Preliminary Report on the Cairn Tombs of Kuik & Qaleh Bahadori in the Zahāb Plain, Kermānshāh

Preliminary Report on the Cairn Tombs of Kuik & Qaleh Bahadori in the Zahāb Plain, Kermānshāh

Author(s): Samer NAZARI,Marzieh SHA'RBAF / Language(s): English / Issue: 5/2016

Keywords: Iran; Kermanshah; Zahāb Plain; Cemetery; Cairn Tombs

In the summer of 2015, a preliminary visit was carried out by the authors with the goal of identifyingand documenting archaeological cemeteries as well as giv ing a relative chronology of them at two villages of Kuikand Qaleh Bahadori in the Zahāb Plain, located in Sarpol-e Zahāb County in Kermānshāh province of Iran.Numerous tombs were identified in four cemeteries. Mostly they were located in the hillside of mountains.The pile of stones on the ground can be an indicator to assess them. Structurally all tombs are the same. All aroundthe tomb's wall was elevated with different size of stones in several rows; after putting the dead body, the tombhas been covered with three or four cap stones. Then the pile of stones was put on top of it. Nevertheless thesecemeteries were been looted by smugglers, still some intact tombs can be seen among them. Unfortunately, nocultural materials were found in these areas except for few potsherds; so this caused some difficulties to datethe tombs. The morphology of their structure and comparative study with peripheral regions suggest probablechronology of Iron Age III for the tombs. It is evident that certain results will be achieved on the basisof archaeological excavations.

On the Location of the 11th and 15th Satrapies of Achaemenid Persia

On the Location of the 11th and 15th Satrapies of Achaemenid Persia

Author(s): Hovhannes Khorikyan / Language(s): English / Issue: 5/2016

Keywords: Satrapy; Caspians; Scythians; Hyrcanians; Totem

Preliminary reports of the late Parthian or early Sassanian relief at Panj-e Ali, the Parthian relief at Andika and examinations of late Parthian swords and daggers

Preliminary reports of the late Parthian or early Sassanian relief at Panj-e Ali, the Parthian relief at Andika and examinations of late Parthian swords and daggers

Author(s): Kaveh Farrokh,Gholamreza Karamian,Meysam DELFAN,Farzad Astaraki / Language(s): English / Issue: 5/2016

Keywords: rock reliefs; Parthian; Sassanian; Panj-e Ali; Andika; sword; dagger

This article examines recent archaeological excavations with respect to two Parthian reliefs and anexamination of Parthian blade weapons (swords, daggers). The first archaeological site examined is the lat eParthian or early Sassanian cavalry motif in the town of Koohdasht in western Iran’s Lorestan province.The Koohdasht motif is comparable to late Parthian and early Sassanian cavalry reliefs such as the Parthian reliefof Gōdarz II in Bīstūn and Sassanian reliefs such as those of Ardašīr I in Fīrūzābād and the Sassanian cavalryrelief panels in Naqš-e Rostam. The second site pertains to the recent discovery of the Parthian relief at Andika inKhuzestan depicting a Parthian nobleman lying sideways, leaning on his left elbow, as he holds a branch with hisleft hand. The theme of the Andika relief has parallels with Tang-e Sarvak (Block II) and the Tina mountain reliefin Khuzestan. The third domain, which pertains to Parthian militaria is an examination of late Parthian swords anddaggers housed in the Iran Bastan Museum in Tehran.

The Himyarite “knight” and Partho-Sasanian art

The Himyarite “knight” and Partho-Sasanian art

Author(s): Patryk SKUPNIEWICZ / Language(s): English / Issue: 5/2016

Keywords: Parthian; Sasanian; Yemen; Arabia; weaponry; arms and armor; stone slab; rock reliefs

The Himyarite slab from Zafar contains several distinctive features shared with some Parthian and Sasanian art pieces, but its relation with Naqš-e Rostam friezes proposed by Yule and Robin does not seem convincing. 1. It shows a rider clad in long scale armor analogically to a terracotta tile from the British Mus eum (fig. 9); 2. There is an infantry attendant with an axe depicted over the mount’s rump similarly to the Tang-e Sarvak frieze, where there are two foot warriors and a battle axe too (fig. 7); The horse position on Tang-e Sarvak is either standing or rearing as on discussed relief. 3. Round shield and raised right hand with a lance as on Ṭāq-e Bostān relief (fig. 12). 4. The layout of the original piece must have therefore been squarish rather than horizontally extended, with the opponent of the main figure marginalized. Therefore Himyarite artisans either followed unknown or not preserved Iranian iconographic pattern or combined the features of different canons. Yule and Robin have pointed out that simple snaffle was depicted in place of elaborate and decorative Sasanian bridle, an element usually pronounced in Sasanian art but not always clearly marked in Parthian iconography, especially in smaller objects. It cannot be however excluded that the slab rather follows a Roman tradition captured in local taste.

