Abstract

This study aims to reinterpret and analyze the multiple meanings of the dragon symbol in Iranian art iconography. Despite the common description of the dragon as a demonic creature and a symbol of evil forces in mythology, the central question of the present article is: Is the role of the dragon in Iranian art limited solely to the symbolism of evil? To answer this question, the present study, using an analytical-descriptive method and relying on written sources and visual evidence, has examined the symbolic functions of this role in Iranian decorative arts. The findings indicate that the meaning of the dragon goes beyond a one-sided, shame-centered view and finds diverse and even contradictory implications in different contexts. In ancient mythology, the snake - which is considered the initial form of the dragon - was a symbol of health and healing. In astronomical iconography, although the dragon itself is not a planet, it has been used as a symbol to indicate specific cosmic situations such as eclipses. Also, the entanglement of the snake and the dragon in decorative motifs, considering the symbolic use of the "knot" as a magical tool, can carry a talismanic and protective function. In Islamic texts, especially in the Quranic interpretation of the story of Moses (PBUH), the dragon, the manifestation of the rod of prophecy, is depicted as a protective and destructive agent of evil and tyrannical forces. As a result, this study shows that the role of the dragon in Iranian art is a dynamic and multi-layered symbol that has a wide range of meanings in accordance with the cultural, religious and artistic context and cannot be interpreted only within the framework of a symbol of evil.

Keywords: Dragon, iconography, symbolism, Iranian art, decorative art, mythology.