Pisces and Iranian Two-Symbolic-Fish Pattern, Herati: a Structural Analysis of Iconographic Symbols and Metaphorical Expressions of Bicorporal Fish Pattern
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Studies in Visual Arts and Communication: an international journal Vol 2, No 2 (2015) on-line ISSN 2393 - 1221 Pisces and Iranian Two-Symbolic-Fish Pattern, Herati: A Structural Analysis of Iconographic Symbols and Metaphorical Expressions of Bicorporal Fish Pattern Arefe Sarami, Bahar Mokhtarian Abstract Fish (two fishes) is one of the repetitive dual patterns in decorative works of art which is thought to be a metaphorical expression of some underlying concepts in different cultures. Herati-Two-Symbolic- Fish is an example of two fishes pattern projection in Iranian carpets. At the same time, this pattern also symbolizes the Pisces constellation in the zodiac design. In this study, the dual structure of two fishes symbol and reception of its metaphorical expression in both iconographic material and literary devices within different cultures were investigated. Iconography was employed to describe illustrations and the pertaining symbolic meanings. Then, a structural approach was used to analyze this dual structure and the underlying relations with death/ life bicorporal concepts in myths and legends. In addition, analyzing pictorial and verbal depictions, and utilizing etymological considerations, this study attempted to reveal that two fishes, as a logical structure, is reflected in both cosmological and human body symbolism. Results from iconographic and structural analysis showed that despite cultural differences and evolutions in some of the elements linked to the central fish-related institute in both iconographic and literary material, the underlying semantic structure, which is responsible for the internal semantic relations and logics among different elements, remains unchanged; and, the fish-related institute remains as the symbolic reflection of the death/life opposition. Keywords: Herati, Two fishes (Pisces), Bicorporal fish pattern, Duality, Structural analysis, Iconography, Body symbolism. the semantic analysis of pictures. After providing 1. Introduction an explicit description of the picture under scrutiny, iconography tries to identify its It is often claimed that one of the ways for meaning in written resources, which is implying decoding the meaning of pictures is to to the fact that employed metaphors in word understand their features, and the relations expressions and non-word expressions cannot existing among them. From the time of antiquity be understood on the basis of a simple to the present, the repetition of motifs primarily comparison as they go over and beyond simple requires an explanation regarding the methods substitutions. In other words, by providing an of their formation and the meanings they reflect. explicit description of the picture, the study Currently, lacking obvious contemporary context, seeks to fathom out its repetitive structural having no publically known underlying stories pattern, implicit figural connotations, and the (despite scenes from the life of Jesus), or being way it is interpreted across different cultures. created based on the artist's personal Either in pictorial works of art or in the interpretation of specific symbols, are some of verbal expressions, logical fish-related patterns the issues that make the semantic analysis of of contradiction (e.g. the two fishes motif) can be symbols in works of art more difficult and a compendium of some strong ancient belief important at the same time. According to 1 projected in pictorial works, illustrations, and Panofsky , the iconographic method is used for myths or narrations. This, in one sense, and the 1 E. Panofsky, Meaning in the visual arts, Penguin books Harmondsworth 1970, pp. 3-17. www.journalonarts.org 1 Arefe Sarami, Bahar Mokhtarian repetition of the two fishes motif in most of the was worn as an amulet which was supposed to zodiac designs in the real sense, have motivated bring happiness, affluence, and prosperity. 4 The researchers to conduct descriptive semantic fish figurines on the pottery bowls excavated in analyses on this motif. Susa from the third millennium to the end of the Death and life (darkness and brightness) second millennium BC and on the pottery bowls opposition theme is a central and universal dug out in the Shahr-I Sokhta.5 concept which is reflected in different The presence of the fish or the two fish metaphorical expressions. The underlying motif in astrology which is related to the 12th implication of the two fishes pattern seems to be constellation of zodiac called Pisces is associated with the sometimes opposing represented by Piscis in Latin, Pisko in Sanskrit, darkness and brightness theme. However, Māhīg in middle Persian in Bundahišn 6, and fish although fish, as an intermediate element in in English. In Sumerian, the word was used as bicorporal relations has been matter of Pish, meaning a Great Fish which was attention in some of the previous works, etymologically coterminous with Vish in the word understanding the two fishes pattern with Vishnu.7 As one of the zodiac signs, Pisces respect to the myths