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Karim Haji Zadeh Bastani, Esmaeel Maroufi Aghdam, Said Satar Nezhad, Fariborz Tahmasebi,
year 2, Issue 3 (5-2018)
Abstract

Abstract
The tombs or funerary monuments are one of the most important elements of Iranian-Islamic architecture that in different fields require careful investigation. This group of buildings is important among Iranians; for this reason, in each period of the Islamic era of Iran the most important and most used arts related to that period have been used in their construction. Generally, the decoration in buildings has a more effective role, because, if it is understandable in terms of form and structure for archaeologists and designers, it’s possible this isn’t understandable for the general public. So, decorations in the buildings at first sight are attracts the viewer. In this article epigraphy art as one of the most important decorative elements of Islamic buildings have been reviewed in the four Seljuk tombs of Northwest of Iran: Gonbad Sorkh, Borj Modavar in Maragheh, Seh Gonbad, and Gonbad Kabood. The research method in this study is interpretive – historical. In this study with analytical method have been studied decorations of these four tombs (especially in terms of architecture, motifs, inscriptions and their position on the buildings). Also, in addition to reviewing the articles, books, and evidences, with field survey from these tombs, plan and decorations, and then a comparison table of inscriptions has been provided. In this regard, the following questions are raised:
- How is architecture, motifs and decorations of the Seljuk tombs in northwest Iran? And, their inscriptions are divided into several categories in terms of content?
- What are the effects of concepts of the inscriptions on position them on the buildings?
Reviews show that inscriptions of Seljuk tombs in the Northwest are divided into four groups: The Quranic verses, inscription with the theme of the date of construction, inscription with the topic of prayer, and inscription with the theme of the architect and the builder. On the other hand, position these inscriptions in the buildings have been differed proportional in their content. Inscriptions of the Quranic verses in the highest section of building, inscription with topic of prayer in the lower, inscription with the theme of date of construction and architect and builder are placed on the lower levels and on the body of building.
Keywords: Islamic architecture, Seljuk tombs, Northwest of Iran, decorations, inscription.

Introduction
Generally, one way of cognition more about periods of Islamic architecture besides of decorative elements and motifs, is study of inscriptions and their texts. In the Seljuk period, one of their architectural features, are create inscriptions and decorative lines from shaved bricks, that in most of buildings this period (especially tombs) is seen. Furthermore, due to the difficulty of shaving the bricks and the formation of letters and words with it, during this period, the Naskh script was replaced by the Kofi script and inscription with style of stucco was used (Hatam, 1999: 162).
In this article, in addition to reviewing the historical background and the process of build tombs in the Seljuk period to study and compare four tombs in the Seljuk period in Northwest of Iran, first have been introduce architectural features and decorative motifs them. Then, in comparative tables have been specified types of inscriptions and their position on the tombs. In this regard, following questions are raised: How are architecture, motifs and decorations of the Seljuk tombs in northwest Iran? And, their inscriptions are divided into several categories in terms of content? And, what are the effects of concepts of the inscriptions on position them on the buildings?
This study shows, inscriptions of Seljuk tombs in the Northwest are divided into four groups: The Quranic verses, inscription with the theme of the date of construction, inscription with the topic of prayer, and inscription with the theme of the architect and the builder. On the other hand, position these inscriptions in the buildings have been differed proportional in their content. Inscriptions of the Quranic verses in the highest section of building, inscription with topic of prayer in the lower, inscription with the theme of date of construction and architect and builder are placed on the lower levels and on the body of building.

Buildings under study
Gonbad Sorkh: The Gonbad Sorkh is oldest tomb in the Maragheh that is located in the southern part of the city and west side of Hashtrod road. Generally, in the Gonbad Sorkhon and in different parts and also on all sides this tomb is inscription.
Borj Modavar: The Borj Modavar is second tomb built after the Gonbad Sorkh and inside the city of Maragheh. This tomb now is located in Khaje Nasir Street and behind the building of Bank Melli. The Borj Modavar has two inscriptions that both of them are located in the main direction of the building and facing the North. 
Seh Gonbad: The Seh Gonbad is third tomb that was built in the Seljuk period in Azerbaijan. This tomb is located in the southeastern of Urmia city. The three inscriptions with Kofi script and geometric motifs at the facades of this tomb have created beautiful view.
Gonbad Kabood: The Gonbad Kabood after the Gonbad Sorkh and the Borj Modavar is third of building that has been made in the Maragheh city. In this building 5 inscriptions are visible.

Conclusion
It’s certain, in Seljuk period and in the method architects and artists of this period, concepts of inscriptions have played an important role in location of inscriptions. According to this, inscriptions of Quranic verses and inscriptions of mystical concepts and prayers have usually been located at higher levels. Other inscriptions (such as inscriptions with historical or political themes) have usually been located in lower levels. The location of inscriptions in buildings from the down to up in four sections 1, 2, 3, and 4 in the table below is shown.

Hamid Pourdavoud, Hossein Mostajeran, Parastoo Masjedi Khak,
year 3, Issue 7 (5-2019)
Abstract

Abstract
the star tile Apart from beauty and eye-catching, is noteworthy for yet another reason, adorning the tiles with poems by high-profile poets that have doubled the beauty of these tiles. Paying attention to these inscriptions can in some cases be a guide to literary scholars, as the tile recordings sometimes differ from literary manuscripts, The difference most often seen in multiple tiles, probably each produced in a different workshop, is the same, and may indicate the prevalence of that recording during tile production. On the other hand, in some cases, because of the tile year on which the tile was written, the attribution of some poems to a particular poet can be ruled out because of the precedence of producing these tiles over the year of the poet’s birth. It should be noted, however, that in some cases there are differences due to individual scribe error, which require careful use of the inscriptions on these tiles. Because the authors of these tiles were also not error free. The main question of this study is: Can golden tile inscriptions be considered as a basic version? And if so, to what extent can these inscriptions be considered important? The main hypothesis can be put forward as follows: Since tiles are manufactured in a wide range and in different centers, in cases where all the tiles indicate a particular form of verse recordings as opposed to literary manuscripts, tile inscriptions may be given more value. And these tiles are used for critical correction, but for poems that only represent one tile, it should be used more cautiously and deductive correction, in which case only tile inscriptions can be considered as a complement to manuscripts. The research method was based on reading the inscriptions on the tiles and then comparing the Rubaiyat and verses inscribed on the tiles with the recorded form in the literary manuscript..
Keywords: Inscriptions, Golden Tile, Literary Texts, Rubaiyat, Literary Copy.

Introduction
Tile art reached its perfection during the Ilkhanid period and was recognized as an ornamental marker in the culture and art of architecture (Lashkari et al., 201440:). During this period, golden tile was used in different shapes and sizes, with different designs, motifs and inscriptions, the study of which is important in the expression of beliefs and cultures of that age. Studying the inscriptions of these tiles can help scholars to correct literary texts. Because in some cases the inscriptions on these tiles are inscribed with a poem that differs from existing literary manuscripts, or because of the precedence of the year of tile production on the poet’s birth, one can reject the attribution of poetry to a particular poet. The main question of this study is: Can golden tile inscriptions be considered as a basic version? And if so, to what extent can these inscriptions be considered important? The main hypothesis can be put forward as follows: Since tiles are manufactured in a wide range and in different centers, in cases where all the tiles indicate a particular form of verse recordings as opposed to literary manuscripts, tile inscriptions may be given more value. And these tiles are used for critical correction, but for poems that only represent one tile, it should be used more cautiously and deductive correction, in which case only tile inscriptions can be considered as a complement to manuscripts. Almost all the tiles inscriptions, except for a few (Tile 3, 8, 9, 13, First Rubai 14, 16, 17) Exactly as mentioned in this article, it is also mentioned in Takht-e-Soliman tiles (see: Quchani, 1992) and Moghadam Museum tiles (see: Quchani, 1986) Due to limitations, the image of these tiles has not been rendered, but it is important for the reader to note that this is a repetition of the recording. Also, regarding the importance of the inscriptions on these tiles, Abdullah Quchani has mentioned this in his works and has even encouraged scholars to use the inscriptions for the purpose of correcting the literary manuscript (Quchani, 1992: 24).
As mentioned earlier, this paper attempts to correct the literary texts by using the inscriptions of the golden tile, therefore, 19 tiles were studied, all of them with poems by prominent Iranian poets, including Ferdowsi, Baba Afzal Kashani, Mahasti Ganjavi and ... have been Inscriptions written. Among these poets, Ferdowsi and afterwards Baba Afzal have been the most sought after tile makers and their poems are more heavily embedded in the tiles under study than other poets. The point discussed in this article is that in all of the tiles introduced, the poems that are inserted on the tile’s margins differ from those recorded in the existing literary manuscript, In most cases this discrepancy has also been recorded in other identified golden tiles (Takht-e-Soliman tiles, or in front of museum tiles, etc.), which suggests that these differences may be due to the prevalence of the face. Recordings have been in the making of the tiles, though one cannot firmly rule out individual errors in making these differences. And it is necessary to use the inscriptions of these tiles with sufficient care to correct the literary texts about the poems of the famous Iranian poet Ferdowsi,It should be noted the recorded form of these tiles, despite the differences with some corrected manuscripts, however, the recorded form of the this tiles is found in some other manuscripts which appear in footnotes It is literally inserted And this shows the importance of these inscriptions. It is also used in cases such as Tile No. 14 Poems on these tiles, which can be used as an important version for correcting controversial Poems. As shown in the illustrations in the article, these tiles have been depicted in the central part with plant, animal and human motifs, and the tile makers have attempted to create these tiles in a naturalistic way.

Conclusion
Golden tile is an art and literary display, on most of these tiles due to the space constrained try to use Persian Rubaiyat for inscriptions, because in a low space it was possible to convey a wide meaning. In some cases these verses are in conflict with the recordings in the existing literary manuscript. In most cases where discrepancies are observed, the golden tiles emphasize a particular case, which may indicate the prevalence of the form in the past. As it was said, these tiles were manufactured in a wide area in Islamic Iran and this can increase the importance of this tile Inscriptions because if we believe that the difference between the manuscript and the tiles was due to the mistake of the tiles maker how is it possible this mistake be made in a wide area and several different workshops have taken place in an Identical form. But there were also cases where there was a discrepancy between the tiles, as was often seen in the tiles that were inscribed with the Shahnameh verses, which may have been because the Shahnameh copies were in large numbers in the past, as can be seen in the description given for tile NO 14. Also, most of the recordings on these tiles are at least in line with one version. On the other hand, as can be seen in tiles 1,7,15,18 Using these tiles can be questioned the assignment of a poem to a particular poet. Note that the creators of these tiles were not The scribe and may have been mistaken in some cases, which is why they should be cautious in the use of the inscriptions of this tile, especially when a poem comes in only one tile, as this difference It could be due to a scribe’s mistake.

