Document Type : The social history of women in the art and society of Iran and the ancient world(Guest editor: Dr. Esmail Sangari)

Author

• Faezeh Aghighi

phD in Iranology and Researcher at Iranology Foundation, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Iranian culture considers ideal women in every period which has been expressed from the earliest times by means of engravings and later in written texts. Research on this issue is very important and it is a suitable way to analyze a corner of Iranian culture and thinking about women. Especially, this investigation should be done in the ancient period, to where the roots of Iranian thoughts belong. Since the use of original written sources belonging to each period is necessary for the research in this issue and the abundance of ancient written sources in the Sasanian period is obvious, in this article, an attempt has been made to investigate and analyze this issue in Sassanian period. The method of collecting information is library and the research method is descriptive-analytical. The main sources in question are Middle Persian texts. The findings show that the characteristics of an ideal woman in Sassanin period were defined in relation to the position of mother and wife. In addition to ideals in the field of female beauty, moral field, there are expectations for examples of obedience, loyalty and commitment, taking care and raising the child. There is also financial independence and economic prudence which despite the patriarchal view, clearly states the importance of women's role in the family.

Keywords

• Ideal woman
• Family
• Mother
• Wife
• Sasanians

Main Subjects

• The social history of women in the art and society of Iran and the ancient world

Extended Abstract

Analysis of the concept of ideal Iranian woman in the position of wife and mother

Case study: Sassanian period

Introduction: A woman, even in the early days, as an important and mysterious being, had the important ability to bear children and continue the generation and whether in later periods under the shadow of male power, it has always been considered and due to her natural and important duties, there have always been expectations from her which has been a sign of society's ideals of a desirable and worthy woman. Iranian women have not been exempted from this issue. Patterns of women on objects and various other fields from the most ancient times to present, in the plateau of Iran. It can express the image of the ideal and desired woman in every period in different dimensions. Iranian sages and wise men in every period have proposed characteristics of an ideal woman who is suitable for marriage and starting a family. Research on this topic is very important because it is a suitable way to analyze a part of Iranian culture and thinking about women. Especially, this investigation should be done in the ancient period to what the roots of Iranian thoughts belong. Since the use of original written sources belonging to each time period is necessary for the research on this topic and the abundance of ancient written sources in Sassanian period is obvious. In this article, an attempt has been made to investigate and analyze this issue in Sassanian period.

Research questions: This research seeks to answer this main question that what were the qualifications expected of an Iranian woman as a mother and wife during the Sassanian period? Also, this important sub-question is considered, how the components of the ideal woman were chosen.

Purpose: The purpose of this article is also a review and analysis of the characteristics and characteristics of an ideal and decent Iranian woman in the position of a wife and mother in the Sassanid period.

Background: The review of the research conducted in the field of Iranian women's studies in the ancient period shows that in general two categories of works are significant: 1. The works that have examined the issue of women in ancient Iran in a general way and in a wider period of time that in the meantime, some have investigated it in the ancient Iranian society and some have investigated it at the family level. Works that have examined the issue of women separately in a specific period or special sources. While emphasizing the value of each two categories of works, research showed that the focus of both categories is on the position of women and her rights and not her ideal qualities. Some works have briefly and implicitly mentioned the ideal characteristics of women but it is not enough, especially since these materials are not related to the Sassanid period either. Therefore, this article tries to compensate for this lack and to analyze and research the characteristics of the ideal Iranian woman in the role of wife and mother in the Sassanian period.

Methodology: The method of collecting information is library and the main sources of this research are Middle Persian Texts and secondary sources include Avesta, archeological documents and secondary sources related to the Sassanian period. The research method is descriptive-analytical. In this way, the ideal female component is extracted from the main sources and then evidence is given for it and in order to analyze it, its cultural background is also stated.

Findings: The findings show that the characteristics of an ideal Iranian woman in Sassanian period were related to the position of wife and mother, and these two positions were much interconnected. The components of an ideal woman have been chosen based on the demands and emphasis that have been expressed about women in Middle Persian texts. Of course, this requirement and emphasis was also evident in the statues and motifs in the pre-Sasanian eras, where it seems that it had a more aspirational state but in the sources of the Sassanian period, it is mentioned along with the promises of religious rewards and punishments, which provided a kind of executive guarantee of the characteristics. These components include two general categories of appearance characteristics (beauty) and non-appearance characteristics. Non-appearance characteristics also include moral characteristics (love, compromise, loyalty, wisdom, modesty, and obedience to one's wife); marital relations, fertility, child bearing and economic planning and financial independence. Examining the sources shows that all these characteristics have a cultural and historical background among Iranians.

Conclusion: The ideals in the field of appearance (beauty) in the Sassanid period were with more emphasis on seeking pleasure from women, especially in the sexual field. Firstly, the non-appearance characteristics show the patriarchal aspect and obedience to men as a wife; however, the other side of these reminders clearly states the importance of women's role in the family and it has indicated the importance of her role as an important pillar of the family. Things such as the importance of her peace in the family, which is due to her wisdom and wisdom, and also her role in the education and upbringing of children are examples of this.