The Status of Women and Music in the Safavid Era and Its Representation in the Persian Paintings of Shah Tahmasb’s Shah-Nameh

This study aimed to investigate the Persian paintings of Tahmasbi’s Shah-nameh and women's lifestyle and music in that era. This is a fundamental research with a descriptive-historical method and social analysis has been applied for studying the Persian paintings and the role and status of women and music in the Safavid era. The data were collected in library. Analysis of three Persian paintings of Tahmasbi’s Shah-nameh showed the proficiency and talent of the women artists in Safavid era in general and in Shah Tahmasb’s era in particular. The results showed that, given the importance of Shah Tahmasbi’s Shah-nameh, Shah Tahmasb’s penance had not only a great impact on Iran’s political, social, and cultural conditions but also made women more restricted than the previous eras. Accordingly, the music was boycotted and musicians endured many hardships. Although, repentance of Shah Tahmasb suppressed the activity of musicians and naturally, the activity of women, there are some Persian paintings containing women playing harp and tambourine.