OUNAR, A CEMETERY FROM THE SAFAVID ERA

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Tombstones have great importance in belief and artistic areas due to its close connection with human beliefs. In addition to the apparent use of any tombstone, it has cultural function and contains symbolic information, both religious and non-religious. Meshkinshahr’s city was selected as the studied area due to its location at a particular geography and its proximity to the Safavid religious capital, as well as its richness in terms of Islamic gravestones and lack of adequate studies in this field. Among the cemeteries of this city, cemetery of Onar was investigated as a main sample of graves. The purpose of this cemetery was to identify, typology, record the gravestones, examine, and analyze the used symbolic designs or signs, chronology the gravestones, as well as to show the importance of the gravestones of Onar to represent the civilization and culture of the region as a concrete heritage and to prevent the destruction of these tombstones. This research has been conducted through field surveys and library studies based on the descriptive-analytical approach. So studies have shown that most graves or tombs are related to the Safavid era in terms of chronology, and the used motifs has been used in religious area. Date for a number of simple graves were not set due to the lack of motifs or signs of guidance. Some of the characteristics attributed to Safavid period in Onar’s gravestones include human motifs with a special cap of the Safavid period, and using the great Salavat pray is one of prays that was common upon gravestones from entering of Safavids. The role of sterlized three-leaves of palm tree symbolizing the Imam Hussein s coffin that was common in Safavid period.

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Tombstone , Cemetery of Ounar , Symbolism , Decorative motifs

Yildiz Journal Of Art an‎d Design

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Yildiz Journal Of Art an‎d Design