Analysis of the Visual Structure of the Fertility Goddess and Its Related Themes in Ancient Iran

The Mother Goddess has been remained as a keepsake (monument) from ancient Iran in various forms. The type of expression and on the other hand, the accompanying symbolic forms throughout history, has made it worthy of reflection and thought. Birth giving, fertility, land fertility and blessing (Baraka) are the most important and obvious issues related to the Mother Goddess (Izadbanoan) of ancient Iran. In fact, before understanding the way of fertilizing by human, fertility has been considered a supernatural force. Maternalism has existed in many prehistoric times, and women have enjoyed a powerful position in both inferior and superior societies. In this regard and the interpretation of the previous man from the environment has shaped his view and thought about life and metaphysical factors have played a significant role in his life. The purpose of this article is to formally and conceptually study the statues of the goddess of fertility in ancient Iran; therefore, what is the history of evolution of the structure of the fertility goddess form in ancient Iran? What are the symbols formed around the statues of the goddess of fertility? The current research is descriptive and analytical. Information and data are collected through museums, libraries, and articles, and the statistical community is purposefully selected and with maximum differences. Human beings have left traces and remnants during their life on earth for thousands of years. These works, in terms of time and location, represent and reflect his status and quality of life, in specific stages and in certain areas. Sometimes in one community and region, it has evolved and, on the contrary, in another era, it has had a slow evolution. The total of all these fluctuations and transformations has changed according to the formation of civilizations, which have generally evolved over the course of human societies development over time, leaving tangible effects and evidence for this theory. In this article, the statues of the mother goddess found in: Sarab hill of Kermanshah from Neolithic period, Shush hills, Fences b and c from the copper and stone period (4500 to 3000 BC), bronze period (3000 to 1500 BC), including the hills of Moshahalan Ismailabad, Marlik, Kangavar Temple, Inshushinak Temple of Shush, Nahavand Treasure, Shahdad and Yahya Hill of Kerman, Choghaznabil, Iron Age (1500 to 800 BC) Choghamish Hill of Khuzestan, Shah Tappeh, Choghaznabil and Lorestan province, from (1000 BC to Maad) The hills of Lorestan, Marlik, Amlash Gilan, Hajiabad Fars, Shousha, Meganic tombs of Lorestan, during the Median period of Noshijan hill, Seleucid and Parthian Apadana and the areas of Shoush and Hajiabad, Bostan Arch, Kelardasht and Chal Tarkhan Rey were considered and studied. In each period, the form of the mother goddess and its associated symbols made some changes according to the government; sometimes it turned into large statues and sometimes into small ones. In this regard, the form of the mother goddess has been visually analyzed. The results show that the form of the mother goddess in the Neolithic, copper and stone eras was abstract and geometric, and the greatest emphasis was focused on the reproductive organs. From the Bronze Age, it tended towards naturalism, and from 2500 BC to 2000 BC, it reached realism with exaggeration and unfitness in body shape, and decorations such as necklaces, bracelets and leg bracelets were added. From the Iron Age onwards, statues were combined with more proportionate limbs and symbolic shapes. From 500 BC, the statues changed from static to moving in the body. They were formed in Parthian period by naturalism with details and also in Sassanid period with a combination of myths and symbols that were formed by combining several different animals such as Simorgh, lion, peacock and dog on the body.  For the people of ancient Iran, along with the goddesses of fertility, not only the goddesses and Izadbanoes who were a sign of fertility for them were respected but also animals, plants, decorative elements and mythical creatures that played a role in the formation and reproduction of fertility. This assumption can also be made that since these elements, from a mythological or symbolic point of view, meant the presence of blessing and fertility; they took fertility from the goddesses and gave it to the people of Iran. In fact, it can be said that the belief in some creatures and plants is due to metaphysical beliefs in primitive religions and is due to the dependence of human life on them and has led to a kind of Totemism. In a way, the goddesses and myths are the interpretation of the world and nature of the previous human beings of this land, and in a semantic sense, they also cover belief in the direction of life. Simorgh or Sin Mero, Chamrush, lion, goat, cow, pigeon, peacock, eagle, fish and snake from animals, rosewood, rosette, grape clusters, palms, wheat, pomegranate and lotus from plants, water and moon from natural elements, brooches among decorative items can be enumerated in this category.