and narrations composed represents paired parallel fishes in opposite to emphasize the relation between life and directions which are sometimes connected death has never been attempted by the research together with a cord. 8An alternative for the two- community before. The main objective of this fish representation of the zodiac sign Pisces is article is to indicate the associative meanings of the single Great Fish which is more common in two fishes - as a motif among zodiac signs in the Islamic tradition and is reflected by the astrology (Pisces), or a popular symbol - in medieval Latin designation of the sign as Pisces various cultures. It also tries to indicate the in the singular. association between the zodiac-sign, Pisces and J. H. Rogers, investigating the origins of the a well-known dual fish motif in Iranian cultures, zodiac signs in Mesopotamian tradition, Herati. Subsequently, by the structural analysis maintains that Pisces contains two fishes whose of its duality and by considering fish as an tails are adjoined by a ribbon signifying catching intermediary and central element in some myths fish. 9 Additionally, it represents one of the and narratives, a comparative research method - celestial seas and signifies a watery based on reviewing the pictorial data and also constellation derived from Ea. In Mul.Apin and focusing on etymology as useful sources - is earlier resources, the western fish was employed to analyze of the symbolic structure of represented as a ‘Great Swallow’ displayed on two fishes as the symbol of dual oppositions the neck of Pegasus. Similarly, the northern fish, representing death and darkness versus life and depicted in the middle part of Andromeda, was brightness. In fact, the etymological approach is named Anunitum, meaning the Lady of Heavens. utilized to explain the presence of the motif in It may worth noting that although the Mul.Apin association with the concept of foot in related table does not make any reference to fish, its cultures. mentioning of the tails (Zibbati.Mesh) most likely refers to the swallow with bifurcated tail and not 2. Fish Pattern in Pictorial and Descriptive the fish. The word swallow, however, came to Resources from Different Cultures symbolise the zodiacal Pisces in later times. Du.Nu.Nu or Riski.nu.mi which signifies the fish According to archeological findings, the first cord is related to other late Babylonian source Paleolithic fish figurines were found with the explicitly denoting Pisces. Finally, there are also cycle of life engraved on one side and the other sources which represent this zodiac sign as 2 labyrinth of death on the other. Surprisingly, the field, the square of Pegasus whose single and double fish figurines carved on the walls of the catacombs, have been found in 4 Busenbark (as in n.3), p. 174. 3 5 many places. As a popular religious symbol, the Fig. [1. n.1] 6 fish was a sacred entity to Ishtar, Isis, Venus, and F. Pakzad Soraki, Bundahishn: Zoroastrische Kosmologie und Kosmogonie, Kapitel I-VI, Universität Tübingen 2005, p. 77. also for the Japanese Kwan-non. In addition, it 7 L. A. Waddell, The Indo-Sumerian Seals Deciphered: Discovering symbolised Hathor, the Egyptian goddess, and Sumerians of Indus Valley as Phoenicians, Barats, Goths & Famous Vedic Aryans, 3100-2300 BC, Luzac & Company 1925, pp. 84-87. 8 Fig. [2] 2 A. Dunnigan, ‘fish’, in Encyclopedia of Religion, ed. J. Lindsay, 9 J. H. Rogers, ‘Origins of the ancient constellations: I. The MacMillan Reference Library 1987, p. 3122. Mesopotamian traditions’, Journal of the British Astronomical 3 E. Busenbark, Symbols, Sex, and the Stars, Book Tree 1997, p. 259. Association, CVIII, 1998, pp. 9-28 (21-27). 2 Studies in Visual Arts and Communication: an international journal A Structural Analysis of Bicorporal Fish Pattern pictograph has been indicated between two a Mithra's head between the two fish. Overall, fishes on the Dendera Zodiac.10 In the same vein, Herati symbolic representation of the two fish the Cylinder seal iconography to Sumerian and pattern signifies Mithra's head between the two Akkadian era (3200-2000 B.C.) shows that the fish dolphins. However, in this study we explored motif in the zodiac was represented Iranian Islamic works of art to find other swallow/field. 11 possible associations linked to Herati. The Pisces is not the only zodiac sign which Structural analysis of the duality pattern in has a bicorporal or double representation. In pictorial resources: Lévi-Strauss, examining fact, other zodiac signs such as Gemini, Virgo, bicorporal patterns, has claimed that the and Sagittarius have also a double sign mythical system employs a metaphorical representation. As an illustration, for Ptolemy, approach to specify the relative position of double signs signified the coming of the season human beings, animals, and gods within a matrix in solstices and equinoxes and the prediction of of binary oppositions such as high and low, this weather. 12 However, different cultures provide world and the world after, culture and nature, various significations attached to the double etc., all of which are alterations and variations signs differentiating between spiritual and within the same universe.