Shahriar Shekarpour, Manzarbano Oladghobad, Abolfazl Abdollahifard,
year 3, Issue 7 (5-2019)
Abstract

Abstract
In the Islamic era, the mosque is known as an architectural index and is considered a sacred and blessed place for the Muslims and has a special status and importance. The architecture of the mosque was gradually embellished with decorations, and over the time, it was filled with special concepts that are full of semantic and decorative elements in Islamic architecture that have extremely benefited from the teachings of Qur’an the Muslim Bible. This diamond engraving has been executed with various Quran, prayer, historical and divine names, and sometimes with the techniques of tiling, brickwork and craftsmanship. The analysis of the contents of the inscriptions used in Goharshad and Hakim mosque and also the exploration of the differences and similarities of the inscriptions of the two mosques are the purposes of this article. Which is in response to the following questions: What are the implications in the Qur’an inscriptions of the Hakim Mosque of Isfahan and Goharshad of Mashhad? What is the difference and similarities between the two mosque inscriptions? The study shows that in the inscriptions of Goharshad mosque, Thuluth script is most used among other scripts, and the Cathay bearings, Scrollwork arabesque bearings motifs coincided with the decoration of the building. In Hakim Mosque of Isfahan, the index script in the inscription is Cufic, Sotto script), and most of the inscriptions are on the same script, and also Thuluth script as well as Nasta’liq script are used in the inscription of this collection. Tobeh, Asra ,Jom ‘eh, Dahr  are among the common chapters between these two collections. Although in the Goharshad Mosque of Mashhad and Hakim mosque of Isfahan share similarities in the structure and content of the inscriptions, the decorative enrichment and Quran inscriptions of Goharshad Mosque are more than Hakim Mosque. The research method in this study is descriptive content analysis and collecting the necessary information was through library studies, observation of collected works and fieldwork.
Keywords: The Art of Teimouri, Safavid Art of Goharshad Mosque of Mashhad, Hakim Isfahan Mosque, Quran Inscriptions.

Introduction
After the emergence of Islam, Mosque was considered as main and holy element of Islamic architecture for representing different arts like inscription writing. The Great Mosque of Goharshad was established in Teimouri age to the request of Gohar Shad Aqa, the wife of Shahrokh Teimouri. Hakim Mosque is also a permanent monument form Safavid age adorned with different inscriptions and considerable decorations. In this research two mosques of Goharshad in Mashhad and Hakim in Isfahan about Quran inscriptions will be studied.

Objectives and Necessity
The objective of this research is presenting a fundamental analysis about concepts and meanings of Quran inscriptions in two mosques of Goharshad and Hakim and examining this concepts wit thought and religious backgrounds. The necessity of this research related to content analysis of these works and relationship between them. 

Research questions and hypotheses 
Research questions are: what concepts are presented in Quran inscriptions in two mosques of Goharshad in Mashhad and Hakim in Isfahan in terms of political and religious contexts of two periods? What are the common and different points of inscriptions? Hypotheses are: as the two mentioned monuments are established and inscription writing in two different periods in terms of time and place and ideology and religion in different thinking contexts, probably choosing verses and sayings will have considerable common and different points coming from thinking  and religious orientations of rules of those periods. 

Research Methodology
In this research, it has been attempted to gather information by library studies and field observation, then the data are analyzed by descriptive-analytical method.

Research Background
Goharshad mosque in Mashhad is considered as one of the main monuments of period of Shahrokh Teimouri. It was built by the command of his wife, Goharshad Aqa in vicinity of Holy Shrine of Imam Reza. Its architect was Qavm Al-din Shirazi, famous architect in Teimouri Period has not only the responsibility of designing and building, but tile working and mosque decorations. The dome of Goharshad Mosque has been decorated with turquoise color with the glory expression “There is just one God, He is Allah”. Hakim mosque in Isfahan is one of the Iran’s architecture masterpieces in Safavid age, having various Banaee (geometric Kofi) scripts. This mosques architecture, tile working and especially Banaee script in this mosque can be considered among the great works of Safavid period and the age after this period. This Mosque was established in period of Second Shah Abbas by “Hakim Mohammad David” (his doctor).
 This mosque is located in an old neighborhood called “Bab Al-Dasht”. The biggest and most beautiful altar in Hakim Mosque is altar under dome having special decorations. Ekhlas chapter has been used in some locations of Hakim mosque. Hakim mosque and Goharshad mosque have been studied in many articles by researchers individually or comparing with other complexes in other terms. Quran verses are the most important themes used in architecture inscriptions especially in holy monuments. 
 
Analytical examination of inscriptions
In Teimouri period these themes was affected by Sunny religion in the country and emergence of Sufi and Shia Movements and Sufi social circles. In religion inscriptions of Goharshad mosque, verse18 of Toubeh Chapter has been scripted. Verse18 of Toubeh Chapter mentions five features for builders of center of worship: faith in God, faith in doomsday, saying prayers, giving alimony, being modesty in front of Glorious God. 

Conclusion
Examinations of decoration and adornment of the two mentioned monuments indicates this point that in both complex Quran katibehs, divine names, Persian poems and also Kufi manucripts have been used. The theme of these verses is about purity, uniqueness and glory of God. In these verses it has been emphasized on worshipping God, saying prayers, biulding mosques, being honest and faith in Doosday. By studying these katibehs it becomes evident that  for Teymoori Empirs these works have been a device for expressing kingdom styles, but Safavi rulers used it as concepts and religious slogans supporting Imams and their revelation. Among the different points of Katibes of the two metioned monuments, we can point to this matter that in Great Goharshad mosque the Thoulth manuscript in inscription writing of this monument is among the top of other manuscripts, but in Hakim mosque, Banaee script is evident in its inscriotion writing and also in inscriptions of Gorarshad mosque names of Holy Imams was not evident-except the name of Imam Ali (P.B.U.H). While in Hakim mosque- in south gate and north façade- there are inscriptions adoned by His names. Nastaliq script in these mosques has been used for writing inscriotions of Persian poems that this case is among the common aspects of inscription writing in these two mosques.
 Among the other inscription differences between these two mosques is using Mohaghegh script in the form of a mother and child in edge of Maqsoureh gate. About our hypothesis it can be said that most of the inscriptions in Hakim moaque (Quran and Haith) has fouced on the issue of province as one of the most findamental principles of Sia, but in Goharshad mosque the focus has been on uniqueness of God and His instructions.   

Yaser Hamzavi, Mahdi Razani,
year 4, Issue 11 (6-2020)
Abstract

 Abstract
The Varjuy rocky temple is one of the prominent buildings with religious purposes and troglodytic architecture on the slopes of Sahand volcanic mountain. It is located in Varjuy village, Maragheh City, East Azerbaijan Province. Verjui Village is located Varouy in the vernacular. The name “Varouy” is composed of two words of “var” with the meaning of sun and “ouy” with the meaning of house in Turkish. So, the name “Varouy” means the house of sun. This name plays a key role in understanding the meaning of this valuable Varjuy complex. Maragheh City was one of the most important cities in Azerbaijan during the Seljuk period. As the first capital of the Il-Khanid (or Mongol) dynasty, this city played a key role in the developments of that era. Maragheh city, with an area of about 5388 km2, is located on the southern slopes of Sahand Mountain in East Azerbaijan Province. It is located in 130 km of Tabriz and limited to Tabriz city from the north, Hashtrood City from the east, Urmia Lake from the west and Miandoab City from the south.
Keywords: Maragheh, Troglodytic Architectural, Varjuy Rocky Temple, Architectural Decoration, Inscription.

Introduction
Today, that room of this temple which was decorated with Muqarnas is known as Mullah Maso’om Imamzadeh, which is the burial site of Mullah Maso’om Maragheh (a scholar lived in Maragheh in the 13th century AH). Until recently, it has been the dome-shaped cover above the openings of Varjuy Rocky Temple but is now destroyed. In previous references, less attention has been paid to the architectural decorations of this troglodytic complex, and in general, many previous studies have repeated the history, use and rock reliefs of this troglodytic buiding. Since no specialized studies have been done on the architectural decorations of this complex so far despite a variety of architectural decorations in this building and the evidence of the use of decorations made by materials other than stone in this building, the present study aims to recognize and introduce the architectural decorations applied in the troglodytic architecture of Varjuy rocky temple in Maragheh. Considering the research objective, field study (coding, photography of architectural spaces and architectural decorations, and detailed exploration of them) and library study are applied to verify the obtained information and then, content analysis is performed. The present study is applied-developmental research.
Data collection methods: A. Review and study of Persian texts in the field of troglodytic architecture will be done to extract historical and technical information. B. Field study and documentation of the status quo: Field studies will be performed to understand the troglodytic architecture of Varjuy Rocky Temple and especially, its architectural decorations. In the present study, observation is one of the necessary methods for deep understanding of the nature of the phenomena and variables studied. C. Analysis: After analyzing the information obtained from field studies and observations, at this stage, a more detailed analysis of the data and identified components will be performed and in this regard, important concepts and points will be extracted.
The review of historical and comparative studies on the troglodytic architecture of Varjuy Rocky Temple showed that there is still no single opinion about the uses of this complex in different periods, especially about its temple use. However, current studies show that this building was used in the Middle Islamic period (around the Il-Khanid period). Moreover, after introducing the spaces and their architectural and structural features, as well as studying the surfaces of the interior of this rocky temple, it was found that this building has architectural decorations, which have been not described and studied in other studies on this building. In addition, there are shortcomings in the identification and accurate reporting of the verses carved on the building body, as well as the lack of recognition of architectural layers and decorations of this building in previous studies. This building has been considered and applied in the Middle Islamic period and some architectural decorations of calcareous mortars have been executed on the body of its main Gonbad-khaneh (the space under the dome), and there is a need to revise the previous interpretations of rock reliefs of this building. We now know that in addition to rocky decorations in the form of Quranic Surahs, interior plaster is observed in the troglodytic architecture of this building and all the decorations in the interior of the main Gonbad-Khaned (V-6 space) were of plaster and not rock. In addition, the plaster has been renewed in different periods and different plastering techniques have been used for the interior.
Another point is that in most of the interior spaces, a plastering mortar has been used. The plaster in this building is considered architectural decoration. Considering the stiffness, color and materials of the mortar, it seems a kind of Pozzolan-lime mortar. The mortar has been applied in several layers, all of which belong to the Middle Islamic period, because there are Thuluth calligraphies below these layers. In the architectural decorations of this collection, the inscription has been executed in two different spaces using two different techniques: carving technique in space V4 and painted inscription technique in space V6. This point was identified for the first time in this research. Evidence shows the three layers of mortar applied to the dado of the main Gonbad-Khane of the studied temple. Among the characteristics of the abovementioned mortar, one can mention the high stiffness, gray color, low thickness and similarity of the bottom layer to the surrounding stone. Evidence also indicates the use of red pigment in the structure of the mortar, which made it red (top layer). Also, in the middle layer, plant fibers have been used extensively and their remains can be clearly seen.

