logo
Volume 41, Issue 3 (Fall 2020)                   Athar 2020, 41(3): 326-347 | Back to browse issues page

XML Persian Abstract Print

Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Garshasbi A. (2020). The role and position of gypsum mortar in Parthian architecture. Athar. 41(3), 326-347.
URL: http://athar.richt.ir/article-2-680-en.html
The role and position of gypsum mortar in Parthian architecture
Ashkan Garshasbi *
Master of Ancient Culture and Languages. Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies, Tehran, Iran , a.garshasbi87@gmail.com
Abstract:   (6022 Views)

During the Parthian rule, a new style was established in Iranian architecture called Parthian style, and changes occurred in the type of materials and the building’s plan, and one of the most influential changes of which can be considered the extensive use of gypsum. Because gypsum was abundant in the Parthian realm and had strength and formability, it could be used as a strong material, and was able to execute various arrays. This study examines the evolution of Parthian architecture and analyzes evidence of the use of gypsum based on library resources and data obtained from field surey, to analyze the reasons for the widespread technical and artistic use of this material during the Parthian period, The Parthian style and its transmission to other periods. As a result of these studies, it has been determined that gypsum has met many of the needs of architects and artists of this period due to its unique properties. The use of this material as mortar provided the construction of strong walls and curved roof for the building without the need for formwork, and its use in decorations expanded the stucco and mural painting, and did not require stone carvings as in previous periods, which have been expensive. Is. Also, stylistic studies in Plaster arrays showed that at the beginning of this period, the influence of Hellenic art on performance style and artistic motifs was high, but gradually this influence diminished and at the end of the Parthian period the influence of Eastern patterns increased. Finally, Parthian architecture and art, as an independent style, transfers its experiences technically and artistically to the next era and through intermediaries to Islamic art and architecture.

