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Representation of Children in Sasanian Rock Reliefs

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Representation of Children in Sasanian Rock Reliefs Intl. J. Humanities (2017) Vol. 24 (3) (67-80) Representation of Children in Sasanian Rock Reliefs Negin Miri1 Received: 2018/2/3 Accepted: 2018/6/22 Abstract Archaeology of children and childhood is rather a new field of study within archaeology and anthropology. However, it is very difficult to trace the presence of children in archaeological material. Their manifestation is mainly limited to mortuary, artefacts or objects considered to be toys or built environment that too may have been either in connection with specific items used by or were in relation to children or iconographic evidence from past. The present study tries to examine depictions of children in Sasanian rock reliefs which have long been the subject of extensive research, nevertheless it seems such depiction on art objects was not a matter of attraction by itself. On the other hand, lack of coherent literary evidence about social status, roles and realm of children and childhood in the Sasanian society leave many questions unanswered. Hence, despite a large number of researches in the field of Sasanian history and archaeology, one cannot postulate a coherent research background specific to the aforementioned subject. Children are displayed in a number of Sasanian rock reliefs which are introduced and presented in chronological order. Identity of these children and purpose of their depiction is discussed based on available works. Although, the historical identity of these children may never be certainly established, but those shown in investiture and parade reliefs of Ardashir I, Shapur I and Narseh at Firuzabad, Naqsh-e Rajab and Naqsh-e Rustam are certainly the children of high status or having royal lineage. In two of Shapur I reliefs, a putto is depicted and a probably captive child –enemy’s son- are seen in Bahram II/Shapur II relief in Tang-e Chowgan. Keywords: Sasanian; Rock Reliefs; Children. ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Assistant Professor of Archeology, Faculty of Humanities, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran. [email protected] 67 Miri, N, __________________________________________ Intl. J. Humanities (2017) Vol. 24 (3): (66-79) Introduction and Jalali, 2016). Despite a large number of Interest in children of past societies or the researches in the field of Sasanian history and one known as the archaeology of children archaeology, one cannot postulate a coherent and childhood is rather a new field of study. research background specific to the subject of Clearly, children were and are a major part of the present paper. any human society. However, the absence of Children are displayed in a number of diverse material remains that could reflect Sasanian rock reliefs. But the historical this portion of population in archaeological identity of these children will remain a matter contexts has, to some extent, led into some of speculation and may never be certainly sort of negligence. Archaeologists, hence, established, although their depiction in royal sometimes forget that past societies were scenes in some cases clearly point to their composed of both children and adults with royal lineage or high social status. In few the former playing important roles in cases even this assumption cannot be made. different aspects of social life. It is very difficult to trace the presence of children in Ardashir I Rock Reliefs (Fd II, NRb III, archaeological material. Their manifestation NRm I) is mainly limited to three category of Chronologically, the first rock relief archaeological records: mortuary contexts discussed here is Ardashir I (224-241 AD) (Chamberlain, 2000 after Baxter, 2008: 161), investiture relief in Firuzabad known as artefacts such as miniature objects or objects Firuzabad II. It is believed that this is the considered to be toys or built environments second relief created by Ardashir I after his that in some cases may have been in victory over Artabanus IV and the first connection with specific items used by or manifestation of his claim as the king. Here, were in relation to children (Baxter, 2008: Ardashir I is standing to the left side of the 162, 169-70) and lastly iconographic scene in front of Ahura Mazda and receiving evidence from past. a royal diadem with his right hand from him. In the present study, depictions of Behind Ardashir I, three persons including children in Sasanian rock reliefs is examined. crown prince Shapur I and two other Sasanian rock reliefs have long been the members of the royal family or court are subject of extensive research, nevertheless it standing (Fig. 1). We identify Shapur I on the seems that the question of children depicted basis of his distinctive emblem –a ring on a T on Sasanian art objects was