Investigation of Lorestan bronze objects from a symbolic perspective: A case study of the role of Gilgamesh

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Archeology, Master student of Mohaghegh Ardabili University

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Archeology, Mohaghegh Ardabili University

3 Department of Archeology, PhD student, Mohaghegh Ardabili University

4 Master student, Mohaghegh Ardabili University

5 Master student of Archeology, Bu Ali University of Hamadan

Abstract

Lorestan bronze objects are symbolically divided into four categories: animal motifs, plant motifs, human motifs and geometric motifs. The image of Gilgamesh can also be seen among the symbols used in Lorestan bronze objects. This role has been depicted in different forms with more artistry and skill, and each of them has a semantic and conceptual burden that reveals and studies these objects and reveals the beliefs of the people of that period. The present article took a descriptive-analytical method using library resources. In this article, objects have been selected whose images are symbolically in line with the subject of study. Therefore, the main question and issue of this research was posed as follows: According to the background mentioned in this article, the presence of the image of Gilgamesh in the bronze works of Lorestan, what is the relationship between the use of the role and the culture of the people of the region? The results showed that using the role of Gilgamesh to turn women and chariots back indicates that the people of Lorestan did not consider Gilgamesh as a god, but considered it as a spell against the source of wounds and the power of evil. Lorestan bronze workers have used the role of Gilgamesh in the decorative and non-decorative objects they used, including hairpins and votive objects, and even on weapons. The role of Gilgamesh on Lorestan bronzes is inspired by the art of Mesopotamia and Ilam, and after Ilam, it was adopted in bronze objects of other areas of Lorestan.