Animal Symbolism in Proto-Elamite Period: Serpent, Turtle and Feline in Tepe Sofalin

The appearance of animal images on the archaeological remains is always considered as an evidence to determine their natural living and their role in human s cultural and ritual life. Animal imagery is found in every medium of art in the Proto Elamite period include stone statuette, pottery, metalwork and finally seal impressions. The glyptic art and pottery through their diversity and the nature of their symbols provide the researchers with the basic information with which to piece together the iconography and the social and economy history of the Proto Elamite period. This paper examines serpent, turtle and feline imageries and related pastiches on two media at Tepe Sofalin, including seal impressions and pottery fragments.