نشریه مطالعات ایرانشناسی
پیاپی 5 (تابستان 1396)

Institutionalized or social reality is one of the concepts in contemporary philosophy which discusses the different ways of the formation of realities that only exist when a group of people believe in them and pay attention to them. However, such realities are rooted in non-institutionalized realities which are still real in the absenceof any human representation; nevertheless, they are different in that the former is only meaningful within human representational systems. One of the features of institutionalized realities is that they are based on a conceptual triangle the three sides of which are comprised of human, act/event, and the created or matter. Therefore, artifacts play a natural and constructive role in the realization of an institutionalized reality. Such realities are always created in contexts which are not representational themselves. In this paper, the writers demonstrate that cylinder seals, as one of the most important commercial tools of the Bronze Age in West Asia and ancient Iran, were one of the most significant products of institutionalized realities which depended on commerce and could not be realized without the establishment of commercial-economic structures of early urbanism. Rather, after becoming actualized, they turned into a material device used for expanding the regional and trans-regional economic system.
The images on cylinder seals, on the other hand, hold a noteworthy place in creating and delivering certain types of institutionalized or representational realities. They can create, transfer, and reproduce some beliefs among the members of their society which are deemed necessary in the formation of its structure. This paper discusses the images and representations of women’s bodies on cylinder seals and their rolein the creation of the institutionalized realities which pertain to women and womenhood. The main elements in relation to womenhood which have been identified in this study include women’s A forms, crafted forms, collective and dramatic-ritualized forms, and women’s B forms with an emphasis on gendered body. The findings also demonstrate that such images were presented and transformed in conformity with various social contexts and backgroundsin three cultural-social periods or trends in ancient Susiana (3500-1000 BC) in the southwest of Iran.

Fahraj is located in the southeast of Kerman Province and in a region on the southern margin of the Lut Desert known as Lut-e Zangi Ahmad. Before the recent studies, the historical background and face of this land was hidden in the shadow of the great magnificence of other regions such as Bam and its glorious citadel, Arg-e Bam. Most of the historical geographical texts of the early Islamic centuries have referred to Fahraj, which highlights its importance at that time. In the past, Fahraj was located on the ancient road connecting the Fars province to the eastern regions and was considered to be one of the areas linking the southwest of Iran to its more eastern zones. It also enjoyed particular splendor during that time, the remains of which are presently existing in the form of historical building, structures, and vast sites. This land was the meeting point of some important ancient routes which dated back to the Achaemenid period. These routes were active until the early and middle Islamic periods, and some of them are still being used. The present paper reports on the findings of the projects of”A Preliminary Study of the Castles in the Cultural Landscape of Bam” and “Investigating, Documenting, and Obtaining Archeological Evidence Pertaining to the Cultural Landscape of Bam”,which were implemented between 2012-2015. As a result of the conducted field studies in Fahraj, several artifacts and remains of the various cultural periods of this county, including those of the Epipaleolithic Period until the recent Islamic centuries, have been identified. In this study, through providing a description of ancient routes and introducing a number of historical remains and artifacts, the writers portray a part of the historical-cultural character of Fahraj county in Negin Kavir district. The Mehdiabad ‘Ulia (Awlia’) site, which measures more than 400 ha2, represents the remains of a city from the Achaemenid period. Chah-e Rigan region with an area of 6000 ha2, which is the vastest identified site related to the period between the Sassanid era and the fifth century AH, is located in the vast cultural landscape of Bam. The castles of Islamabad, which functioned as palaces or fire temples, and the castles(two-story castles or palaces) of Shahik village belong to the Sassanid period, and both play significant roles in the architectural studies of this era.

The relationships between Iran and China during the Timurid era continued along a relatively satisfactory route at various political, economic, and cultural levels due to the interest of both sides. Of course, they were not as tight as they were during the Mongol period. However, over time, because of the changes in China which affected the Silk Road, the relationships between the two countries deteriorated so that Timur decided to attack China during the last years of his rule. With the coming of Shahrukh to power, the relationships between the two countries entered a new level. The present study is intended to investigate these relationships relying on the book Zubdat-al Tawarikh following a historical (descriptive-analytic) approach to the data collection, analysis, and interpretation procedures.

One of the sources which reported accurate and illuminating news regarding the chaotic status of the southeast of Iran and, particularity, the disturbance in Kerman and Baluchestan at the threshold of World War I (1914-1918) was Hablolmatin. While analyzing the conditions and events in Baluchestan in an article entitled Kerman, this newspaper tried to inform people about the negligence regarding the affairs of provinces and, specifically, borders. It also reprimanded the authorities in Tehran and the local rulers with a spirit of patriotism. In this paper, through examining the reports given in Hablolmatin newspaper during the years leading to World War I, the author has tried to demonstrate how Mo’ayed al-Islam Kashani, because of the disorders at the borders of Baluchestan and not receiving the taxes, criticized the unrest and insecurity dominating this region in order to stop the invasion of the southern neighbor (the British). He believed that the presence of some efficient rulers such as Amir Mofakham and Misbah Divan was necessary in that territory and provided some suggestions in order to establish security and order there.

Since long ago, children have been the addressees of myths and fairy tales. Through providing indirect responses to the needs and questions of children and enriching their faculty of imagination, myths are considered to be an important educational model in the processes of teaching/learning and therapy. This study, while referring to some of the functions and effects of Iranian myths, aimed to explore their therapeutic effects on children. In line with this purpose, the researcher chose 40 Iranian myths which enjoy several educational, instructional, and therapeutic functions. Next, following a descriptive-analytic method, the psychological and psychotherapeutic aspects of such myths were investigated in terms of such elements as anxiety treatment, thoughtgeneration and problem-solving ability, aggression, self-confidence, development of emotions and feelings, imagination, decision-making, fear control, compatibility with environment, family relationships, and ethics. The findings indicate that myths are appropriate tools for treating children’s mental and psychological problems and disorders. Although they sometimes perform some negative functions, they generally hold a specific place in the process of psychotherapy regarding children’s character formation, thought development, obtaining new experiences in the face of difficulties, anxiety release, and psychological balance.

As a handicraft, vitreous enamel has a long history in Iranian art. This artistic industry received the greatest attention from its creators and customers in 12th and 13th centuries onwards in Iran. During these centuries, which coincided with the reign of the Qajar dynasty, vitreous enamel was greatly influenced by European industrial arts. At that time, the customers of vitreous enamel objects belonged mainly to the upper class of society. As one of the Iranian multi-thermal industries, this art involves several stages from the process of supply to the process of demand of the enameled objects. Moreover, it is considered to be a laborious but luxurious industrial-artistic activity. The present paper explores the stages involved in the production and supply of the vitreous enamel art as one of the Iranian handicrafts of the Qajar period.