Investigation and adaptation of animal-related motifs in ancient Elam with Bakhtiari culture

Many customs of the Bakhtiari kinfolk are accompanied by ambiguities that can be adequately answered by comparing them with the archaeological findings of the Elam civilization, because animals were of special importance in ancient Elam and many cultural works left from the civilization of Elam have motifs related to animals and they have played an important role in the culture of the Bakhtiari people since long ago. Therefore, this research tries to investigate the comparative presence of animals such as lions, snakes, goats, etc. in the civilization of Elam and the Bakhtiari people.This research tries to answer these questions, which findings indicate the transfer of the concept of these motifs from the civilization of Elam to the Bakhtiari culture, and in what aspects of the Bakhtiari culture can it be seen? The research method is descriptive-analytical with field investigation with a comparative approach. The aim of the research is to examine and compare the motifs related to animals in ancient Ilam with the culture of the Bakhtiari people and it is also a study of the influence of these characters in the culture of the Bakhtiari people and by doing this research, the origin of sanctity and importance of the most important animals in Bakhtiari culture is determined and it is also proven to some extent that considering the relatively long time that has passed since the ancient Elam rule, traces of their culture can still be observed in the culture of the Bakhtiari people. The statistical population of the research includes 32 works of archaeological and artistic evidence decorated with motifs related to animals from the civilization of Elam. The research results show that the position, role and importance of animals such as; Lion, snake and goat in Bakhtiari culture and in the nomadic areas of Khuzestan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, the same importance and role of animals in Ilam civilization is continued. The continuity of these motifs has been influenced in Bakhtiari culture from Ilam in two ways: One is the transmission of religious and theoretical concepts that have come in different and partial forms from Bakhtiari culture as; Determining the gender of the child by using the carcass of a snake and animal sacrifice to remove the plague and the other in the form of tangible works such as; Bardshir and the use of horns in architecture and religious ceremonies.