Zan dar hunar-i Īrān pīsh az Āriyāyīʹhā

Zan dar hunar-i Īrān pīsh az Āriyāyīʹhā, by Hudá Zābulīʹnizhād, examines representations of women in archaeological objects and visual art from ancient Iran. Organised around periods before Elam and during the Elamite civilisation, the study relates artistic evidence to the societies that produced it. The first chapter considers matriarchy, female imagery, religious beliefs and objects associated with sites such as Turang Tepe, Marlik, Tepe Hissar and Hasanlu, alongside Luristan bronzes and the Anubanini relief. The second introduces Elamite civilisation, language and religion before discussing powerful goddesses, serpent symbolism and female representations in figurines, reliefs, rock carvings, cylinder seals and vessels. The author uses these examples to investigate the image and social position of women, while presenting the research as a contribution to further enquiry. Illustrations and Persian and foreign-language references support the discussion.