Sassanid Royal Ribbons in Byzantine Empire

Abstract

Contemplating on the history of Iranian art in the Sassanid era, it can be observed that the Sassanid royal ribbons, as one of the most important characteristics of the contemporary art of the era, are abundantly found on the Sassanid reliefs, fabrics and silver dishes. These royal ribbons are a decorative and symbolic element in the art of this era. On close scrutiny, the traces of the Sassanid royal ribbons can be detected in the artistic works of the Byzantine Empire, an important point that has often been neglected. In this regard, the present study uses an analytical method to examine the application, function and characteristics of the Sassanid ribbons and compare them with the features of the Byzantine ribbons to prove the impact of the Sassanid ribbons on the Byzantine art. To achieve this goal, some examples of these ribbons were provided to be used in a comparative study between the Sassanid and Byzantine royal ribbons. The results indicated the impact of the Sassanid royal ribbons on Byzantine art with almost identical characteristics. Along with delineating the reasons for these influences, the way the Sassanid royal ribbons found their place in the Byzantine Empire is also explained. Due to the extensive relationships between Iran and Byzantium, this adaptation was made in the Byzantine Empire which, above all, influenced their fabrics and mosaics.