The influence of Shiism on the art of the Safavid period

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 PhD Student in Twelver Shiite History, University of Religions and Denominations

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy and Islamic Theology, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies, Allameh Tabataba'i University

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic History, University of Religions and Denominations

Abstract

Considering the importance of art as one of the important topics in the treatises of Shia jurisprudents, this important question arises in the mind, what effects did the Shia religion have on the art of the Safavid period? The Safavid era is one of the most important periods in the history of Iranian art. One of the unique features of this period is the display of Shia religious rituals in all dimensions, especially in the field of art. With the officialization of the Shia religion, the support of the Safavid kings for art and artists, the skill and ability of artists, the rich Islamic culture, etc., had a tremendous impact on the prosperity of art in the Safavid era. One of the characteristics of Safavid period art is modernity and approach to new artistic elements. Some arts, such as architecture, enjoyed good prosperity due to the attention paid to the construction of Shiite mosques, and some arts, such as music, faced certain restrictions depending on the Safavid Shah and maintaining Sharia laws. Therefore, the division of the arts of this period was influenced by Sharia and customs, and while being influenced by religion, some arts were subject to change and development and prosperity or decline. This research shows the influence of the Shia religion on the art of the Safavid period by examining the sources of the Safavid period and referring to the surviving works from that period.

Keywords

Islamic History and civilization: A Contemporary View
Volume 4, Issue 8
March 2025
Pages 67-109

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History

  • Receive Date: 29 September 2024
  • Revise Date: 28 November 2024
  • Accept Date: 29 December 2024

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