Frida Forouzan, Rouhollah Yousefi Zoshk, Mahmoud Tavousi,
year 6, Issue 20 (9-2022)
Abstract

Abstract
One of the most important and controversial prehistoric cultural periods is Proto Elamite period, which can be considered as a revolution in the development, growth and development of communication and interaction of the people of that period, in the period of 3300 to 3000 B.C Many changes took place in this golden age, which itself is due to the existence of political and social complexities. During this period, livestock unions were formed, which had an Proto Elamite  writting on the inscriptions of this period. The union’s livelihood was based on animal husbandry. The economies of monogamous and farming communities are fully integrated with the livestock nomadic economy, and farmers are therefore the direct economic dependents of nomadic unions. Of course, it goes without saying that nomadic ranchers also need farmers, but this was not always the case. Farmers provided some of the farmers’ grains, but the farmers continued to cultivate. They usually had rainfed agriculture. But in general, the most important livestock economy is herding, and farmers needed to migrate to find forage, and on the other hand, the very hot weather in the area of Susa was not tolerable for livestock, and farmers had to migrate to colder areas. The inscriptions are very important in this cultural period. Inscriptions changed from counting mode to scrolls for managing office and animal documents that were thought-provoking. One of the most significant areas of the fourth millennium BC is the area of Susa, which in this period has a lot of livestock inscriptions. In this article, the authors try to analyze the type and number of livestock inscriptions, the existence of a nomadic union, and subsequently the bipolarity of the Susa community in the early Elamite period.
Keywords: Fourth Millennium BC, Proto Elamite, Susa, Animal Husbandry, Inscription.

Introduction
Proto Elamaite refers to a period in history that chronologically shows 14 carbon samples obtained from millions of times between 3300 and 3000 BC.( Dahl et al, 2013: 358). But the end of this cultural period is not very clear yet (Pats, 1396: 99). Today, there are various sites from this period in Iran, some of which have been excavated, but according to the excavated sites, it covers a large part of the Iranian plateau, and so far 8 of its sites have been identified with an integrated writing standard.some of them like 1. Susa (Vallat, 1971) 2. Sialk (Ghrishman, 1938: XXXI) 3. Tal Geser (Alizadeh, 2014). Proto Elamite writing has an integrated structure in terms of form, writing and in terms of illustrating the ideas of the drawings. For example, in the field of animal texts, all of them have used a series of common or close signs, and in most cases, all of them have shown the difference between male and female goats, male and female sheep, and lambs with a single sign .Also, the same collection counting system is used.
Objective: To study the duality of the population of Susa (monogamous and nomadic) in the fourth millennium BC is based on the inscriptions of Proto Elamaite period, based on which it can be seen that Susa in Proto Elamate period is a bipolar society. Indigenous and probably in the same language, the Mesopotamian family is in the south of the Acropolis hill of Susa and a farming and pastoral community in the north of the Acropolis hill. Each nation provided the economic market for the other.
Research Questions: Has a union of animal husbandry communities been formed in Iran during Proto Elamaite period? Was Susa a community, farmer and cattle breeder in the Proto Elamite period?? What cultural connections have there been between livestock and monogamous communities?
Hypothesis: Considering the similarity of the structure and texts of Proto Elamite in the Iranian plateau, it can be seen that there was a connection between these areas and since the most consistency in the signs as well as the areas found in the herd. Early Elamite writings are related to animal texts, it can be seen that the livestock community may have played a role in this collection. These livestock communities in southwestern Iran were in close contact with Susa to meet their material needs, and probably half of Susa communities were forced to migrate to the highlands due to the large number of livestock in the warmer months of the year.
Research Method: In this research, the aim is to reconstruct the herdsman community living in the Susa area in the second half of the 4th millennium BC, which according to the statistical analysis of the number of livestock tablets compared to other Proto Elamite texts, shows that the most Note that these tablets have livestock provisions. In fact, it is possible to understand the type of livelihood of the Sush community in the Proto Elamite period from reading the tables, which is that the people of Sush were cattle breeders in the north of the hill and farmers in the south of the hill. The tablets obtained, which are mentioned in the research proposal, how to discover and decipher them, are very effective in achieving the goal of this research.

Proto Elamite inscriptions obtained from Susa
Proto Elamite inscriptions were first found in the excavations of Susa in 1900. (De Morgan, 1900: 130) Inscriptions are flattened clay fragments made by hand. They have formed. And are cooked at low heat or not cooked at all. In their study, the authors divided the Elamite inscriptions from Susa into two categories. One is the texts obtained from MDP.17, most of which were found from the north of Susa hill, and the other is the rest of the Susa inscriptions, which are generally obtained from the south of Susa hill. Demorgan’s large trench in MDP.6 had less than 10 percent of the animal texts But MDP.17 has the highest percentage of livestock statistics

Animal Texts of Susa
The content of all Elamite texts is administrative and related to the production, storage and distribution of the product (Dahl, 2015). In Proto Elamite texts, various signs are used for animals and livestock, but among them, only the sign of sheep and goat can be recognized with complete certainty due to the similarity with the example of the beginning of cuneiform can be distinguished from other animal signs. All livestock and domestic animal signs used in the herd are shown with abstract signs. Also, one of the most important factors related to livestock communities is the use of signs of livestock products.

Conclusion
Today, in the southwest of Iran, there are nomadic communities that have land in summer and winter, and apart from animal husbandry, whose main occupation is seasonal and rainfed agriculture, which does not meet the consumption of the whole year. And trade in livestock products and grains with the surrounding farming communities, and since the life of nomads depends on climate and environment, and since the end of the fourth millennium BC, major changes in water conditions and the weather in southwestern Iran has not happened. It is possible that the life of the nomads in Proto Elamite period was the same as now. By examining Proto Elamite tablets of Susa, it can be found that a significant part of them (nearly one third of the texts) are concepts related to wages, payment and in the field of livestock activity or collection and audit of livestock, and Attention is also regular with agricultural activity or payment of wages. By classifying the tablets and also according to the statistical concepts and percentages, it is determined that more than 32% of Proto Elamite texts obtained from Trench I of Domkenam in the north of the Acropolis hill are directly related to the counting and trading of livestock and may be part of the payment inscriptions whose goods Not specified, also related to livestock. According to Domkanem’s explanation, part of the inscriptions of the Great Trench of Damurgan is probably related to the texts of grain, storage and payment of labor wages, and at the time of publication, it was merged with a part of the tablets of the Great Trench in other Sush collections such as the book MDP.17 It has been reported that if they are separated, the number of livestock in the north of Shush Hill will probably reach a much higher number than %32. which in general can be understood the livelihood and life of the people of Susa in Proto Elamite period.

Tahereh Shishehbori, Hossein Ahmadi, Ahmad Salehikakhki,
year 6, Issue 20 (9-2022)
Abstract

Abstract
Inscriptions in the decorations of building of the Islamic period have been noticed by artists since the early Islamic centuries. Overtime, inscriptions are damaged by various factors and need to be restored. Considering that every year in the country, a large amount of restoration operations are carried out on damaged historical monuments, including inscriptions. It was seen through the investigation that in most cases the restorations are tasteful and sometimes incorrect. In order to find the most important causes of incorrect restoration in written inscriptions, the qualitative method was used, and the grounded theory method was used to analyze the data. This research is practical in terms of purpose. The data was collected through field observations and interviews with 12 people related to the restoration of inscriptions and by purposeful sampling, and the data continued until theoretical saturation was reached. The results of the research showed that in addition to the lack of criteria that agree with the theoretical foundations of restorations, due to the prominence of the calligraphy and category, factors such as self-centered empiricism, the variety of viewpoints, knowledge and awareness of the traditional master craftsman and the rules of restoration and the lack of the artistic perspective of the traditional master craftsman. For various reasons, inscriptions have led to incorrect restorations, and of course, the lack of training courses by the institutions in charge of restoration has also been involved. Also, the variety of approaches in the restoration of inscriptions and lack of attention to the rules governing the art of inscriptions are considered as the most important consequences of the restoration of inscriptions. 
Keywords: Written Inscription, Incorrect Restoration, Foundation Data Theory, Architecture of The Islamic Period of Iran.

Introduction
With the beginning of the Islamic era and the restoration of human and animal depictions, the use of inscriptions with religious, literary and historical themes reached its peak with various calligraphy methods and styles. This enduring art that is inscription is still performed by artists to this day. Inscription like other historical works, suffer from various physical, chemical, biological and human damages, and from various perspectives of value, aesthetics, originality, legibility, unity and integrity they suffer serious damage. Therefore, despite the important characteristics mentioned about this category of written works, the need to pay attention to this category of work is revealed in restoration operations. The importance of paying attention to the issue among other valuable historical and cultural work is important in the sense that there is a lake of criteria in accordance with the theoretical foundations of restoration, for the restoration of areas lacking in this category of valuable written works. Although in most cases, the restoration of this category of works is often done under the supervision of restoration experts, the approach and methods of doing the work in different examples are not subject to scientific principles and are mostly tasteful and sometimes incorrect and without regard to the ruling principles, they are restored on the art of calligraphy and inscriptions and it has caused distortion and sometimes loss of the of the inscription, its values and message.
According to examples of the restoration of written inscriptions ,when the restoration of a written inscription is done incorrectly , in fact, readability , integrity and beauty ( Beauty is in  harmony , balance, proportion , even beauty in observing the rules and recognizing the values and materials have been used (Qutbi, 1352, 31) the inscription is distorted and the audience , when viewing an inscription that has been incorrectly restored , gets the visual pleasure of seeing the harmony and connection between the words in an inscription will bs deprived. In fact, carrying out the restoration operation should reduce the inconsistency caused by the lack of space and help to read the work better.

Method Research
The upcoming research is applied research in terms of its purpose, because the researcher seek to obtain information that can be used in practical situations or solve a problems by means of them and obtain a solution to a problem. This research is a qualitative research in terms of method and in terms of data collection, it is based on field studies, interviews, observation and collection of documents and texts within the framework of the grounded theory method. The interview was conducted with the purposeful sampling method and until the theoretical saturation was reached 12 people were interviewed among the restoration experts, inscription artists and master traditional craftsmen. Grounded theory and systematic coding were used to analyze the interviews.

Research Background
Although restoration of inscriptions has always been one of the concerns of restorers, it seems that a comprehensive, coherent and effective study has not been done in this field. For example, the following can be mentioned: the Scientifics specialized and professional restoration community has not restoration of inscriptions of mosaic tiles in Iran (Soleimani et al., 2014), researchers have criticized the methods of restoration of mosaic tiles but there is no mention of the causes of its correct restoration. Also, sources such as Quchani (1365: 51), Bler (1394: 30) and Qader (1391: 86 &103) mention the non-original restorations of the reason for that has not been discussed. By checking the databases related to non-Persian theses, unfortunately, no example similar to the subject of this research was found. In line with above investigations, Persian sources were also carefully checked. 

