The Astan Quds Razavi Treasury houses a collection of historical and artistic works, created by both renowned and anonymous artists, as well as offerings from devotees to this Holy Shrine. Among these, there are valuable pieces of Islamic art that hold significant ritual and symbolic value. One such symbol is the peacock, frequently depicted in various art forms, and is of interest due to its aesthetic and symbolic significance. This study aims to examine historical and cultural artifacts, specifically focusing on the peacock symbolic representation in the ritual objects of the Imam Reza’s Shrine Museum. By identifying artifacts within the Razavi cultural heritage collection and posing hypothetical questions, we seek to achieve our research objectives.Researchers in this study have found a meaningful connection between the creators’ spiritual beliefs and, sometimes, the patrons, as well as the cultures from which they originated. Furthermore, in the continuity of this artistic tradition, each artist has followed an ancient pattern for creation.
Research Objectives:
1. To examine the significance of the cultural and artistic context in the artwork formation and creation.
2. To investigate the craftsmen's thoughts influence on visualizing the peacock in relation to these artifacts function.
Research Questions:
1. Did the works’ creators examined in this article consider the peacock’s symbolic aspect in their visualization, or was it purely decorative?
2. Did the cultural context influence the peacock symbolic aspect?