi, Tehran: Central Publishing.
Brosius, Maria, (2012), Ancient Iran, translated by Isa Abdi, Tehran: Nesramahi.
His servant, (2017). Borne Bahar, Mehrdad, Tehran: Tos.
Prada, Idt, (2013), Ancient Iranian Art (Pre-Islamic Civilizations), translated by Yusuf Majidzadeh, Tehran: Tehran University Press.
Hosni, Mirza Mohammad, (2013), New Sassanid reliefs, Tehran: Phoenix.
Selwood, David, (1389), Sasanian Coins: Cambridge History of Iran, vol. 3 (1), edited by Ehsan Yarshater, translated by Hassan Anoushe, Tehran: Amir Kabir.
Sodavar, Abul Alaa, (2004), Yazidi religion in ancient Iranian monarchy, United States: Mirak Publishing.
Taheri, Sadr al-Din, (2016), Semiotics of Archetypes: In the Art of Ancient Iran and Neighboring Lands, Tehran: Shoorafrin Publishing House.
Fry, R.N., (1389), Iran's political history during the Sassanid era: Cambridge History of Iran, vol. 3 (1), edited by Ehsan Yarshater, translated by Hassan Anousheh, Tehran: Amir Kabir.
Garibaldi, Andrea, (2015), Sasanian history and coins, translated by Shahin Aryamnes, Tehran: Aryamna.
Gobel, Robert, (1391), Coinage: History of Sassanid State Economy, translated by Hoshang Sadeghi, edited by Majid Jalilvand, Tehran: Scientific and Cultural.
Lukonin, and G., (1350), Sassanid Iranian Civilization, translated by Inayatullah Reza, Tehran: Book Translation and Publishing Company.
Mohammadi Far, Yaqoub, Farhad Amini, (2014), Sasanian Archeology and Art, Tehran: Shapikan.
Mousavi Haji, Seyyed Rasool, Ali Akbar Sarafraz, (2017), Sassanid reliefs, Tehran: Samt.
Nasralehzadeh, Siros, (2004), Sasanian genealogical names from the beginning to Hormuzd II, Tehran: Organization of Cultural Heritage and Tourism.
Vandenberg, Louis, (1348), Archeology of Ancient Iran, translated by Isa Behnam, Tehran: Tehran University Press.
Hertzfeld, Ernest, (2008), Iran in the Ancient East, translated by Homayoun Saneti-zadeh, Tehran: Research Institute of Humanities and Cultural Studies.
Herman, Georgina, (2016), Iran's Rock Reliefs in the Sassanid Period, Mesopotamia and Iran in the Parthian and Sassanid Periods, edited by John Curtis, translated by Zahra Basti, Tehran: Samt.
Hintz, Walter, (2012), New Findings from Ancient Iran, translated by Parviz Rajabi, Tehran: Phoenix.
Alram, M. et Gyselen, R., (2012), Sylloge Nummorum Sasanidarum. Tome II. Ohrmazd I. Ohrmazd Il. (paris/Berlin/Wien) [Veröffentlichungen der numismatischen Kommission, Band 53. Wien, Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften.
Brosius, M., (2000), "Women I: In Pre-Islamic Persia". In: Encyclopædia Iranica. Online, available at: http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/Women-Pre-Islamic-Persia.
Choksy, J. K., (1989), "A Sāsānian Monarch, his queen, crown prince: the coinage of Wahrām II", American Journal of Numismatics, vol. 1, pp. 117-135.
Flandin EUG. et Coste P., (1843), Voyage en Perse. entrepris par ordre de M. le ministre des Affaires étrangères. d'après instructions drawnées par I'Institut. (dessins de Coste et Flandin gravés par A. Guillaumot, Jacobs, Lesnier et E. Ollivier). traduit en persan 1977. Paris. 1845-1843.
Frye, R.N., (1984), The History of Ancient Iran. Munich