Conclusion
Inscriptions are one of the most important and valuable works of the Islamic period and they are a living document from different perspectives such as historical, artistic etc. Restoration of inscription has always been one of the concerns of restorers. But the results of the interview and data showed that the main factor in the variety of approaches in the restoration of inscriptions and the lack of attention to the rules and regulations of inscriptions in the process of restoration operations is self-centered empiricism. Among the traditional craftsmen and even the scribes who are somehow related to the restoration process of the inscriptions, ignorance of the restoration rules or even ignorance of the different aspects of the inscriptions can be seen. Also, looking at the conducted interviews, it can be pointed out that the role of the custodian institutions in relation to the restoration of inscription is weak, unfortunately, in this field , training courses are not held for the inscription writers and traditional masters, and it seems that by holding training courses and obliging inscription writers and traditional masters to participate in these classes, recognizing the values of the works and observing various aspects in the matter of restoration are institutionalized. Even though in most cases, restoration operations are carried out under the supervision of restoration experts unfortunately, due to the lake of standards in the restoration of inscriptions shortage areas, diversity of approaches in the restoration of inscriptions and even incorrect restorations can be seen, also, it seems that one of the challenges in the field of protection and restoration of written inscriptions is the theoretical issues related.
To the restoration of this category of valuable written works: because the theoretical reliance of the theoretical discussions of conservation and restoration is often focused on Western theorists and their studies and theories, which have been explained from the viewpoint of a group of researchers and following the statements of summits, charters and such. Especially, when these theoretical rules are put forward in a general way and without considering the spatial, temporal and cultural background, they usually face constructions. In order to correct and solve these problems, attention should be paid to the local knowledge, which can be a way forward in view of the existing knowledge in the field of Iranian architecture and the rules governing the art of inscriptions, and in order to add new concepts and foundations to the field of conservation knowledge and restoration can be considered. 

Majid Montazerzohouri, Mohsen Javeri, Dieter Weber,
year 6, Issue 22 (2-2023)
Abstract

Abstract
The historical site of Vigol and Haraskan is located near Aran and Bidgol city in the north of Isfahan province. The archaeological studies of the first season of this site led to the identification of the central part of a fire temple and a small part of its circumambulation corridor. The second season of the archeological exploration in the fire temple was to identify other spaces around the central part of the fire temple. Archaeological studies revealed that since this fire temple was built in the urban context, it is more important than the fire temples that were built away from settlement areas. Beside architectural evidences, religious elements and decorative stucco relics found in this fire temple, the identification of several Sassanid Pahlavi inscriptions on the walls of the eastern circumambulation corridor of the fire temple and two Ostracons added to its importance. Pahlavi inscriptions founded on stucco plaster of the dado which are written in a beautiful handwriting. Unfortunately, except for a few inscriptions, most of them cannot be read and require extensive research. In this research data collection about Vigol fire temple and its Pahlavi inscriptions was done by field methods and linguistic and descriptive-analytical studies. The main questions of the research are: What is the content of Pahlavi inscriptions and what themes do they include? What period of time does the estimated date of writing these inscriptions include? Given to linguistic and archeological studies, the placement of these inscriptions inside the fire temple, the content and of them has religious themes, and according to their writing style, these inscriptions were probably written in the 7th and 8th centuries AD. According to the dating of the inscriptions, it seems that the fire temple of Vigol had a high reputation until the early Islamic centuries and was probably abandoned forever in the first of 9th AD century.
Keywords: Vigol and Haraskan, Fire Temple,Sassanan Period, Islamic Period, Pahlavi Inscription.

Introduction
Vigol ancient site has located in near Aran and Bidgol County in central of Iran (fig1). That is a vast site which covers more than 120 hectares, is currently covered with a thick accumulation of flowing sand. Archaeological excavations in the year 2010 led to the discovery of Sasanian fire temples in the site of Vigol and Hraskan, and the identification of four arches and a part of the circumambulation corridor was done in the first season of the excavation (Javari & MontazerZohouri, 2022). The second season of excavation in Vigol fire temple began in May 2021, which was aimed at identifying other spaces around the central part of the fire temple.
One of the most important evidences is the discovery of several Pahlavi inscriptions on one of dados and two walls which covered with ocher in the western corridor. These inscriptions, in addition to providing some religious statements, help us to identify the existence of the fire temple.In the procedure in the first stage, the found Pahlavi inscriptions were read, and along it, they were compared with archaeological and historical evidences. The number of inscriptions identified in this fire temple are six, but three of them are readable. Also, two pieces of written pottery (Ostracons) were also identified, which are still not readable due to high erosion.
The second season of the excavation of the fire temple was dedicated to the four-arched doorways (char taqi) of the fire temple on the north, east and west sides(fig2). In the next step, the exploration focused on identifying the spaces of ambulatory corridors in the north, east, west, and south sides around the four arches of the fire temple. Archeological studies as well as historical evidence about the fire temples led to the recognition of several architectural phases in this religious building. The second phase of the architecture of this fire temple is related to the porticoes built in the east of the fire temple and the third architectural phase is related to the period of the change of use of this fire temple in the Islamic period, when some spaces of the fire temple, such as the northern and western gates and the gates in the eastern corridor, were blocked with mud brick walls.

Inscriptions
A total of six inscriptions have been found on the walls of the eastern ambulatory corridor in the southern part, of which three inscriptions have been read. Among the six identified inscriptions, two inscriptions are on the eastern wall, one of these two inscriptions is written on the northern dado and the other is written on the upper part of the southern wall on which has an ocher cover. Four other inscriptions were written on the western of the southern part of wall of the eastern circumambulation corridor in front of the inscriptions on the eastern wall which all due to erosion are not readable (Fig3).
Inscription No. 1 located on the western wall is considered the clearest inscription in this collection, which is written on the stucco plaster of the wall with a legible and well-written script that is in five lines(Fig5). The text of the inscription was read by Professor Dieter Weber, a specialist in ancient languages, which is as follows: The text of the first inscription, according to the transliteration and reading of the inscription, has repeated and practiced writing the word “wrote” (nwbšht), which can be fallowed this word in other Pahlavi inscriptions. A number of thin pieces of plaster of this dado of the eastern wall of the Eastern ambulatory Corridor, which contain Pahlavi letters, were identified during the excavation at the side of the floor of this corridor(Table1). These thin gypsum pieces are part of the dado of the wall and contain several connected words and part of a legible and sometimes indistinct letter, which are written on the plaster using black ink with a pen, just like the original upper inscription. In terms of the dating of inscription number one and other inscriptions, according to Professor Weber, who studied this inscriptions, this writing style of Pahlavi script belongs to the late Pahlavi script, in other wise, to the early Islamic period, almost equal to 7th 8th centuries AD are relate.
Inscription No.2, this inscription is written in one line, which probably reflects a religious theme(Fig 8 ). The text of the inscription says: “(donated) to šād ruy baxt Āzarmugh”; in another sense, “it was charmingly presented to Āzarmugh”. This inscription is of special importance because it contains the name of a Zoroastrian priest of this region in the Islamic period, “Āzarmugh”. This evidence also tells about the existence of Zoroastrian religion in the early Islamic centuries in this region and the insistence of the residents of this area to preserve this religion.
‘L š’tlwdbht ’clmwk
ō šadrōybaxt Āzarmōg
Inscription number three, which is written in two lines, is still not possible to provide a consistent reading and translation due to erosion and lack of clarity(Fig 8 ).
1 KR’  MNW wlt’ý Y ZNH … l’d
2 BYN …… k’lyt …-b’k wl t’ý Y ZNH  
The phonetic writing of this inscription is as follows. In this inscription, there are words that include some illegible words and some Huzvariš, which are as follows: (KR’) with the reading of “har”:(evry); (MNW) with the reading of “Ke, Keš”:(which); (BYN) with the reading of  “andar”:(in,inner); and (ZNH) with the reading of “en”:(this).

Conclusion
The discovery of Pahlavi inscriptions in the fire temple of Vigol, in addition to the linguistic and grammar value in the field of linguistic studies and the Pahlavi lines of archaeological importance, is a great help for further understanding of the fire temple of Vigol as a fire temple with the rank of Adran, which is in the rank of local fire temples. The first important point is the place where these inscriptions were written in the fire temple, all of them were written in the eastern circumambulatory corridor in the southern part, on the stucco plaster of the dado  of the western wall and on the ocher cover of the upper part of the eastern wall. It seems that due to the location of the porticoes as places related to religious ceremonies in the east of the fire temple and the role of the Eastern circumambulatory corridor between the interior of the fire temple and the porticoes, this corridor has gained more importance and is a suitable place to insert religious inscriptions. In addition to including statements of religious nature and Zoroastrian tradition, the inscriptions help us in determining the historical and archaeological chronology of this fire temple. Based on the studies, according to the writing method and the type of pen, these inscriptions were written in the early Islamic centuries, which prove the religious persistence of the Zoroastrian community in the region until the early Islamic centuries on the other hand, the inclusion of the name “Azarmug” as a Zoroastrian cleric (Mubed) in the early Islamic centuries in central Iran is of particular importance.

Javad Abbasi, Roya Bahadori, Federica Cappa, Dubravka Jembrih-Simbuerger, Manfred Schreiner, Seyyed Iraj Beheshti,
year 7, Issue 23 (5-2023)
Abstract

Abstract
In this study, the colors used in the Inscription and mural paintings of tomb of Ghadmagah in Neishabour were analyzed by instrumental analytical methods. Ghadmagah is located in the center of the Zabarkhan section, on the Neyshabur-Mashhad Road. Ghadmagah tomb-garden is located in the village of the same name 24 kilometers east of Neyshabur, Iran, and was built in the early seventeenth century. According to historical sources Ghadmagah was built in the early eleventh century AH (ca. 1600 AD), and the origin of this site dates back to Islam. Some believe that the Ghadmagah monument was designed by Sheikh Baha’i. The architectural decoration of this building is most importantly tiling, plastering and mural paintings. Given that the building was built in different periods and originally dates back to the Safavid period. The present study aimed to study the color bedding and pigments in the Inscription and mural paintings of the building to find out what period the mural paintings in the building belong to. Mural painting is one of the Iran arts that based on the signs of old paint can be pursued to pre-history. One of the most important issues in the study of historical paintings, especially mural paint, is the identification of the nature of paintings used to decorate the walls. Identification of pigments is also important not only from the perspective of archeology but also in terms of the history of art and knowledge of degradation processes and the development of monument conservation strategies is also important. In this study, instrumental methods such as scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), Fourier- transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), polarized light microscopy (PLM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and micro-Raman spectroscopy have been used for elemental and compound microanalysis of the samples. 
Keywords: Pigment, Neyshabur Ghadmagah, Inscription, Mural Painting, Analytical Methods.