Keywords: Parthian architecture, Parthian style, gypsum arrays, Stucco, mural painting
Full-Text [PDF 3870 kb]   (2800 Downloads)    
Type of Study: Review Article | Subject: History of architecture and urban planning
Received: 2021/03/2 | Accepted: 2021/05/10 | Published: 2021/06/10
References
1. Afrazadeh, R., & Pour Bakhtiar, Gh. (2015). Review of Parthian architecture and influenced the architecture of Greece, Research Journal of Fisheries and Hydrobiology, 10(9), pp. 504-06.
2. Azarnoush, M. (1998). Excavations at Kangavar. translated to Persian by Fatemeh karimi, Athar, 19(29-30), pp. 18-54. [in Persian]
3. Bater, M. (2010). Structural studied of fresco pigments of period parti in kuh-e khwaja of sistan. Iranian Journal of Crystallography and Mineralogy, 18(3), pp. 323-34. [in Persian]
4. Breasted, J. H. (1924). Oriental Forerunners of Byzantine Painting. Illinois: The University of Chicago Press.
5. Colledge, M. A. R. (1977). Parthian art. Ithaca: Cornell University Press.
6. Colledge, M. A. R. (2009). The Parthians, translated to Persian by Masoud Rajabnia. Tehran: Hirmand Publication. [in Persian]
7. Debevoise, N. C. (1941). The Origin of Decorative Stucco. American Journal of Archaeology, 45, pp. 45-61. [DOI:10.2307/499302]
8. Derakhshi, H. (2005). Archeology of Zahhak Castle based on comparative studies. Athar, 26(38-39), pp. 61-84. [in Persian]
9. Ferrier, R. W. (1997). The Arts of Iran, translated to Persian by Parviz Marzban. Tehran: Farzan Rooz Publication. [in Persian]
10. Garshasbi, A. & Malekpour Shahraki, Z. (2019). Analysis of Dome and Its Evolution in Parthian Architecture. Journal of Iran's Pre Islamic Archaeological Essays, 4(1), pp. 173-92. [in Persian]
11. Garshasbi, A. (2018). Arsacid Coinage; Royal titles, mints, and iconography. Tehran: Aryaramna Press. [in Persian]
12. Ghanimati, S. (2000). New Perspectives on the Chronological and Functional Horizons of Kuh-e Khwaja in Sistan. British Institute of Persian Studies, Iran, 38, pp. 137-50. [DOI:10.2307/4300589]
13. Ghirshman, R. (1991). Persian art, Parthian and Sassanian dynasties, translated to Persian by Bahram Farahvashi. Tehran: Elmi Farhangi Publishing Co. [in Persian]
14. Ghirshman, R. (1993). Iran: From The Earliest Times to The Islamic Conquest, translated to Persian by Mohammad Moein. Tehran: Elmi Farhangi Publishing Co. [in Persian]
15. Godard, A., Godard, Y. A. (2011). Vault and arch in the forms artchitecture of iran, translated to Persian by Hamid gharagozlou & Saeed Saemi. Tehran: Modiran Emrooz Publication. [in Persian]
16. Hertzfeld, E. E. (2002). Iran in the Acient East, translated to Persian by zohreh Behjou & Homayoun Sanatizadeh. Tehran: Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies. [in Persian]
17. Hopkins, C. (1992). The excavations of the Dura Synagogue Paintings. In The Dura-Europos Synagogue: A Re-evaluation (pp. 1932-1992), ed. J. Gutmann. Atlanta, Ga.: Scholars Press.
18. Kawami, T.S. (1987). ‎Kuhe-e Khwaja Iran and Its Wall Paintings: Records of Ernst Herzfeld. Metropolitan Museum of Art, 22, pp. 13-52. [DOI:10.2307/1512833]
19. Keall, E. (1996). Qal'eh-i Yazdigird. An Overview of the Monumental Architecture. translated to Persian by Behrouz Omrani, Athar, 16(25), pp. 152-93. [in Persian]
20. Keall, E. (2002). Islam's debt to Parthian art. translated to Persian by Kamyar Abdi, Athar, 23(33-34), pp. 54-67. [in Persian]
21. Keall, E. J. (1977) .Qaleh-I Yazdigird: The Question of its date. Iran (Journal of the British Institute of Persian Studies), 15(1), pp. 1-9. [DOI:10.2307/4300560]
22. Keall, E. J. (1986). ARCHITECTURE in Parthian Period. Encyclopaedia Iranica Online Edition, Vol. II, Fasc. 3, pp. 327-329. an updated version is available online at http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/architecture-ii. (accessed on August 11, 2011).
23. Keall, E. J., Leveque M. A., Willson, N. (1980). Qal'eh Yazdigird - It's Architectural Decorations, The Stucco as Decorations. Iran, 18(1), pp. 1-41. [DOI:10.2307/4299688]
24. Kröger, J. (2005).STUCCO DECORATION IN IRANIAN ARCHITECTURE. Encyclopaedia Iranica Online Edition, July 20; an updated version is available online at http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/stucco-decoration-in-iranian-architecture
25. Lucie-Smith, E. (2008). The Thames and hudson dictionary of art terms, ‬‬translated to Persian by Farhad Goshayesh. Tehran: Marlik Publication. [in Persian]
26. Mohammadifar, Y. (2010). The parthian archaelogy and art. Tehran: Samt. [in Persian]
