year 10, Issue 35 (6-2026)
Parseh J. Archaeol. Stud. 2026, 10(35): 189-221 |
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Bahramzadeh M, Moghasem A, Rezaiee M. (2026). Archaeological Analysis of the Architectural Structure Depicted on the Coins of the Fratarakā of Pars and Its Comparison with Ritual Architecture (Case Study: Collections of the Sepah Bank Museum and the Tamashagah-e Pol). Parseh J. Archaeol. Stud.. 10(35), 189-221. doi:10.66224/PJAS.1579.324.4
URL: http://journal.richt.ir/mbp/article-1-1579-en.html
URL: http://journal.richt.ir/mbp/article-1-1579-en.html
1- Iranology Foundation, Tehran, Iran (Corresponding Author). , MohammadBahramzade@gmail.com
2- Department of History, Faculty of Humanities, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran.
3- Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2- Department of History, Faculty of Humanities, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran.
3- Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Social Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract: (226 Views)
The coins of the local rulers of Pars (the Fratarakā) are among the most significant archaeological sources for reconstructing the political, religious, and cultural conditions of the region during the Seleucid period. Beyond their economic value, these coins contain visual and symbolic elements that reflect the continuation of Achaemenid traditions and the formation of the political identity of the local rulers. One of the most prominent iconographic elements is the depiction of a building on the reverse of some of these coins, a motif that has long attracted scholarly attention. Despite previous studies, the architectural nature and function of this structure remain subjects of debate in Iranian numismatic and archaeological research. This study aims to examine and clarify the architectural identity and function of the structure depicted on the coins of the first and second groups of the Fratarakā rulers. To this end, the study introduces the relevant coin groups and analyzes their visual features in order to resolve existing ambiguities regarding the nature of the structure. The central research question asks what type of building is represented on these coins and to what extent it can be compared with known examples of ancient Iranian ritual architecture. The methodology is descriptive-analytical and based on a comparative approach. Data were collected through museum-based study of the coin collections housed in the Sepah Bank Museum and the Tamashagah-e Pol, in addition to library research and previous scholarly works. These data were then compared with known architectural examples from the Achaemenid and post-Achaemenid periods. The findings indicate that the depicted structure has a ritual and religious character and, in certain structural and symbolic aspects, is comparable to the Kaaba-ye Zarthosht monument at Naqsh-e Rostam. Furthermore, the study shows that over time, due to technical changes in minting methods, the artistic quality and architectural detail of the motif gradually diminished. These results suggest that the depiction of this structure not only reflects ancient Iranian religious and architectural traditions but may also signify the continuity of religious and political legitimacy among the local rulers of Pars in the post-Achaemenid period.
Keywords: Fratarakā of Pars, numismatics, ritual architecture, Sepah Bank Museum, Tamashagah-e Pol, Kaaba-ye Zarthosht.
Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
Special Archeology
Received: 2026/03/8 | Accepted: 2026/04/20 | Published: 2026/06/21
Received: 2026/03/8 | Accepted: 2026/04/20 | Published: 2026/06/21
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