Introduction
The use of physical and chemical analysis methods to identify the constituents of works of art, before any intervention occurs, plays a key role; because the results of such an analysis are very useful for deciding whether to conserve or regenerate these materials. In addition, each of the different pigments can have a different regeneration process. On the other hand, the analysis of ancient paintings may provide information about the artistic techniques and visual materials used in the past and expand the knowledge of the customs and techniques of ancient societies. 
In fact, physical and chemical analysis provides useful information about the range of pigments present in an area and knowledge of dye preparation techniques and applications. In addition, the study of the originality and origin of pigments allows the discovery of connections and trade lines. On the other hand, restorers need detailed information about the chemical composition of the materials used in a work before restoration work. 
Identifying the materials and pigments used in this building is one of the most important questions of this research, and then by considering the history of using pigments, we can understand the dating of the paintings in this building. Do these paintings belong to the period of construction of the building, ie the Safavid period, or were they added to the building in later historical periods? Depending on the type of painting pigments, the colors can be restored. 

Materials and Methods 
In this research, empirical and analytical methods have been used to achieve the goals. Data collection is based on information from library studies and instrumental methods. The complete information of the devices used in this research is fully described in the Materials and Methods section. 
In this study, instrumental methods such as scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), Fourier- transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), polarized light microscopy (PLM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and micro-Raman spectroscopy have been used for elemental and compound microanalysis of the samples. 

Data 
The result of the analysis showed that the blue color was used in inscription was artificial ultramarine (Na6-10Al6Si6O24S2-4) on a gypsum layer (CaSO4.2H2O) also gold color showed presence of copper and zinc alloy in the ratio of 10:1 in gold color. The blue color used in the mural paintings was also artificial ultramarine on a red layer of ochre. The result of micro-Raman showed that green pigment was copper phthalocyanine (phthalocyanine green). The results of identification of the orange-red revealed the presence of a mixture of red lead (minium) and red ochre (iron oxide) in the sample. Also, according to the obtained results, ochre and mixture of iron and manganese oxides were used in red and brown colors. 

Discussion 
The inscription at the top of the building used two colors, blue and gold, the result of the analysis showed that the blue color was artificial ultramarine (Na6-10Al6Si6O24S2-4) on a gypsum layer (CaSO4.2H2O). The absence of minerals such as pyrite and calcite in the PLM images indicates that the ultramarine is synthetic. The blue color used in the mural paintings was also artificial ultramarine on a red layer of ochre. The result of micro-Raman showed that green pigment was copper phthalocyanine (phthalocyanine green). A synthetic organic material composed of chlorinated copper phthalocyanine (chlorinated Phthalocyanine blue). Phthalocyanine green was introduced as an industrial pigment in 1938. This pigment is unaffected by light, heat, and chemicals the use of this pigment showed that the mural paintings was restored in Contemporary period. The results of identification of the orange-red revealed the presence of a mixture of red lead (minium) and red ochre (iron oxide) in the sample. Also, according to the obtained results, ochre and mixture of iron and manganese oxides were used in red and brown colors. FTIR results showed the presence of organic material only in green, indicating that it was the only reconstituted pigment, but no other organic material was detected in other colors, which may be due to the instability of organic materials during the time. 
Green phthalocyanine copper is a new pigment that may have been used to restore painting. This pigment was first used in 1320 AD, but it is not clear on what date this pigment was used to repair or reconstruct this paint. Due to the presence of oil in the FTIR spectrum of this color, it seems that unlike other colors, oil has been used to close this color, and the technique used in this color is different from other colors. 

Conclusion 
Identification of materials and pigments showed that the paintings are due to the presence of artificial ultramarine, were done in the Qajar period (1789-1925) and presence of phthalocyanine green in green color showed that this mural painting was restored in Contemporary period. 
The result of the analysis showed that the blue color was used in inscription was artificial ultramarine (Na6-10Al6Si6O24S2-4) on a gypsum layer (CaSO4.2H2O). The absence of minerals such as pyrite and calcite in the PLM images indicates that the ultramarine is synthetic. The results of identification of gold color showed presence of copper and zinc alloy in the ratio of 10:1 in gold color. The blue color used in the mural paintings was also artificial ultramarine on a red layer of ochre. The result of micro-Raman showed that green pigment was copper phthalocyanine (phthalocyanine green). A synthetic organic material composed of chlorinated copper phthalocyanine (chlorinated Phthalocyanine blue). Phthalocyanine green was introduced as an industrial pigment in 1938. This pigment is unaffected by light, heat, and chemicals the use of this pigment showed that the mural paintings was restored in Contemporary period. The results of identification of the orange-red revealed the presence of a mixture of red lead (minium) and red ochre (iron oxide) in the sample. Also, according to the obtained results, ochre and mixture of iron and manganese oxides were used in red and brown colors. Identification of materials and pigments showed that the paintings are due to the presence of artificial ultramarine, were done in the Qajar period (1789-1925) and presence of phthalocyanine green in green color showed that this mural painting was restored in Contemporary period. FTIR results showed the presence of organic material only in green, indicating that it was the only reconstituted pigment, but no other organic material was detected in other colors, which may be due to the instability of organic materials during the time.

Sanaz Arian,
year 7, Issue 26 (2-2024)
Abstract

Abstract
Mohammad Saleh Esfahani was one of the prominent calligraphers and inscription writers of the Safavid period, under the rule of Shah Suleiman and Shah Sultan Hussein. According to the findings, a significant number of Nastaliq inscriptions in the buildings of Isfahan belong to him. In addition, there are several Chalipas by Mohammad Saleh. Based on this, it is important to explore his works in the field of calligraphy studies for finding methods of analysis of other works in this field. The purpose of this research is to investigate the differences between the pieces of Chalipa and the inscriptions of Mohammad Saleh Esfahani in three systems of baseline, composition and the visual weight. The question is, what are the differences between the Chalipa pieces and the inscriptions of Mohammad Saleh Esfahani according to the principles (which was mentioned)? And what are their reasons? The hypothesis of this research indicates that there are differences between the Chalipa and inscriptions of Mohammad Saleh, which can be recognized and investigated by three mentioned calligraphy systems. This descriptive-analytical research is done by use of library resources in order to analyses some of Mohammad Saleh Isfahani’s works, including the inscriptions  were found in three buildings in the city of Isfahan (Chaharbagh School, Imamzadeh Ismail, and the tombstone of Saeb Tabrizi Tomb) and some Chalipa pieces (available in museums and libraris). The results of the research show that there are differences in the application of calligraphy principles in the three systems of baseline, composition and the visual weight in pieces of Chalipa and inscriptions because of various reasons such as: text content, limitations of design , pen Dang. , the appropriate level of the works  and  etc. based on these reasons, it can be found that Mohammad Saleh Esfahani has adopted different methods and principles for the calligraphy of Chelipa and inscriptions.
Keywords: Principle of Calligraphy, Mohammad Saleh Isfahani, Chalipa, Inscription, Nastaliq Script, Safavid Period.

Introduction
Understanding the rules, discerning the structure, and grasping the principles that govern the Nastaliq script are essential aspects for a comprehensive comprehension of the development and evolution of this script. The Nastaliq script is employed in various formats tailored to its specific applications and purposes. Among the noteworthy calligraphers and epigraphers during the Safavid era, particularly under the reigns of King Suleiman and King Sultan Hossein, Mohammad Saleh Esfahani stands out. He has been associated with a considerable number of Nastaliq inscriptions adorning buildings in Isfahan, alongside his contributions to the creation of Chalipa pieces. Thus, it is imperative to closely examine his artistic works in the realm of calligraphy studies and adopt suitable methods of analysis. The primary objective of this research endeavor is to investigate the distinctions between Chalipa pieces and Mohammad Saleh Esfahani’s inscriptions across three key systems: Baseline, Combination, and Visual Weight.
This research endeavors to explore the dissimilarities between Chalipa’s pieces and Mohammad Saleh Esfahani’s inscriptions within the context of calligraphic principles, specifically in the three systems of Baseline, Combination, and Visual Weight. The underlying inquiry revolves around identifying the reasons behind these disparities. The working hypothesis of this study postulates that distinct variations exist between Chalipa’s pieces and Mohammad Saleh’s inscriptions, and such distinctions can be examined through the application of the principles governing the calligraphy above systems.
Research Method: This research is structured into three main parts, preceded by examining the research background and collecting relevant library information. The initial two parts entail a comprehensive study and scrutiny of the principles above, as evidenced in the works of Mashakhi and Mohammad Saleh Esfahani’s inscriptions, respectively. The third part aims to analyze the gathered information to address the research questions. The descriptive-analytical research method has been employed in this article to achieve a precise and thorough response. The data is primarily derived from an exploration of Mohammad Saleh Isfahani’s works, including inscriptions discovered in various buildings within Isfahan City (such as Chaharbagh School, Emamzadeh Ismaeil, and the tombstone of Saeb Tabrizi) and certain handwritten pieces sourced from museums and libraries. Ultimately, a qualitative analysis has been performed to interpret the findings.

Discussion and Analysis
This research delves into the investigation of the principles governing Mohammad Saleh Esfahani’s works, focusing on the three systems of Baseline, Combination, and Visual Weight. The study involves a separate examination of these systems in both Chalipa’s pieces and his own inscriptions. The research findings reveal that Mohammad Saleh employed distinct techniques to achieve the desired outcomes in each of the three systems. Specifically, in Chalipas, the consistent slope contributes to proportion, balance, and overall aesthetic harmony. To achieve these effects, Mohammad Saleh employed a subtle curve at the beginning and end of each line while carefully observing the ratio between them.
Additionally, the presence of identical rhymes played a significant role in harmonizing the Baseline curvature of the calligraphic pieces. In cases where identical rhymes were absent, Mohammad Saleh achieved proportional and balanced combinations by adjusting the positioning of letters and altering the degree of inclination of the stanzas. The meticulous selection and utilization of strokes emerged as another vital factor in the combination system, which Mohammad Saleh adeptly employed in conjunctive writing to achieve this artistic aim. As observed in Mohammad Saleh’s works, creating a hypothetical perpendicular line stands out as another pivotal factor in forming the Combination system. This hypothetical line becomes apparent through the careful selection of words and the establishment of rhythm, achieved by employing isomorphism in Chalipa’s pieces.
Moreover, the strategic utilization of dots, in accordance with the principle of ownership, as well as the positioning and direction of punctuation on letters and words, play influential roles in creating positive and negative spaces, ultimately achieving a balanced visual weight - techniques skillfully employed by Mohammad Saleh. When examining the three governing systems in calligraphic inscriptions, it becomes crucial to consider several principles. The initial principle revolves around the proportionality of inscriptions, focusing on the relationship between the width of the pen and the dimensions of the inscription’s length and width. Calligraphers ensure that the text is written so that its length and width exhibit uniformity and consistency from the beginning to the end. Another significant aspect involves acknowledging the distinction between forms of exercises and books, which are typically written by calligraphers themselves, and the execution of calligraphic pieces for inscriptions by various artisans such as tilers, plasterers, and stonemasons. This disparity can lead to unregulated variations in implementing letters and words.
Furthermore, in examining and analyzing inscriptions, considering three factors, namely color, light, and pattern, holds significant importance. Incorporating color alongside light as a contributing element plays a pivotal role in establishing the Visual Weight of the inscription. The color contrast achieved through distinct implementation techniques exerts a considerable influence on the visual arrangement for the audience and enhances the inscription’s legibility. For instance, in the sculpting technique applied to the inscriptions on Saeb’s tombstone, the monochromatic and uniform lighting choice relegates the inscription’s visual priority to the audience. Another aspect to consider is the motifs strategically placed around or between the lines of each inscription, which often serve as decorative elements. These motifs are among the various influential factors impacting the readability of inscriptions and the principles of combination, encompassing elements like Calligraphic Strokes and Lacuna, punctuation, and so forth.

