Acta Via Serica

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Identification and Categorization of Jul Designs and Patterns in the Sāsānian Period

  • Received : 2022.08.16
  • Accepted : 2022.11.24
  • Published : 2022.12.15
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Abstract

Ancient Iranians highly esteemed the horse and horse tacks, one of which is the jul (saddlecloth). It is a felt, sheepskin, or woven pad placed between the horse's back and saddle. The aim of this paper is to identify and categorize jul designs in the Sāsānian period. The research questions are about the variety of jul designs and how to categorize them. This is fundamental research and the method is descriptive and analytical. Neither a jul nor a saddle-cover remains from the Sāsānian period, therefore the statistical population includes all available items, such as metal and stone items and parget and plasterworks, in which juls are recognizable. Due to the scarcity of such items, all the available samples were studied; so the sampling method is a total enumeration. This is documentary research by means of note-taking and using reliable websites; the data has been analyzed qualitatively. The results show that jul designs were not diverse in the Sāsānian period. All-over designs were dominant. In terms of pattern types, these designs are classified into five groups, each of which has its own formal and aesthetic characteristics: all-over design with a four-petal flower pattern, allover design with a checkered pattern, all-over design with a spotted pattern, allover design with a tiger stripe pattern, and all-over design with a zigzag pattern.

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