The Behaviour of Human Figures in Sassanid Rock Reliefs

The human face and gestures inscribed on artistic works all suggest humane state in a special form and shape. The quality of displaying hair, eyes, nose, lips, mouth along with the general state of the face, hands, posture and gesture are all of this kind. On the other hand, human figures in the artistic form of Sassanid rock reliefs reflect the social conditions in their particular historical moments. Accordingly, analytic-comparative study of human iconography, investigating the significance of using social and aesthetic signs and codes of human states and gestures in Sassanid rock reliefs and stating their visual and aesthetic features and signs are the objectives pursued in this article. Based on inductive reasoning, first, the data was gathered from observing available pictorial works and documents of Sassanid art and library studies in all mentioned theoretical domains. Then, all data was classified and analyzed using content analysis method. Exploring the aesthetic issues in the states and gestures of human figures of Sassanid rock reliefs confronts the researcher with a set of conventions with abstract and general expression which tend to propel the human figure with a variety of edge lines to the two-dimensional surface and create a symmetrical and stable totality. The form resulted from such conventions is isomorphous figures with features which all originate from a single pattern. Human figure in such an attitude is a collection of selective aesthetic and social signs and codes. The stability of various visual signs in human figures of Sassanid art has led to the continuity of their signifying functions besides historical continuity. The functions of aesthetic and social codes in the sign system of mentioned social system is very important regarding establishment, stability and consolidation. Representing the figure of king in signifying gestures, as the sign system of Sassanids manifestation, is the main pivot of many displayed scenes in Sassanid reliefs. Thus, political, military and religious issues with emphasis on divine justifications and foundations of Sassanid government’s legitimacy are amongst the major issues considered by Sassanid artists in creating human figures.