The significances of number “four” and its embodiment in prehistoric pottery decorations in Iran

Evidently, certain numbers have certain significances for different nations and cultures. Seemingly, number four has a specific significance and priority in Iran’s culture and art, particularly in pottery. Decorating the potteries, the potters have utilized them as a means to express their thoughts, emotions, and realize their beliefs. Studying the potteries of the prehistoric era in Iran, some decorations were found which were shown in tetra-division patterns, in a way alluding to number four. The present study is an attempt to investigate number four and its embodiment in the potteries of prehistoric era in Iran. The significance and embodiment of number four in these potteries are investigated, and the early human’s conception of this number in the emergence of some decorations is also inspected.
This study is based on descriptive- analytical method and the gathering of data was done in the method of documentary.
The findings of the study indicate that number four had a significant importance in the potteries of the prehistoric era in Iran, and confirmed that it was tied to a deep profound though and most probably expressive of the beliefs of the people. The concepts such as asking for blessing, the fertility of plants, the survival of the animals, human being’s dominance over evil powers, etc. can be attributed to these motifs and decorations.
Also the result of this study indicates number four has represented in five different groups categorize as linear motifs and geometric patterns, plant, animal and human motifs. Due to the results we can cautiously claim that number four has represented the most in the geometric patterns and the least in human motifs in Iran’s Prehistoric potteries.