Introduction to studies on late Sasanian protective armour. The Yarysh-Mardy helmet

Introduction to studies on late Sasanian protective armour. The Yarysh-Mardy helmet

Author(s): Adam Kubik / Language(s): English / Issue: 5/2016

Keywords: Helmets; Armour; Sasanian Iran; Caucasia; Central Asia; Nomads

The article discusses a helmet found in 1968 in a mountainous village of Yarysh-Mardy situated on theriver Argun in the north-eastern Caucasus. The helmet was often associated with the Golden Horde period, whichaccording to the author seems highly unlikely. On the basis of a detailed comparative analysis, the author putsforward a thesis of dating the object to either the late-Sasanid or early-Islamic period, i.e. to late 6th- beginning of8th c. AD. Specifically, it is suggested that the appearance of the helmet in the Caucasus may be attributed to thetime of Byzantine-Sasanid conflicts taking place at the turn of 6th and 7th c. AD.Additionally, the article argues that in the late Sasanid period a new sub-type of helmets came intoexistence, namely the ones with straight spangs and ones with spiky rivets. Furthermore, it is proposed that theYarysh-Mardy helmet bears certain correspondences to similar finds from Groningen and Bremen.

The Eyes and Ears: The Sasanian and Roman Spies ca. AD 222-450

The Eyes and Ears: The Sasanian and Roman Spies ca. AD 222-450

Author(s): Ilkka Syvänne / Language(s): English / Issue: 5/2016

Keywords: Rome; Persia; Iran; intelligence gathering; espionage; scouting; police; secret service; military intelligence; internal security; external security; religion; religious police; justice

The article The Eyes and Ears: 1) Provides a brief analysis of the several parallel security organizations of the two superpowers of antiquity when they were still at their prime; 2) Discusses both internal and external security matters; 3) Analyzes separately the military and civilian intelligence; 4) Examines the role of the religious organizations, ‘heresies’ and security; 5) Discusses briefly the ways in which the intelligence was obtained, analyzed, assessed and disseminated, and for what purpose; 6) Provides an overview of the successes and failures and of the limits of intelligence; 7) Demonstrates some similarities between modern and ancient practices.

The Rebellion of Anōš Āzād

The Rebellion of Anōš Āzād

Author(s): Michael Richard Jackson Bonner / Language(s): English / Issue: 5/2016

Keywords: Xusrō Anōšīrvān; Sohrab and Rustam; Dīnawarī; Anōš Āzād; Xwadāy Nāmag; Iranian Christianity; Firdawsī; Mār Aba; Procopius

This article analyses the sources of the Rebellion of Anōš Āzād, son of Xusrō Anōšīrvān. The truth of what happened during this important period of Iranian history may never be known. But historical sources have transmitted fragments of the story from various different perspectives – often in lacunary form. Reading the relevant sources together, and analysing them, allows us to determine why some sources are fragmentary or deliberately misleading. It is possible to infer why certain authors, such as Procopius and Dinawari, might have been motivated to suppress or distort certain details also.

Famine and poverty in the army during the reign of the House of Vasa in the light of reports and diaries

Famine and poverty in the army during the reign of the House of Vasa in the light of reports and diaries

Author(s): Kamila Woźnica / Language(s): English / Issue: 5/2016

Keywords: House of Vasa; famine; cannibalism; food; army

The aim of the article is to present the phenomenon of famine in the army of the Crown and the GrandDuchy of Lithuania during the reign of the House of Vasa. Shortages of food were not present in the armyconstantly. Nevertheless, they were a frequent phenomenon during wars. It was not always possible to buy or stealsomething due to destructions in the area where the army was staying. In situations of no possibility to purchasefood products, people tried to look for things that could fill their stomachs in the nearest surrounding. They wouldpick rhizomes, tree leaves, vegetables and herbs. Carrion as well as ill and injured animals were eaten. A symbolof famine was eating horse meat. The last resort was cannibalism.

