Elephant in Islamic Paintings in Iran and India  an Archaeological Artistic Study

Hassan, Salama Hamed Ali

doi:10.21608/jguaa.2021.47676.1152

Elephant in Islamic Paintings in Iran and India an Archaeological Artistic Study

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Salama Hamed Ali Hassan

Lecturer of Islamic archeology, faculty of archaeology, Luxor university(EGYPT)

10.21608/jguaa.2021.47676.1152

Abstract

Among the topics of importance in the depictions of Islamic manuscripts in Iran and India are topics that carry many ancient doctrinal connotations, the White Elephant consider one of those topics that concerned Islamic painting in this geographical area of the Islamic world.
Although elephants are generally one of the living beings to which Asia is famous and considered one of the animals that contributed to the emergence of ancient civilizations for use in economic aspects, transport, wars and conflicts, the care of painting them as one of the natural elements found in the environment, but the subject of the white elephant here is particularly significant is one of the symbols of the ancient Buddhist religion as well as one of the gods of India, which was called Ganisha, Which is depicted in the form of an elephant with the body of a child with four arms Therefore, it must be taken care of and decorated in a manner appropriate to its religious status, and the Muslims' interest in acquiring it was not a matter of following a belief; Rather, it is like owning every precious thing and imitating the legendary kings in ancient Iran and India who owned white elephants decorated with ornaments and jewels.

Keywords

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