Semiotic Matching of Architectural Pattern of Karim Khan Citadel with the Themes Underlying Zandiyeh Tribal Culture

Using semiotics as a tool for analyzing and interpreting explicit and implied implications present in the phenomena as a system of socio-cultural signs, the current research intends to decode and understand semantic concepts and metaphors in how to organize the space and main concepts constituting space and architecture of Arg of Karim Khan. Using a historical interpretation method and cultural semiotic strategies, the current research seeks to identify cultural meanings and the impacts of Zandiyeh’s life style on the monument and the matching of the unique characteristics of the monument with the themes underlying Zandiyeh tribal culture. In this regard, the current article presents some interpretations consistent with the monument which are of utmost significance in the interpretation of the architecture influenced by ethnic culture and art. The results indicate that tribal art sis capable of creating a non-representational world in which the visual reality of the phenomena is shaped independent from any representational and expressive feature. It can be said that, paying attention to this process (factors such as simplicity, not extravagant, connection with nature, euphoria and happiness, and peace) confirms the absence of any mere functional and conservative perspective in the content of art and architecture of Zandiyeh period, also specifies that “deliberative functionalism of ethnic art” as the third important theme of ethnic art after “naturalism” and “simplification resulting from abstraction of meanings” has been influential on spatial pattern and the ornamentation of Arg of Karim Khan. Other reasons include a wide variety and strong presence of the monument’s murals conveying the geometrical and abstract motifs of natural elements with the technique of implementation in the School of Shiraz.