The history of Protection of the Most Holy Virgin Mary Uniate Parish in Ciotusza in the light of the 18th century church post-visitation protocols

The history of Protection of the Most Holy Virgin Mary Uniate Parish in Ciotusza in the light of the 18th century church post-visitation protocols

Author(s): Janusz Adam Frykowski / Language(s): English / Issue: 5/2016

Keywords: Uniate Church; parish church; Ciotusza

The present article presents the history of now nonexistent Protection of The Most Holy Virgin MaryUniate parish in Ciotusza in the eighteenth century. The present article is based on abundant primary sourceshoused in the National Archives in Lublin, especially in the section of Chelm Greek Catholic Consistory, of whichparish post-visitation protocols constitute the main part.

Polish Army in its organisation phase on the turn of 1944 and 1945 illustrated with an example of 4th Anti-aircraft Artillery Division and 8th Infantry Division

Polish Army in its organisation phase on the turn of 1944 and 1945 illustrated with an example of 4th Anti-aircraft Artillery Division and 8th Infantry Division

Author(s): Paweł Wołosz / Language(s): English / Issue: 5/2016

Keywords: Polish Army; Artillery; Infantry; World War II

In 1944, in line with the prepared plans of the extension of the Polish Army, the following military unitswere formed already in the course of military actions of World War II in the Siedlce area: the 8th InfantryDivision, the 4th Anti-aircraft Artillery Division and the 1st Independent Mortar Brigade. Totally, the headcountof the formed tactical detachment was supposed to reach 15 thousand soldiers.Numerous organisational and logistic glitches could be seen in the formation stage of the military unitsmentioned above. They affected the quality of military service, leading to relaxation in the ranks of the PolishArmy. Hostility of many lower rank servicemen (but not only them) towards Soviet officers, who joined the newlyorganised Polish Army, was an additional factor which made this situation even worse. Raising this issue, theAuthor sets it in the context of political and social changes taking place in Poland after the Polish Committee forNational Liberation was established. He also refers to military discipline, which remains one of the key threads ofthis paper, and which actually posed a serious problem to the General Command of the Polish Army.

Roman helmets with a browband shaped as a vertical fronton

Roman helmets with a browband shaped as a vertical fronton

Author(s): Andrei E. Negin / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2015

Keywords: history; Roman army; art; helmet; antique

Roman propaganda monuments are known best of all and they are still often cited,especially in Hollywood blockbusters. Despite the many doubts expressed by modernresearchers, they continue to be sources valuable in many aspects as those monuments,mostly located in the capital, show how military weapons were perceived by the inhabitantsof the capital, including the sculptors who were working on these monuments. There aremany images of so-called Attic helmets on Roman monuments dated back to the first twocenturies AD. As a rule, all of them are richly decorated with embossed floral ornament,have a browband with volutes in the temporal region and equipped with longitudinal crestswith gorgeous plumes. The question arises, what are the samples were depicted on theRoman reliefs? How accurately this specimen have been reproduced by artists and sculptors,or, perhaps, we see only a reflection of the Hellenistic artistic tradition?There are helmets with a browband shaped as a vertical fronton with volutesexisted. Their later modification is presented by finds from Guisborough, Theilenhofen,Chalon-sur-Saône. The pieces of the Ist century AD – early IInd century AD are Weiler-typehelmets with a decorated riveted browband. They are the helmets from Nijmegen, BrzaPalanka and from other places. The pieces from Butzbach and Hallaton can be considered asa transitional design between early and later helmet modifications with a vertical fronton.Thus, all of the above finds suggest that Attic helmets with browbands, which areoften depicted on Roman propaganda monuments, are not the sculptors’ invention, buthelmets really common in the Roman imperial army, imitating the models of the earlierperiod.

