Manifestations of the story in ancient Iranian pottery

Abstract

Abstract

          The current study, titled "Manifestations of the Story in Ancient Iranian Pottery (The Story of the Prophet Joseph, peace be upon him, in the Well as a Model"), examines the interconnectedness between the story of the Prophet Joseph (peace be upon him) and ancient Iranian pottery art. The Qur'anic story of the Prophet Joseph (peace be upon him) played an influential role in the cultural and civilizational structure of Iranian pottery. It had clear manifestations and a visible form in Iranian wall pottery, giving the story of Joseph (peace be upon him) a unique character in terms of style, presentation, objective narration, and concepts. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it is the subject of an entire surah (chapter) that presents the life of its hero, along with secondary heroes who work with him. Perhaps devoting an entire surah to a single story reveals its implications, which should be noted for their highly evocative aspects related to the most important human motivations. We have realized the importance of this story and its impact on ancient Iranian pottery. Therefore, numerous studies and research have sought to study Qur'anic stories to highlight the critical rules and standards in the aesthetic construction of the Qur'anic story, which can be used to establish an Islamic critical vision based on the distinctive characteristics of Qur'anic stories.  Iranian artists, especially potters, have been interested in the story of the Prophet Joseph (peace be upon him) because it carries a distinct character, and is considered the best of stories. The thesis therefore comprises four chapters. The first chapter contains the general framework of the research, which includes the research problem, which includes the question: "What are the manifestations of the story in ancient Iranian ceramics (the story of the Prophet Joseph (peace be upon him) in the well as a model)?"

          Then the chapter discusses the importance and need for the research, which contributes to finding manifestations of the story of the Prophet Joseph (peace be upon him) in ancient Iranian ceramics and the Quranic references to this story. This is a new study in this field of visual art. The aim of the research and the boundaries of the research, including the thematic boundaries, included the ceramic works executed in ancient Iranian ceramics, which included the theme of the story of the Prophet Joseph (peace be upon him), the temporal boundaries between the second half of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries AH, and the spatial boundaries of the ceramic murals produced in the Islamic Republic of Iran. It concluded by defining the most important research terms.

The second chapter includes the theoretical framework of the research and previous studies and is divided into three axes: the first is "A reading of the intellectual concept of the story," while the second is "Representations of the story in ancient Iranian ceramics."  )

          The third chapter includes the research procedures, including defining the research community, identifying the research sample, and analyzing the sample using a descriptive approach, including a case study. The fourth chapter includes the results, conclusions, recommendations, and proposals. The most important findings include:

1.    The story contains incidents that the author has transferred from real life and arranged in an artistic and literary manner, distinguishing him from other writers. It is worth noting that some of the events mentioned in some stories are fictional, but they do contain connotations that touch on reality in some way, such as when the author invents events and characters to paint a future image of real-life events.

2.    This work is not merely a decorated ceramic panel; rather, it is a complex visual text that reflects how religious narrative has been transformed into a symbolic format, making the story a means of communication between the arts, storytelling, and the spirit.

Conclusions 

1.    The manifestations of the story of the Prophet Joseph, peace be upon him, in ceramics are achieved through the design and formulation of the work in a unique style.