Castelluccia, Manuel Iranian Reliefs through the Eyes of Western Travelers (14th–19th Centuries)

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://dx.doi.org/10.18688/aa2111-01-17
Title Iranian Reliefs through the Eyes of Western Travelers (14th–19th Centuries)
Author email mcastelluccia@unior.it
About author Castelluccia, Manuel — Research Fellow. University of Naples “L’Orientale”, Palazzo Corigliano, Piazza San Domenico Maggiore 12, 80134 Naples, Italy. ORCID: 0000-0002-2401-0890
In the section Art of the Ancient World DOI10.18688/aa2111-01-17
Year 2021 Volume 11 Pages 203–214
Type of article RAR Index UDK 7.032(31), 7.027.2 Index BBK 85.103(0)3
Abstract

From the early 14th century, European travelers became acquainted with ancient Iranian monuments, especially those of the pre-Islamic Iranian kingdoms, such as the Achaemenid and Sasanian empires. Artistic representations dating to these periods included mainly reliefs carved on natural rocks or adorning royal buildings and tombs.

Many of them were intentionally placed on cliffs overlooking important communication and trade routes, intended to be seen by all travelers. These reliefs, widespread throughout the Iranian Plateau, were the main visual expression of the conception of kingship and power by ancient Iranian ideology.