Conclusion
The investigation aimed to address the research question concerning the disparities between Chalipa’s works and Mohammad-Saleh Esfahani’s calligraphy in terms of the principles of calligraphy, specifically focusing on the three systems of Baseline, Combination, and Visual Weight. The study also sought to understand the underlying reasons behind their respective utilization. The findings demonstrate that the calligrapher employed these principles in both Chalipa’s pieces and his inscriptions. However, distinctions in the form of Chalipa and inscriptions led to variations in how these principles were applied in their respective works. Notably, the choice of surface played a significant role, with paper being the preferred medium for Chalipa pieces, while materials like stone, tile, or wood were used for inscriptions.
Additionally, the constraints imposed by the customer, including limited space and frame for inscriptions, exerted a noteworthy influence, restricting the calligrapher’s application of the principles governing Baseline, Combination, and Visual Weight compared to the more flexible format of Chalipa. For instance, regardless of word count, the uniform size frame for all stanzas limited the calligrapher’s ability to achieve optimal combinations, baselines, and visual weight, a limitation not present in Chalipa pieces. Other factors contributing to these differences included adjustments in surface size for Chalipa or inscriptions and the limitations inherent in inscription implementation, such as using a dang pen. Taking into account the reasons identified in the research, Mohammad Saleh employed distinct methods and principles in applying the Baseline, Combination, and Visual Weight systems in his works.

Farideh Kalhor,
year 8, Issue 29 (12-2024)
Abstract

Abstract
In the past, there existed a relief known as Fath-Ali Shah’s lion hunting in Shahr-e Ray. Regrettably, this precious piece of history has undergone significant damage due to the mining activities of Ray Cement Factory. Presently, only a fragment of this relief is preserved. Since most of this relief is lost, there are many uncertainties about it; For example, the exact location of the relief in Shahr-e Ray remains unknown. Various studies attribute the construction year of this relief to 1246 AH, but its accuracy is still subject to debate. Additionally, there was an inscription surrounding the relief containing poetic verses in Nastaliq script, which have not been deciphered yet. On the other hand, due to the proximity of this relief to Cheshme-Ali’s relief, the information related to these two is sometimes mistakenly attributed to the other, causing researchers to make mistakes. This research aims to give a clear picture of this relief and to remove the gaps surrounding it. This research intends to answer the following questions: What was the original location of the relief on Sorsore Mountain and when was it built? What precisely is the content of the poetic inscriptions surrounding it? What alterations has this relief undergone over time, and what has ultimately become of it? This research adopts a descriptive-analytical approach, relying on historical texts and images as primary sources to guide the investigations. Finally, by the primary sources, the location of this relief on Sorsore Mountain is determined. The results show that the poems of the inscription are in praise of Fath-Ali Shah, and the chronogram indicates the year of its construction in 1246 AH. eventually, sometime between 1340 and 1345 SH, due to the explosions of the Ray Cement Factory, this relief was destroyed, and only a fragment of it including the lion’s tail and the inscriptions around it remained, which is kept in the museum of the Ray Cement Factory.
Keywords: Rock Relief, Fath-Ali Shah, Shahr-e Ray, Inscription.

Introduction
In the past, there existed two rock reliefs of Fath-Ali Shah Qajar in Shahr-e Ray, one of which has been disappeared. This relief, which is located on the southern part of Sorsore Mountain, is known as “Fath-Ali Shah’s lion hunting”. An older, probably Sassanid relief had been erased and replaced by the Qajar one. There are many uncertainties about Fath-Ali Shah’s lion hunting; For example, the exact location of the relief in Shahr-e Ray remains unknown. Various studies attribute the construction year of this relief to 1246 AH, but its accuracy is still subject to debate. Additionally, there was an inscription surrounding the relief containing poetic verses in Nastaliq script, which have not been deciphered yet. On the other hand, due to the proximity of this relief to Cheshme-Ali’s relief, the information related to these two is sometimes mistakenly attributed to the other. It is necessary to do detailed research on this relief to solve these mistakes and answer the ambiguities raised. This research intends to answer the following questions: What was the original location of the relief on Sorsore Mountain and when was it built? What precisely is the content of the poetic inscriptions surrounding it? What alterations has this relief undergone over time, and what has ultimately become of it? This research adopts a descriptive-analytical approach, relying on historical texts and images as primary sources to guide the investigations.

Literature
For the first time, Mustafavi wrote a note in the monthly information magazine, in which he stated the location and address of access to the lion hunting relief, the year it was made, and introduced the artists involved in making it (Mustafavi, 1953: 10). Luft, in an article entitled “The Qajar rock reliefs”, in a short mention to the Lion Hunting relief, tries to estimate the year of its construction (Luft, 2001: 32). Mirzaei-Mehr also describes the artistic aspects of the relief in Abdullah Khan’s book (Mirzaei-Mehr, 2014: 43-45). Doroodian has done a detailed research on the incomplete relief that Fath-Ali Shah erased in “A study about the Sasanian rock relief of Ray”. Doroodian introduces this role in his article and tries to identify its character. (Doroodian, 2016: 63&64). Safinejad has given an estimate of the size of the relief and the inscription around it in the book of Ray’s Historical Places and has described the details of the figure of Fath-Ali Shah and lion. He also deciphered the poems around the inscription, but his reading has many mistakes. (Safinejad, 2015: 344&345). Movathagh has given some information about Sassanid relief, which he has referred to the book of Kariman (movathagh, 2017: 110).

Discussion
First of all, the exact position of the relief is examined with the help of the remaining drawings and maps. According to Mustafavi’s descriptions of Ray cement factory near the relief in the 1960s, Jules Laurence’s painting in 1848, William Ouseley’s painting of the location of the Sassanid relief that existed former the lion hunting and his explanation of the access route to relief, its position can be determined on Schmidt’s aerial photo of the Sorsore Mountain. Before Fath-Ali Shah’s figure was engraved on the body of the Sorsore Mountain, there was an old relief. That relief was first found by Robert Gordon and James Morier in 1812. (Morier, 2007, Vol. 2: 229). Morier drew a sketch of this relief (image 7). William Price, William Ouseley, and Ker Porter also visited the relief, and described it in their travelogues. It can be concluded from their texts and images, that there were two flat tablets in the mountain at the rock site, one on top of the other. The lower plate was a half-finished sketch of a horseman with two orbs on his shoulder and one on his head, attacking an opponent whose horse’s head is depicted only. The upper slab was without a design. Fath-Ali Shah ordered to erase the mentioned ancient relief and replaced it with his own figure. Both Fraser in 1834 (Fraser, 1985: 150) and Korf in 1834 pointed out its disappearance. (Korf, 1993: 215).
There are many pictures of Fath-Ali Shah’s lion hunting relief in the archives of Iranians and foreigners who came to Iran. These images have been presented in order of creation date. (Images 11 to 21) In Roger Viollet’s 1958 photo collection, the inscriptions around the image, the king’s beard and crown, his horse’s boots and saddle, as well as the inscription under the horse, are all painted over. Another change is the frame above the relief, which is not present in the older images. These changes were apparently made by Ray cement factory in 1949 (Mustafavi, 1953: 10).
The inscription around the relief contains 11 verses and its poet is Mirza Taghi Aliabadi. In order to read and accurately record what was executed, several photos were used in each part of the inscription. (Images 23, 24, 25 and 26) Examining the remaining images and reading the inscription shows that some words of the poet’s original poem have been changed in some verses. Also, some verses have been removed and replaced by others in the execution of the inscription. The chronogram in the last verse includes the words after “ke”: “shod inak musiye emran ayan be sineye sina” gives the year 1246 AH. The last historical photo of lion hunting relief was taken by Hossein Malek-Iraqi in 1961. Kariman states in his book, which was published in March 1966, that the lion hunting relief was destroyed by an explosion. (Kariman, 1966, Vol. 1: 302)

Conclusion
in this article, the location of Fath-Ali Shah’s relief on the southern body of Sorsore Mountain was identified by the help of historical texts and images. Also, re-reading of the inscription’s poems was done, which showed that the content of the inscription’s poem is in praise of the statue of Fath-Ali Shah Qajar. According to the last verse and the chronogram of the inscription poem, this relief was made in 1246 AH. Rereading the poems made it clear that there were changes in the poem during its performance and the original poem of the poet was not performed. It was also identified that the designer of this relief is Abdullah Khan-e- Memar and its sculptor is Mohammad Qasem Khan-e- Hajjarbashi. On the other hand, numerous pictures revealed that this relief was painted during the repair by the Ray Cement Factory in 1949. The relief of Fath-Ali Shah, which was made by erasing the previous ancient relief, was finally destroyed sometime between 1961 and 1966 due to the explosions of the Ray Cement Factory, and its pieces fell to the foot of the mountain. The big piece of the relief was at the foot of the mountain for years, but there is no information about its fate. The smaller piece, which includes the lion’s tail and the inscriptions around it, was later moved to Ray Cement Factory by one of the technicians. It is kept in the museum of Ray Cement Factory now in 2023.