Roman ‘Soldatenkaiser’ on the Triumphal Rock Reliefs of Shāpūr I – A Reassessment

Roman ‘Soldatenkaiser’ on the Triumphal Rock Reliefs of Shāpūr I – A Reassessment

Author(s): Ehsan SHAVAREBI / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2015

Keywords: Shāpūr I; Sasanian rock reliefs; Gordian III; Philip the Arab; Valerian; Uranius Antoninus; Bishāpūr; Dārābgerd

Five rock reliefs surviving in Persis/Fārs province in southern Iran represent the victories of Shāpūr I (241–272 AD), the second Sasanian King of Kings (Šāhānšāh), over the Roman Empire. The three Roman Emperors depicted on these reliefs have traditionally been identified as Gordian III (238–244), Philip I – known as ‘the Arab’ – (244–249) and Valerian I (253–260). From the 1960s onward, new interpretations are presented. In the most recent of these, Uranius Antoninus (253/254) is recognised on three of Shāpūr’s triumphal reliefs. The present paper aims to re-examine these new hypotheses by considering numismatic materials, including a unique gold coin of Shāpūr which bears an image of the same topic accompanying a legend on its reverse.

The “Night Battle” of Singara: Whose Victory?

The “Night Battle” of Singara: Whose Victory?

Author(s): Vladimir DMITRIEV / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2015

Keywords: Sasanian Warfare; Roman Military History; Sasanian Army; Late Antiquity

The so-called “Night Battle” of Singara (344 AD) still remains poorly studied historical event because of discrepancies between the sources. The outcome of the battle is described in them with considerable discrepancies too. The analysis of the sources from the point of view of the “classical theory of war” elaborated by C. Clausewitz, unambiguously demonstrates that the winning side in this battle were Persians.

The Reign of Bahrām V Gōr: The Revitalization of the Empire through Mounted Archery

The Reign of Bahrām V Gōr: The Revitalization of the Empire through Mounted Archery

Author(s): Ilkka Syvänne / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2015

Keywords: Sasanian Warfare; Military History; Sasanian Army; Late Antiquity; Archery

The article reconstructs the military history of Persia under a Bahrām V Gōr, andpoints out the historical significance of his reign and campaigns as well as the importance ofhis military reforms – in particular the importance of the adoption of the new style ofarchery and cavalry tactics.

A new Sasanian helmet in the Musee d’Art Classique de Mougins

A new Sasanian helmet in the Musee d’Art Classique de Mougins

Author(s): Shah Nadeem Ahmad / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2015

Keywords: Sasanian Warfare; Military History; Sasanian Army; Late Antiquity; Helmets; Armour

This article will describe a previously unknown helmet in the Musee d’ArtClassique de Mougins (MACM) in southern France. The helmet is of the “bandhelm”variety and is decorated with heraldic motifs plus silvered rivets. The helmet bears someresemblance to known helmets from Cheragh Ali Tepe / Amlash but also differs in severalcrucial ways. In the light of this new example, a new typology of Sasanian helmets andsome novel insights on the development of Sasanian helmets is also offered.

Bronze mace with three rams' heads from Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford

Bronze mace with three rams' heads from Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford

Author(s): Adam Kubik,Shah Nadeem Ahmad / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2015

Keywords: Sasanian Warfare; Military History; Sasanian Beliefs; Central Asian Beliefs; Late Antiquity; Maces; Sceptres

The present study brings to light a new Sasanian mace in the Ashmolean Museumin Oxford, England, acquired in 1971 from the Bomford Collection. The bronze mace headis in the shape of three ram heads, has an iron shaft, and a bronze pommel in the shape ofa hand holding a ball. The mace incorporates several important decorative motifs – the ramheads which can be linked to the royal farr and to Central Asian visual language; the pearlnecklace which is another symbol of the royal farr, and the triple dot motif which may havelinks to the star Tishtriya, to Apam Napat, or to Buddhist symbolism. In addition to theseelements there is the hand motif, whose meaning is still unknown but might be linked toAsian symbolic hand gestures. The mace or scepter was an important element of royalty andof religion in Iran and Central Asia and the example in the Ashmolean museum isan important addition in the study of Iranian visual language and royal image in the specificcontext of Indo-Iranian mutual influence.In the present authors' opinion, the present mace is likely to date, based on relationswith other objects, from the 5th - 7th Centuries and is likely to originate from Eastern-Iranor is rooted in Eastern-Iranian artistic tradition.

