Analyzing the Visual and Conceptual Patterns of the Ibex Motif on the Pottery of Tall-I Bakun of Fars, Iran (5th and 4th Millennia BC) using the Iconology Approach of Erwin Panofsky

The art of ancient Iran, replete with pictorial elements, encapsulates themes and concepts that have intrigued scholars since the earliest encounters with imagery. These elements, especially prevalent in pottery designs, offer a window into the cognitive intricacies of the ancient human psyche. Iconology, a methodological approach in art interpretation pioneered by Erwin Panofsky, employs a layered analysis to decipher the meaning behind visual arts. This study aims to dissect the visual and conceptual patterns of the ibex motif found on the pottery of Tall-i Bakun in Fars (5th and 4th millennia BC). It specifically addresses how the ibex motif can be interpreted through Panofsky’s tripartite framework of meaning. The findings suggest that iconological analysis can effectively unravel the original and ancient motifs of Tall-i Bakun in Fars. It posits that these motifs, steeped in ritualistic, cultural, and geographical contexts, reflect the broader ethos of Iranian art and culture. The recurrent motifs of the mountain ibex, emblematic of lunar associations, water, and fertility wishes, underscore the elemental significance and the continuum of life in the region’s iconography.