Seyed Fazlollah Mirdehqan, Yadollah Heidari Babakamal, Elahe Khakbaz Alvandian,
year 8, Issue 30 (1-2025)
Abstract

Abstract
Kamaliyeh Collection is one of the most significant remnants dating back to the first half of the 8th century AD in the city of Yazd. Despite its historical and archaeological importance, no studies have been conducted on this collection. Through systematic efforts carried out in the 1970s, 24 intact or broken tiles with luster patterns depicting plants, birds, and inscriptions in the form of star-shaped (kokabi) motifs were discovered. Since there have been no published studies or reports on these tiles, the present research aims to examine their visual, content, and probable origin characteristics based on historical and architectural evidence through a comparative analysis with existing samples. Therefore, the following research questions are addressed: 1. What information can be obtained from the patterns and inscriptions on luster tiles of Kamaliyeh School in Yazd? 2. Based on the visual features of the patterns, which centers of luster tile production do the identified tiles belong to? The current study employs a documentary and descriptive-historical approach, along with analytical and comparative methods, to logically address the research questions. The results indicate that the patterns on the tiles include floral designs (three pattern models with a lotus flower motif and Shah Abbasid buds around the center of the tile), birds (a flying eagle with spread wings among floral patterns), and inscriptions (Quranic verses with themes of victory, admonition, sustenance, and Persian literature derived from Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh and Shams Tabrizi). These designs on the tiles serve specific religious, belief, and burial functions within the collection. Moreover, considering the significant similarity in pattern models, designs, and inscriptions among the studied samples, it is likely that Kashan was the major center for tile production. This is plausible considering the strategic communication route from Rey to Kerman passing through Kashan to Yazd for the distribution of luster tiles.
Keywords: Kamaliyeh School, Yazd, luster tiles, floral patterns and inscriptions, Kashan.

Introduction
The Al-Muzaffar era is one of the significant historical periods in the city of Yazd, ruling over the southern and central regions of Iran in the 8th century AD. The flourishing construction and development in Yazd during this period were substantial enough to lead to the expansion of its citadel and wall in several stages, particularly the relocation of some city districts outside its fortifications (Kateb, 1966: 69).
Luster tiles were crucial architectural elements used in both religious and non-religious structures during this period, adorning interior or exterior facades and mihrabs. In the Ilkhanid era, some religious buildings in cities, including the mausoleums of Shiites, were adorned with luster artworks. It seems that Yazd was one such city, gaining increased significance during the Middle Islamic centuries with the rise of the Al-Muzaffar dynasty. The Al-Muzaffar rule in Yazd, due to their support for the arts and culture of the Yazdi people, contributed significantly to the prosperity and development of the city. This support was to such an extent that one of the shining cultural periods in Yazd’s history is attributed to the reign of the Al-Muzaffar dynasty (Kateb, 1966: 89).
One notable feature of this era was the establishment of numerous Dar al-’Ilms (houses of knowledge), with Yazd earning the title of Dar al-’Ilm. Various sciences were taught in schools, mosques, Dar al-Siyadehs, and Khanqahs (Mirhosseini, 1993: 58). Another characteristic of this period was the flourishing of Sufism and the creation of various khaneqahs in Yazd and its surrounding regions, including the Rastaq Khanqah (Ibid: 265). These institutions made utmost efforts to create robust architecture and embellish it with the finest elements. One of the historical buildings of great value, adorned with remarkable luster tiles, is the Kamaliyeh Collection or Shah Kamal in Yazd. This structure was constructed in the year 720 AH by Khwaja Kamal al-Din Abu al-Ma’ali.
In the early 1970s, during organizational efforts, a number of luster tiles were discovered installed above a wall and are currently preserved in the secure storage of the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Organization of Yazd Province (Afshar, Vol. 2, 1996: 613). Although these objects have been organized and cataloged in recent years, a comprehensive scientific study on these tiles and their origin has not been conducted so far. Therefore, the present research aims to provide logical answers to existing ambiguities regarding the origin and nature of these tiles by studying their patterns and inscriptions and comparing them with contemporary and similar samples.

Discussion and Analysis
Tile Shape: The identified luster tiles in this structure are octagonal, a model commonly used in combination with cross-shaped (Chelipa) tiles with turquoise single-glaze enamel in the decoration of religious Shia buildings, such as the shrines of Imam Reza (AS) and Hazrat Masoumeh (SA) or Takht-e-Soleiman, dating back to the 7th century AD. In their decoration, plant, animal, and inscription motifs have been employed.
Patterns: The bird pattern of a flying eagle is one of the common motifs in the decoration of these tiles, appearing in the midst of floral patterns with outspread wings. Comparable examples can be identified among luster vessels produced in the city of Kashan. Among the comparable examples, luster star-shaped tiles in the Museum of Islamic Art in Istanbul, a sample from Takht-e-Soleiman in the British Museum, samples from the Sackler collection, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Freer Gallery of Art, all date back to the Ilkhanid period and were produced in the city of Kashan.

Floral Patterns
Most of the studied tiles depict a blue lotus flower with dense branches and leaves covering the entire central area of the tile. The spaces between the branches and leaves are filled with small circular motifs arranged in a band. While the floral patterns show overall similarity, careful examination reveals at least three design patterns among them: 1) a floral design with a Shah Abbasid flower at the top with branches and leaves on both sides (examples 16-1), 2) a Shah Abbasid flower in the center with dense branches and leaves around it (example 17), and 3) a small hexagonal flower at the top with two Shah Abbasid flowers on either side (example 20). Among these three patterns, the similarities between patterns 1 and 2 with samples from the Cambi Auction House in Genoa, Italy, a specimen from Sultanabad, and a sample preserved in the Victoria and Albert Museum are noteworthy.

Inscriptions
All the studied tiles include outer margins adorned with inscriptions. Among the 24 studied tiles, 18 are adorned with Quranic verses, 6 with Persian verses, 5 with verses from the Shahnameh, and one of the samples features verses from Shams Tabrizi.
The detailed analysis of the identified luster tiles in the Kamaliyeh Collection provides valuable insights into the patterns, shapes, and inscriptions used during the Al-Muzaffar era in Yazd. Comparisons with contemporary examples from Kashan and other regions contribute to a better understanding of the cultural and artistic context of this historical period.

Conclusion
The Kamaliyeh School is one of the significant educational institutions of the Ilkhanid period in the city of Yazd, expanding its influence in subsequent eras. It appears that luster tiles were utilized in adorning certain sections of the building, though the exact purpose of their use remains unclear. In the explorations conducted in Yazd, few traces of luster tiles have been discovered, and the collected samples from the Kamaliyeh School are the most important luster artifacts found to date. A crucial point is the function of these tiles, as research suggests that they are generally associated with religious beliefs or identity burial practices and have been predominantly used in shrines or burial sites. In the Kamaliyeh Collection, it is probable that they were used in the burial chamber, similar to examples found in the Seyyed Shams al-Din and Seyyed Rokn al-Din shrines in Yazd. While the samples from Takht-e-Soleiman primarily depict a royal structure (palace), the presence of religious color throughout the entire collection justifies the usage of such ceramics. Moreover, considering the Kamaliyeh Collection’s diverse functions, including a khanqah, school, and dome, and its educational-religious approach, the use of these types of tiles was likely a common practice during its time. The results also indicate the use of three categories of patterns: floral, animal, and inscription motifs. The floral patterns mostly depict a blue lotus flower, which has a long history in Iranian culture and has been used in various arts, including carpet weaving, under different names like “Shah-Abbasi flower.” With regards to the better-preserved examples, at least three design patterns emphasizing the Shah Abbasid flower are conceivable. The bird pattern of a flying eagle, present in the midst of floral patterns and on the central area of octagonal tiles, is surrounded by inscriptions in though script on the outer margin. The inscriptions draw inspiration from two different sources, the Holy Quran and Persian literature. Quranic inscriptions are categorized into several groups based on content, and the presented concepts can be considered relevant to the building’s function. Persian verses are mostly related to the Shahnameh, with only one case influenced by the poetry of Shams Tabrizi. Through a comparison of form, design patterns of motifs and inscriptions, and even the colors used, with examples preserved in museums such as the British Museum, the Museum of Islamic Art in Istanbul, the Sackler Collection, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Cambi Auction House in Genoa, it can be asserted that the probable place of production for the luster tiles of the Kamaliyeh School was the city of Kashan.

Parvin Soleimani, Alireza Razeghi,
year 8, Issue 30 (1-2025)
Abstract

Abstract
Atigh Jameh Mosque, also known as Masjid-e-Atigh in Persian, is the oldest mosque in Shiraz, Iran. It is situated on the east side of the Shah Cheragh Shrine. The construction of the mosque began in the year 276 and was completed in 281 AH to celebrate the conquest of Shiraz by Saffarid Amroleiss. The mosque has been restored several times during the Atabeg, Timurid, and Safavid eras. It has six entrances, but the main entrance is located on the northern side, which was restored during the Safavid era. This mosque holds a special cultural and historical significance for the people of Shiraz. The Jameh Mosque of Atigh in Shiraz is an exceptional historical mosque in Iran. It boasts unique architectural decorations, including a stone-and-tile inscription placed in the God’s House of the mosque. Pir Yahya Sufi, one of the famous calligraphers in the 8th Hijri century, inscribed the writing of the inscription. According to historical documents, the mosque has been restored several times. Unfortunately, some restoration practices have tarnished the originality of the work by ignoring the calligraphic style of the original description. In the present study, the restored parts of the tile inscription have been examined. The examined parts were compared with other works of Pir Yahya Sufi and with other parts of the original inscription itself. 
Keywords: Atiq Shiraz Mosque, Authenticity, Inscription.

Introduction
The notion of historical region is crucial in understanding a work, as it is inherently transferable from its physical existence to its historical context (Benjamin, 2003). Therefore, it is important to identify, formulate, and evaluate the notion of originality during different historical periods (Araoz, 2008:36). The most common way to prove originality is by demonstrating the historicity of the work, which is not limited to a single era but encompasses the entire historical context in which the work was created and its various influences. Article 12 of The Venice Charter for the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites stipulates that replacements of missing parts must integrate harmoniously with the whole, but at the same time must be distinguishable from the original so that restoration does not falsify the artistic or historic evidence (URL‌1). In this respect, inadequate guidelines for restoring inscriptions led to subjective approaches and unfaithful outcomes. When creating an inscription, calligraphy is also an important factor to consider. As such, the conservator must take into account the 12 principles of calligraphy, which include combination, baseline, proportion, weakness, strength, surface, distance, virtual ascent, purity, place, privacy, and magnificence. (Rahjiry n 1967: 48-51.8-51). Architectural inscriptions play a significant role among the decoration of historical buildings and are considered to be live documents. In the research, we examined the restoration work done on a stone-tile inscription from the perspective of its originality. Ignoring the original calligraphic style, visual art principles, as well as the principles of calligraphy, has resulted in irreparable mistakes overriding the originality of the inscription under discussion. As such, before restoring any inscription, the conservator must have a complete understanding of its components. In this case, both the previous restoration methods have been analyzed, and the restored inscription has been studied based on calligraphic principles. 
The Methodology: The study is qualitative. The data were collected from library sources and field studies and compared analytically. The findings showed that during the restoration process, there were noticeable discrepancies between the restored calligraphic parts and those of the original ones. This implies that the conservator did not have sufficient recognition of the original inscription. As a result of excessively arbitrary and justifiable interventions, the conservator tarnished the originality of the mentioned historical work.

