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Moradi, Yousef and Hintze, Almut (2023) 'Interactions between religious minorities and the Zoroastrian fire temple in the light of new clay sealings from Taḵt-e Solaymān.' In: Gyselen, Rika, (ed.), Reflets d'époques sassanide et post-sassanide (224-760). Bures-sur-Yvette: Groupe pour l'étude de la civilisation du Moyen-Orient, pp. 153-176. (Res orientales, v. 30)

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Abstract

This article addresses, for the first time, seal impressions of four bullae, discovered by Yousef Moradi at the World Heritage site of Taḵt-e Solaymān, showing Jewish and Christian iconography in the context of the economic and administrative activities of a major Zoroastrian fire temple of Sasanian Iran. The stylistic origin of the iconography is examined, and the symbolism displayed on these bullae is interpreted in the light of both archaeological evidence and textual sources. It is argued that the original seals belonged to authorities of the Jewish and Christian minorities and point to their significant economic activities in the Sasanian fire temple of Ādur Gušnasp. Despite differences in religious beliefs, traditions, and practices, the new sigillographic evidence suggests that religious minorities readily and successfully acculturated themselves within the relatively pluralistic and generally tolerant Sasanian Empire, and participated in the social, cultural, political, and religious institutions of the ruling powers. The sealings discussed here constitute significant evidence for the acculturation of minority groups in the space of imperial and religious institutions.

Item Type: Book Chapters
Additional Information: ISSN: 11422831
Keywords: Sasanian seals, Middle Persian epigraphy, minority religions
SOAS Departments & Centres: Departments and Subunits > School of History, Religions & Philosophies > Department of Religions & Philosophies
Subjects: D History General and Old World > DT Africa
P Language and Literature > P Philology. Linguistics
P Language and Literature > PK Indo-Iranian languages and literatures
D History General and Old World
ISBN: 9791097059040
ISSN: 11422831
Date Deposited: 06 Jul 2023 11:55
URI: https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/id/eprint/39698
Funders: European Union

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