Iconology of the Goddess and Ibex Motifs on the Round Hairpins of the Lorestan Civilization

Introduction: The subject of «mother» has consistently been one of the oldest artistic themes, prominently present in the works left behind by human civilizations. The depictions of Goddesses on the bronze artifacts of the Lorestan civilization are another piece of similar evidence supporting this issue. Among these bronze artifacts are round hairpins depicted with the image of the Mother Goddess alongside the ibex. The central role of the woman in the depiction of the hairpins from Lorestan, alongside the ibex, is the central question addressed in this article. The primary aim of this research is to uncover the functions of the woman and the ibex on the bronze hairpins of Lorestan through an iconological approach at three levels: Description, analysis, and interpretation.Research Method: The present research method is analytical and falls under the qualitative research category, with data collected from the library and documentary sources.Findings: In this research, employing an iconological approach, the role of the Mother Goddess and the ibex was first described, followed by an analysis of their mutual relationship through iconography, which revealed symbolic meanings such as fertility, procreation, water demand and rainfall, blessing, and the abundance of divine gifts. Finally, through a conclusive interpretation of various evidence, the functions of the Goddess and the ibex as superior powers of rain invocation, magic, attracting good, and repelling evil, as well as the ideal mother, the earth woman, and fertility, and the political powers related to the matriarchal era of the mentioned motifs, were identified.Conclusion: The goddess at the center of the round hairpins from Lorestan, as the feminine element of existence, complements the earth, which, in conjunction with the male ibex, the god with round horns, fertilizes nature. These two superior human and animal powers, by dispelling evil and creating a safe and calm environment enclosed in the circular form of the hairpins, demonstrate the blessed connection between earth and sky in the beliefs of ancient humans.

کلیدواژه ها:

iconology ، Goddess ، Ibex ، Hairpin ، Lorestan Bronze