Discussion
Preserving the originality of an inscription is crucial, and one of the essential factors that contribute to it is the form and design. By originality of design and form, we mean that the inscription’s initial design and structure must be restored. For instance, if the inscription was initially written in Thuluth or Naskh script, the same calligraphic style must be retained during the restoration process. To evaluate the degree to which this criterion has been met for the inscription under discussion, we need to compare it with other surviving works of Pir Yahya Sufi and examine the original and unrestored parts of the inscription. As such, the restored inscription was compared with the only surviving written work of Pir Yahya Sufi, which is a written copy of the Holy Quran, along with old documents and images. The calligraphic lines of the inscription were compared, letter by letter, to the original works of Pir Yahya Sufi. During the first phase of the analysis, the Arabic letters و and ر in the papillae of the inscription (a triangular prism serving as a support strap) were compared with three surviving images, which included original parts, newly restored parts, and handwritten copies of Pir Yahya Sufi. This comparison revealed differences in the calligraphic styles of the letters. However, the similarity between the survived calligraphic lines of the inscription and those of handwritten copies suggested that the papillae area must have been the restored part. While in the papillae part, the Arabic letter “و” was written with an upward inclination, the other two letters of و were sharp and inclined downward. A noticeable difference was observed in the way that the word “Allah” was written in the handwritten copy of Pir Yahya Sufi compared to the restored inscription under study.  In the handwritten copy of Pir Yahya Sufi, the last letter of the word “Allah” is inclined upward. However, in the restored inscription, the last letter of the word “Allah” is inclined downward. Additionally, the calligraphic style of the letters “د” and “ل” in different parts of the inscription were examined and found to be similar to those in the handwritten copies that were studied. Likewise, upon studying the calligraphic style of the letter ر, it was found to be similar in all handwritten copies. Different parts of the inscription involving this letter were considered to be the main parts. If we examine the handwritten copies of Pir Yahya Sufi closely, we can see that the calligraphic style of the letters such as م, ر, and د is elongated and inclined leftward and downward. The Arabic word “من” has been written in a similar calligraphic style both in the restored inscription and the handwritten copies of Pir Yahya Sufi. The Arabic letter م has been written with a broken curvature, at the button, and a turned-up extension.  

Conclusion
The preservation of the originality of works of art has been a major concern among art conservators for years. It can help experts to methodically restore historical monuments. In this study, we focused on one of the most outstanding monuments in Iran, which had undergone significant damage. We aimed to analyze the stone-tile inscription of God’s House in Atigh Mosque while keeping the original form and shape intact. It is important to consider the form of the work when dealing with it as ignoring it can lead to damaging its originality. During the study, the restoration of the inscription had been done unjustifiably due to ignoring the calligraphic style, form, and design. To rectify this, we conducted field studies and gathered various works of Peer, the calligrapher of the inscription, to analyze the restored parts. We compared them with the surviving original parts of the inscription and with handwritten copies of Pir Yahya Sufi for further examination. After conducting a restoration on the inscription, it was discovered that there is a noticeable difference between the calligraphy style of the restored parts and the original ones. This is especially evident when comparing the surviving photos of the original inscription. For example, the Arabic letter و has been written differently in the restored version, with some parts sloping downwards and others upwards. However, in the surviving original copies of Pir Yahya Sufi kept in Pars Museum in Shiraz, the letter و is inclined downward. The restoration of works of art, especially those with inscriptions or works by known calligraphers, requires sensitivity. Conservators must thoroughly examine the work from different angles and understand the calligrapher’s style before taking any action. Each calligrapher has their unique style, which must be taken into account during restoration. Tarnishing the originality of the work is equivalent to fabricating the inscription, which must be avoided. By analyzing and criticizing the restoration of architectural decoration and inscriptions, the historical fabric can be preserved.

Mozhgan Esmaili,
year 9, Issue 34 (3-2026)
Abstract

Abstract
India, with its very cultural and religious diversity, underwent changes and transformations with the domination of the Mamluk government. The minaret as one of the elements of Islamic architecture, apart from playing the role of the minaret, was a symbol of Islamic rule. The minaret is a lasting symbol of the rich history of India, architectural skills and cultural exchange. The purpose of this research is the analysis of decorative elements and re-reading the inscriptions of “Minaret Qutub”, by answering these questions, what effect did the decorative elements of Islamic architecture have on this building? And what are the themes of the inscriptions? The research method of this research is based on library studies, study of first-hand sources, field studies and objective observations of the author and has been done by describing, analyzing and using historical sources. The results of this study show that the minaret is decorated under the influence of aesthetics and elements of Islamic architecture, and the decorative elements of the Qutub minaret are a combination of Islamic and Indian elements. Although the minaret follows the general form of Islamic minarets, it contains elements of Indian architecture such as precise and complex carvings, the use of sand, red stone and marble, the use of lotus flowers and bell-shaped decorations, various inscriptions, geometric and plant motifs that It reflects the combined nature of Indian and Islamic architecture, and the title “Indo-Islamic” architecture can be used for the art of the Mamluk period.
Keywords: Decorative Elements, Inscriptions, Islamic Architecture, Indian Architecture, Mamluk, Qutub Minaret.

Introduction
The Qutub in Delhi is a notable example of Islamic architecture, but it also incorporates elements of Indian design. The use of intricate stone carving techniques, geometric patterns, and calligraphic inscriptions is prominent in this period. This assimilation of diverse influences and the development of a unique artistic style continued to flourish in the following centuries.
In 588 AH, Mu’izzuddin Muhammad Ghori succeeded in capturing the city of Delhi and, while there was no heir to Muhammad Ghori, appointed Qutbuddin Aybak as the successor to the Ghorid government there. He established the Mamluk rule in Delhi and established the first Islamic state called the “Delhi Sultanate”. The Mamluk sultans, who were originally from Central Asia and Iran, brought with them a rich architectural tradition that combined elements of Iranian, Islamic and Indian styles. This fusion led to the development of unique architectural features such as the use of arches, domes, minarets and intricate decorative motifs.
The Qutub Minaret in Delhi is a notable example of Islamic architecture but also incorporates elements of Indian design. The use of intricate stone carving techniques, geometric patterns and calligraphic inscriptions were prominent during this period.
The purpose of this research is to analyze the decorative elements and reinterpret the inscriptions of the “Minaret of Qutub”, in order to answer the questions, what effects did the decorative elements of Islamic architectural art have on this building? And what topics do the themes of the inscriptions express? 
This research seeks to understand the themes of the inscriptions by rereading the inscriptions, the inscriptions of this building have been objectively observed and rewritten, while explaining the concepts of symbols and decorative elements, it aims to clarify the effects of Islamic art on the aforementioned building.
 
Discussion
The Qutub Minar is the tallest brick building in the world with a height of 72.5 meters and a diameter of about 14 at the base and about 3 meters at the highest balcony. The Qutub Minar has five floors and a spiral staircase with 379 steps. The entrance to the minaret is through a door facing north. Between each floor, a circular porch surrounds the building. This porch plays an effective role in maintaining and supporting the weight of the upper floors. Materials such as red and light brown sandstone and gray quartzite were used in the construction of this building, and its two rows are made of white marble.. Indo-Islamic structures often incorporate elements inspired by Hindu and Jain temple architecture. This approach results in a unique combination of forms, motifs and techniques.
Geometric shapes in Islamic architecture often represent the concept of unity, harmony, and precise mathematical proportions and symmetrical arrangements of patterns, the idea of balance and order in the universe, and reflect the belief in the harmonious interaction of various elements in creation.The repetition of geometric shapes with no discernible beginning or end was seen as indicative of the infinite and eternal nature of God.
The Qutub Minaret features intricate carvings, geometric patterns, and ornamental designs that are indicative of the art of its time. Its five floors are separated by carved balconies and fluted columns with Muqarnas decorations. The decorative elements used in Mamluk architecture reflect the sophisticated artistry, aesthetic appeal, and symbolic meanings associated with Islamic art and architecture. They represent a combination of mathematical precision, decorative beauty, and spiritual symbolism. The repetition of geometric shapes without a discernible beginning or end indicated the boundless and eternal nature of God.
Geometric shapes in Islamic architecture often represent the concept of unity, harmony, and precise mathematical proportions and symmetrical arrangements of patterns, the idea of balance and order in the universe, and reflect the belief in the harmonious interaction of various elements in creation.
The inscriptions on the minaret provide valuable historical information about its construction. On each floor, there are two relief inscriptions containing the names of rulers and sultans. The inscriptions on the Qutub Minaret include verses from the Holy Quran, the names and titles of rulers associated with the building, and historical information about its construction.
These inscriptions are skillfully and beautifully executed in calligraphy.
Various styles of Arabic calligraphy such as Kufic, Naskh and Thuluth can be seen on the minaret. 

Conclusion 
The influence of Islamic culture and civilization in the 6th century AH with the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate had a profound impact on the Indian subcontinent. This state, which was the beginning of Muslim rule in India, served as a political and cultural center for the spread of Islamic civilization. The influence of Islamic culture and civilization in India can be seen in various fields, and Islamic architecture in India in particular flourished from the period of the Delhi Sultanates.The architectural elements, decorations, symbols and signs common to Islamic architecture were incorporated into almost all the buildings of the Delhi Sultanate period and later became a common practice in Indian architecture. Several architectural innovations were introduced during the Delhi Sultanate period. These innovations included the construction of minarets, the use of complex stone carving techniques, geometric designs and calligraphic inscriptions, which were prominent during this period.The inscriptions on the building, which are mainly in Arabic, contain verses from the Holy Quran as well as information about the construction of the building. The oldest inscription at the base of the Qutub Minar is attributed to Qutubuddin Aibak, the founder of the Delhi Sultanate. As you ascend the minaret, the text of the inscriptions reflects later additions and renovations made by the rulers of subsequent periods.The inscriptions also display linguistic diversity, with the diversity of Arabic, Persian, Turkish and Hindi languages reflecting the multicultural nature of the Delhi Sultanate. This building is also noteworthy in terms of calligraphy styles and technical techniques of carving and decorative elements and layout, while the symbols and motifs of each one convey a specific meaning to the viewer.Another prominent feature of Indian and Islamic architecture is the use of red sandstone and marble. The use of red sandstone along with decorative elements made of marble creates a significant contrast and adds to the attractiveness of the structures.
The creation and attractiveness of the structures has added to the charm.Indian decorative motifs are often inspired by nature and the local environment. By incorporating these motifs, Indo-Islamic architecture was able to adapt itself to the local context. During the period of the Delhi Sultans, the fusion of Islamic and Indian culture led to Indo-Islamic art, which was characterized by the fusion of Persian, Turkish and Arabic elements with indigenous Indian traditions, resulting in a unique architectural style. The intricate carvings on the minaret, including lotus flower motifs and bell-shaped motifs, indicate a cultural fusion that occurred during the Delhi Sultans and highlighted the inclusive nature of Islamic art.


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