not a matter of shape base with a crescent on the top- on his attraction by itself. On the other hand, lack of headwear. Just behind Ardashir I, a coherent literary evidence that explains and seemingly very young person holds a fly clarifies social status, roles and realm of whisk above Ardashir’s head while his left children and childhood in the Sasanian hand rests on a sword. Hinz following society leave many questions unanswered. Ghirshman believes that this figure is shown Sporadic hints and remarks can be found in smaller than others due to his low status Middle Persian literature attributed to the (Ghirshman, 1962: 131; Hinz, 1969: 119). Sasanian period, however their scope is Contrary to this streamlined view, there restricted and is mostly limited to the subject are evidence indicating that this person was of children education and upbringing rather in fact a child or teen and is shown smaller than their whole social and personal life (Miri because of his age. First of all, this young boy 68 Representation of Children in Sasanian …_______________ Intl. J. Humanities (2017) Vol. 24 (3) wears a distinctive headwear, on which a been a child/teen during the early years of bud-shaped emblem is recognizable. As Ardashir (as in Firuzabad II), turning to a evident from other examples of Sasanian young male during his later years (as in NRb rock reliefs, similar types of headwear with an III and NRm I) (Overlaet, 2013: 328). It animal-shaped projection was worn mainly should be noted that a similar sign is visible by members of royal family or court in the third battle scene at Firuzabad I relief. members. Therefore, it seems that his hat is a Here, one of Ardahir’s men is grasping distinctive type indicating he was not of a low enemy from behind. The bud-shape emblem status. The second point is his physical is recognizable on hid headwear and horse appearance: he is clearly stretching his hand footcloth. If this was a first relief of Ardashir to keep the whisk above Ardashir’s head, and I, clearly Firuzabad II child cannot be unlike other three men behind him who are identical with him as believed (Shahbazi, looking forward is raising his head to look up; 2014: 161 following Lukonin, 1971: 309). a realistic gesture due to his short height. The Nevertheless, putting all these evidence last but not the least is the identity of this teen together, we may conclude that a certain fly whisk bearer. Interestingly, the family with this familial emblem (Karen aforementioned bud-shaped symbol is according to Shahbaz, 2014: 161-2 or Suren shown on the headwear of the fly whisk family according to Kalani, 2017) held a bearer on two other reliefs of Ardahir I at special position at least in the early Sasanian Naqsh-e Rajab and Naqsh-e Rustam as well period; their members assisted Ardashir I in (NRb III and NRm I) (Figs. 2-3). Here, this his raise to power (Firuzabad I), and person is shown as a young adult, so the accompanied him since in the symbolic reason for his smaller size in Firuzabad II position of the king’s fly whisk bearer and relief cannot be related to his low status and were portrayed in his reliefs just behind him unimportant position; if this was the case, as as a child or a young man (Fd II, NRb III and an iconographic rule, holder of this position NRm I). should be always shown in smaller size in Ardashir is portrayed in yet another Sasanian rock reliefs. Hence, what seems investiture relief in Naqsh-e Rajab (NRb III). more plausible is that this person is very Here also Ardashir I is standing in front of young, and in fact, a high status child from an Ahura Mazda and receiving a royal diadem important family who had been trained to from him with his right hand. Two adults are accompany and serve the king. Shahbazi shown behind Ardashir I, his fly whisk introduces the young fly whisk bearer of bearer, about whom we already discussed Naqsh-e Rustam relief as a member of the above, and the crown prince Shapur I. Karen family who is about 17 years old and Behind Ahura Mazda and in a seemingly following Lukonin (1971: 305-309), believes detached space two royal women are shown. this same person is shown behind Ardashir in Between Ardashir I and Ahura Mazda, two Naqsh-e Rajab as well (Shahbazi, 2014: 161- small figures are standing (Fig. 4), whose 2). identity were the mater of controversy Overlaet has a more compelling view; among scholars. According to Sarre, these according to him considering the “two child figures” are both Ardashir’s sons chronological order of Ardashir I reliefs, all and his heirs to the throne and here three reliefs show the same person who had significance of their presence in the 69 Miri, N, __________________________________________ Intl. J. Humanities (2017) Vol. 24 (3): (66-79) investiture ceremony is documented (Sarre about 10 years old (Herzfeld 1928: 132; Hinz, and Herzfeld, 1910: 94-5).
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