The present contribution aims at exploring the different approaches of European travelers between the 14th and 19th century for the analysis and interpretation of rock-reliefs and architectural sculpture. It is particularly interesting to notice the development of Western attitudes towards ancient Persian monuments, since their discovery coincided with the development of European culture, mentality, politics, and economy over several centuries.
Keywords
Reference Castelluccia, Manuel. Iranian Reliefs through the Eyes of Western Travelers (14th–19th Centuries). Actual Problems of Theory and History of Art: Collection of articles. Vol. 11. Eds A. V. Zakharova, S. V. Maltseva, E. Iu. Staniukovich-Denisova. — St. Petersburg: St. Petersburg Univ. Press, 2021, pp. 203–214. ISSN 2312-2129. http://dx.doi.org/10.18688/aa2111-01-17
Publication Article language english
Bibliography
  • 1. Álvarez-Mon J. The Monumental Reliefs of the Elamite Highlands. A Complete Inventory and Analysis (from the 17th to the 6th Century BC). Philadelphia, Eisenbrauns Publ., 2019. 272 p.
  • 2. Barbaro J.; Contarini A. Travels to Tana and Persia. London, Hakluyt Society Publ., 1873. 192 p.
  • 3. Bruijn C. de. Voyages de Corneille Le Brun par la Moscovie, en Perse, et aux Indes Orientales, 2 vols. Amsterdam, 1718. 872 p. (in French).
  • 4. Chardin J. Voyages du Chevalier Chardin en Perse et autres lieux de l’Orient. Amsterdam, 1735. 511 p. (in French).
  • 5. de Gardane A. Journal d’un voyage dans la Turquie-d’Asie et la Perse, fait en 1807 et 1808. Paris, 1809. 188 p. (in French).
  • 6. de Silva e Figueroa G. L’ambassade de D. Garcias de Silva Figueroa en Perse. Paris. (transl. F. de Wicquefort), 1667. 548 p. (in French).
  • 7. Della Valle P. Viaggi di Pietro della Valle il Pellegrino descritti da lui medesimo in lettere familiari all’erudito suo amico Mario Schipano: divisi in tre parti cioè: la Turchia, la Persia e l’India, colla vita e ritratto dell’autore. Roma, G. Gancia Publ., 1658. 813 p.; Brighton, 1843. 967 p. (in Italian).
  • 8. Drijvers J. W. Cornelis de Bruijn and Gijsbert Cuper. A Skilled Artist and a Learned Discussion. Sancisi-Weerdenburg H.; Drijvers J. W. (eds.). Achaemenid History. VII, Through Travellers’ Eyes: European Travellers on the Iranian Monuments. Leiden, Nederlands Instituut voor het Nabije Osten Publ., 1991, pp. 89–107 (in Dutch).
  • 9. Foster W. Thomas Herbert. Travels in Persia 1627–1629. London, George Routledge and sons Publ., 1928. 429 p.
  • 10. Freyer J. A New Account of East India and Persia: Being Nine Years’ Travels 1672–1681. London, 1698. 477 p.
  • 11. Genito B. Un Carmelitano Scalzo del XVIII secolo: tra ideologia medievale e coscienza moderna del reale in alcune Interpretazioni e disegni di resti archeologici. Marazzi U.; Gallotta A. (eds.). La conoscenza dell’Asia e dell’Africa in Italia nei secoli XVIII e XIX. Napoli, 1984, pp. 489–501 (in Italian).
  • 12. Genito B. A Modern Archaeology of the Sasanian Period: Former Limitations and New Perspectives. Newsletter di Archeologia CISA–2017, vol. 7, 2016, pp. 35–88 (in Italian).
  • 13. Herbert T. Some Years Travels into Divers Parts of Africa, and Asia the Great, Describing More Particularly the Empires of Persia and Industan. London, 1677.
  • 14. Hinz W. Darius und die Perser. Eine Kulturgeschichte der Achämeniden. Baden-Baden, Holle Publ., 1976. 256 p.
  • 15. Kinneir J. M. A Geographical Memory of the Persian Empire Accompanied by a Map. London, 1813. 488 p.
  • 16. Lockhart L.; Morozzo della Rocca R.; Tiepolo M. F. (eds.). I viaggi in Persia degli Ambasciatori Veneti Barbaro e Contarini. Roma, Poligrafico dello Stato Publ., 1973. 416 p. (in Italian).
  • 17. Luschey H. Bisutun, Geschichte und Forschungsgeschichte. Archäologischer Anzeiger, 1974, vol. 89, pp. 114–149 (in German).
  • 18. Mahmoudi K.; Rangchian A. The Oldest Photo of Darius’s Inscription in Behistun: A New Document. CIDOC 2018. Available at: http://cidoc.mini.icom.museum/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2020/02/CIDOC2018_paper_138.pdf (accessed 1 May 2021).
  • 19. Niebuhr C. Reisebeschreibung nach Arabien und anderen umliegenden Ländern. Copenhagen, 1778. 546 p. (in German).
  • 20. Olivier G. A. Voyage dans l’empire Othoman, l’Égypte et la Perse, fait par ordre du gouvernement, pendant les six premières années de la république, vol. 5. 1800. 486 p. (in French).
  • 21. Porter R. K. Travels in Georgia, Persia, Armenia, Ancient Babylonia during the Years 1817, 1818, 1819, 1820, 2 vols. London, Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown Publ., 1821–1822. 898 p.
  • 22. Rawlinson H. The Persian Cuneiform Inscription at Behistun, Decyphered and Translated; With a Memoir on Persian Cuneiform Inscriptions in General, and on That of Behistun in Particular. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, 1848, vol. 10, pp. 1–349.
  • 23. Rota G. Under Two Lions: On the Knowledge of Persia in the Republic of Venice (ca. 1450–1797). Vienna, Austrian Academy of Sciences Publ., 2009. 80 p.
  • 24. Sancisi-Weerdenburg H. Introduction. Through Travellers’ Eyes: The Persian Monuments as Seen by European Travellers. Sancisi-Weerdenburg H.; Drijvers J. W. (eds.). Achaemenid History. VII, Through Travellers’ Eyes: European Travellers on the Iranian Monuments. Leiden, Nederlands Instituut voor het Nabije Osten Publ., 1991, pp. 1–35.
  • 25. Sancisi-Weerdenburg H.; Drijvers J. W. (eds.). Achaemenid History. VII, Through Travellers’ Eyes: European Travellers on the Iranian Monuments. Leiden, Nederlands Instituut voor het Nabije Osten Publ., 1991. 223 p.
  • 26. Scarce J. Persian Art through the Eyes of Nineteenth-Century British Travellers. British Society for Middle Eastern Studies, 1981, vol. 8–1, pp. 38–50.
  • 27. Sherley A. The Three Brothers, or the Travels and Adventures of Sir Anthony, Sir Robert, & Sir Thomas Sherley. London, Hurst, Robinson & Co Publ., 1825. 218 p.
  • 28. Simpson St. J. Making Their Mark: Foreign Travellers at Persepolis, 2005. Available at: http://www.achemenet.com/ressources/enligne/arta/pdf/2005.001-Simpson.pdf (accessed 1 May 2021).
  • 29. Simpson St. J. Pottering around Persepolis: Observations on Early European Visitors to the Site. Tuplin C. (ed.). Persian Responses. Political and Cultural Interaction with(in) the Achaemenid Empire; Proceedings of The Celtic Conference in Classics, Rennes 1–4 September 2004. Swansea, 2007, pp. 343–356.
  • 30. Simpson St. J. Rediscovering Past Splendours from Iran: 19th-Century Plaster Casts of Sculptures from Persepolis. British Museum Magazine, 2000, vol. 36, pp. 28–29.
  • 31. Sohrabi B. Early Swedish Travelers to Persia. Iranian Studies, vol. 38–4, 2005, pp. 631–660.
  • 32. Struys J. J. Drie aanmerkelijke en seer rampspoedige Reysen door Italien, Griekenlandt, Lijflandt, Moscovien, Tartarijen, Meden, Persien, Oost-Indien, Japan en verscheyden andere gewesten. Amsterdam, 1676. 624 p. (in Dutch).
  • 33. Vanden Berghe L. Reliefs Rupestres de l’Iran Ancien. Bruxelles, Musees Royaux d’Art et d’Historie Publ., 1984. 208 p. (in French).