A Study of the Symbol of Fish and Its Use in Safavid and Qajar Carpets

Fish design, in addition to its beautiful appearance, has a symbolic implication which is the reason for its repeated use in various arts since ancient times. This design has been shown in different forms in Iran’s carpet, both abstract and transformed, and close to nature. In Iran’s art after Islam, due to the sanctity of the use of visual imagery, we see the conversion of fish form to leaves, which can be seen in carpet designs in the Herat or fish map, where the fish form is one of the main structures of this map. In this article, the natural forms of fish in carpets of the Safavid and Qajar dynasties was studied according to the existing images, in order to find an answer to this question: What is the symbolic meaning of the fish design in Iranian art and what place does it have in Iran? What is the shape and appearance of fish in these carpets? The study was descriptive and analytical and its theoretical bases are compiled in a documentary manner. The observations showed that in forming the design of fish, inspiration from nature is evident, but the degree of softness and violence in using the lines in their design varies. Also, the symbolic implications of this design and its place in the beliefs of ancient Persians were interpreted based on their location in the carpet.