Medieval Georgian Poliorcetica

Medieval Georgian Poliorcetica

Author(s): Mamuka Tsurtsumia / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2015

Keywords: Georgian Warfare; Military History; Army; Middle Ages

In the medieval art of war siege constituted one of the principal forms of fight. Severalbasic techniques were used in taking a stronghold, such as assaulting the walls of the fortress,breaching the wall, digging a subterranean tunnel under the wall and enfeeblement of thegarrison by lengthy siege.Bearing in mind various data, in the Middle Ages Georgians used the followingtechnical means to capture fortresses: assault ladders, battering rams and other engines forbreaching walls, ballistas, stone throwing engines and subterranean tunnels. In the article lightis shed on the siege capabilities of the Georgian army of the period. Extensively discussed arethe Georgian army’s stone throwing artillery, various types of stone hurling engines and thetime of their spread in Georgia.Various techniques of capturing fortresses, applied by the Georgians are described.These include mounting the walls with ladder or various improvised means. The hazardoustechnique of directly assaulting the fortress without preliminary preparation or bringing upheavy siege engines is shown. The capturing of fortresses by means of underground tunnels isdiscussed separately.By the available evidence it is not apparent that Georgians made use of all the siegetechniques known in the medieval world; however, it can be said that they were familiar withand used successfully the basic methods of siege warfare

Looking at Gandhāra

Looking at Gandhāra

Author(s): Kumar Abhijeet / Language(s): English / Issue: 4/2015

Gandhāran artifacts serve as memory of the two millennium past aesthetics, art,culture and norms of the people of Gandhāra. The modern scholarship was started with thearchaeological excavations, it’s interest in the western world with its link up, peculiar withclassical forms. The intellectual society’s urge to learn from Buddhist visuals andcollectionism had grown to its peak from last two centuries. The Kushan empire was intocontact with the Mediterranean Rome, Egypt & Iran, one of the world’s best cultural centersof the era that burgeoned the local centers of Art and it was obvious that assimilations offorms of making artifacts were based on the demand of the patron. By these exchanges,Gandhāran Art also influenced Roman Art with introduction of Jewelry and Flower garlandsetc. as it was going both ways; with exporting goods to the western society. Buddhism wasalso going westward, the prime time was second century CE when it saw its finest floweringand prominence on the gateway of the Silk Road. The quest for divinity through seeing artwas the one way to attract lay people and theirs donation could accelerate the monasticactivities from writing religious codes (Sutta in Pali, Sutra in Sanskrit) to making newViharas (monasteries) and Chaityas (temples) .

Analysis of Demand Observed in the Polish Housing Market 2019-2021

Analiza popytu zaobserwowanego na polskim rynku mieszkaniowym w latach 2019-2021

Author(s): Michał Grzegorzewski / Language(s): English / Issue: 25/2022

Keywords: construction industry; housing market; demand; crisis; COVID-19

Consumer demand has a key impact on the development prospects of the national economy, and the construction sector accounts for a significant share in the structure of Polish GDP. The period of crisis is a special environment conditioning social behaviour and, at the same time, the first stage of the new business cycle. Understanding the social reactions prevailing in this phase influences the forecasting of further parts of the cycle. The aim of the study was to analyse the impact of the economic environment conditioned by the COVID-19 epidemic on the behaviour of residential real estate buyers. In order to achieve the goal, empirical non-reactive and survey research were carried out. The obtained results show why flats in Poland are perceived as a safe form of investment and provide a helpful tool for forecasting the future of the Polish housing market.

Polish Digital Nomads

Polski nomadyzm cyfrowy

Author(s): Marcin Majewski / Language(s): English / Issue: 25/2022

Keywords: tourism; remote work; digital nomadism; coworking

Digital nomadism reflects the new trend among young people who work remotely so they can follow their passions and travel. The main research goal was to find out the determinant of the choice of such a lifestyle by Poles. The subject of the research were digital nomads of Polish descent. The method of literature analysis and in-depth interviews on a sample of 40 respondents was used. The study showed that Polish digital nomads do not identify with a larger community as they face misunderstanding and distrust the help of those they meet during their travels. A typical digital nomad works in the IT, marketing or education industry, is a young person looking for adventure while travelling, and not paying much attention to housing conditions. Characteristic features are also minimalism and a reluctance to start a family. The main determinants of the choice of a nomadic lifestyle include, first of all, the dissatisfaction with the living conditions in Poland, and the willingness to change.