Recently, needle-engraved petroglyphs dating back to the Sasanian period (224–651 AD) were discovered on rocky outcrops in the Marvdasht plain in southern Iran. These images depict an ibex and horses.
Archaeologist Abolhasan Atabaki told Ana News that these engravings were created by skilled artisans over centuries on the stones of the plain, providing new insights into the symbolic traditions of Sasanian art.
According to Atabaki, the ibex has always been one of the most important themes in Iranian petroglyphs and symbolic imagery, from prehistoric times to the present day. A recently identified image, measuring 5 by 4 centimeters, shows the animal in a seated position and was executed using needle scratching techniques.
He noted that the seated posture traditionally carried connotations of calmness, stability, and authority in Iranian visual culture. Atabaki also emphasized the significance of horses in ancient Iranian art, describing them as key elements of visual and narrative representation whose meaning extended beyond military and equestrian functions.
Atabaki stated that from the Achaemenid to the Sasanian periods, horses were interpreted within the framework of royal ideology and the symbolic system of power, rather than merely as instruments of war or realistic depictions of animals.
Historian Najmeh Ebrahimi noted that the ibex has long been associated with 'Farr-e Izadi'—divine splendor, which, according to Sasanian texts, was considered the source of royal legitimacy and greatness. She added that the constant appearance of the ibex motif on Sasanian royal crowns, seals, metal vessels, textiles, and architectural decorations proves that this motif held significance beyond mere ornamentation, being part of the official and courtly artistic symbolism of the time.
Ebrahimi specified that the horse motif in Sasanian art can be viewed through three main functions: ideological, military, and ritualistic. The ideological function was related to the representation of royal legitimacy and power, while the military function reflected the importance of heavily armed cavalry in the structure of Sasanian power.
The newly discovered engravings are expected to contribute to a deeper understanding of the symbolic language of Sasanian petroglyphs and the cultural significance of animal motifs in ancient Iran.