27. Monneret de Villard, U. (2008). Parthian Architecture: the Iranian Temple of Taxila. translated to Persian by Bagher Ayatollahzadeh Shirazi, in A Survey of Persian Art from Prehistoric Times to the Present, Edited by Arthur Upham Pope, Phyllis Ackerman, Volume 1. Tehran: Elmi Farhangi Publishings. pp. 563-71. [in Persian]
28. Mora, P., Mora, L., & Philippot, P. (1984). The Conservation of Wall Paintings. Butterworths. In Proceedings of a symposium organized by the Courtauld Institute of Art and the Getty Conservation Institute (pp. 47-54). London, July 13-16, 1987.
29. Morgenstern, L. (2008). Mural Paintings. translated to Persian by Noushindokht Nafisi, in A Survey of Persian Art from Prehistoric Times to the Present, Edited by Arthur Upham Pope, Phyllis Ackerman, Volume 3. Tehran: Elmi Farhangi Publishings. pp. 1593-1622. [in Persian]
30. Mousavi, M. (1995). The mud brick, memorial of Kuh-e Khwajeh of Zabol and a summary of the results of studies and researches carried out in it. Proceedings of the Congress on the History of Architecture and Urbanization of Iran. Bam, Iran. [in Persian]
31. Negahban, E. (1993). Excvations at Haft Tepe Iran. Tehran: Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts. [in Persian]
32. Pirnia, M. K. (2005). Stylistics of Iranian Architecture, editor: Gholamhossein Memarian. Tehran: Soroush Danesh Publication. [in Persian]
33. Pope, A. U. (1991). Persian architecture, translated to Persian by Gholamhossein Sadri-Afshar. Tehran: Farhangsara Publication. [in Persian]
34. Porada, E. (2004). The art of ancient Iran pre-Islamic cultures‬‬‬, translated to Persian by Yusef Majidzadeh, Tehran: University of Tehran Press. [in Persian]
35. Rahimifar, M. (2006). Check the mud seals of the Khorheh Mahallat. Archaeology, 3, pp. 68-73. [in Persian]
36. Reuther, O. (2008). Parthian Architecture: History. translated to Persian by Bagher Ayatollahzadeh Shirazi, in A Survey of Persian Art from Prehistoric Times to the Present, Edited by Arthur Upham Pope, Phyllis Ackerman, Volume 1. Tehran: Elmi Farhangi Publishings. pp. 533-562. [in Persian]
37. Sadjadi, A. (1996). stucco decorations in Islamic Architecture of Iran. Athar, 16(25), pp. 194-214. [in Persian]
38. Sarfaraz, A. A. & Firouzmandi, B. (2008). Archaeology and art of the historical periods of Mad. Hakhamaneshi. Ashkani. Sasani. Edited by Mohseni, H. & Sarvghadi, M. J. Tehran: Marlik Publication. [in Persian]
39. Simpson, S., Ambers, J., Verri, G., Deviese, T., & Kirby, J. (2012). Painted Parthian Stuccoes from Southern Iraq. In 7th International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East (pp. 209-220). Harrassowitz Verlag Wiesbaden.
40. Stein, A. (1928). Innermost Asia: Detailed Report of Explorations in Central Asia, Kan-su and Eastern Iran, 4 Vols., Oxford: Clarendon Press.
41. Tajvidi, A. (1971). continuation in Iranian Architecture, Art and Humanities Journal, 111, pp. 2-17. [in Persian]
42. Takmil Homayoun, N. (1996). Techniques, industries and their training in ancient Iran. Farhang, 19, pp. 145-206. [in Persian]
43. Tilia, A. B. (1993). Studies and restorations at persepalis and other sites of Fars, translated to Persian by Keramatollah Afsar. IsMEO. [in Persian]
44. Varjavand, Parviz. (1973). mud-brick, and the role of coating in the preservation of mud buildings, Art and Humanities Journal, 133, pp. 2-6. [in Persian]
45. Vegas, F., C., Mileto, F., Fratini, & Rescic, S. (2010). May a building stand upon gypsum structural walls and pillars? The use of masonry made of gypsum in traditional architecture in Spain. In Proceeding of the Eight International Masonry, ed. W. Jäger et al. 2183-92. Dresden: Masonry Society and Technische Universität Dresden.
46. Von Gall, H. (2013). Architecture and sculpture in the Parthian era. in The Arsacid empire: sources and documentation, Edited by J. Wiesehofer, translated to Persian by Houshang sadeghi et al., Tehran: Farzan Rooz Publication. pp. 97-122 [in Persian]
47. Wagner, M. (2002). Podia with stucco decoration from the Temple of Fire at Mele Hairam in southern Turkmenistan. Swiatowit, 4(45), pp. 215-21.
48. Wulff, H. E. (1966). The Traditional Crafts of Persia: Their Development, Technology, and Influence on Eastern and Western Civilizations. Massachausets: M.I.T. Press.
49. Zomorshidi, H. (2008). Arch and vault in Iranian architecture. Tehran: Urban Development and Revitalization Organization of Iran. [in Persian]
Add your comments about this article : Your username or Email:
CAPTCHA
Send email to the article author

Rights and permissions
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.