Journal of Art and Civilization of the Orient

The Ritual Role of Golnār – The Pomegranate Flower in Iranian Art and Culture

https://doi.org/10.22034/jaco.2025.502537.1447
Volume 13, Issue 48
Summer 2025
Pages 50-57
Journal of Art and Civilization of the Orient

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Vahid Rafiei Dehaghani 1
Shohreh Javadi 2

1 M.A. Student in Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, College of Fine Arts, University of Tehran, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Advanced Art Studies, College of Fine Arts, University of Tehran, Iran.

Abstract
The pomegranate flower, known as Golnār, has been a prominent symbol in Persian poetry and literature due to its vibrant red color, representing beauty, fertility, immortality, and love. It is one of the most beloved and widely used motifs in Iranian art. Persian poets have employed this symbol to express deep emotions and various concepts; for instance, the red pomegranate seeds are often compared to a lover’s lips, making the fruit a recurring emblem of love and beauty in poetry. In Persian literature, the pomegranate is considered a heavenly fruit, and divine religions have referenced its presence in paradise. Additionally, the infallible Imams have emphasized the significance of consuming this sacred fruit. Archaeological evidence highlights the depiction of pomegranates on pottery from the third and fourth millennia BCE. The earliest decorative motifs featuring pomegranates date back to the Parthian period, including the Yadzgard Fortress and other examples found in Sassanian stucco decorations (in Kish, Nezamabad, Ctesiphon, and others). During the Sassanian and Islamic periods, this motif remained an important symbol, frequently appearing in tilework, various decorations, and carpet designs. A notable example is the bas-relief at Persepolis, where an Achaemenid king holds a Golnār with two buds in his hand, symbolizing peace and friendship. This imagery is also associated with Anahita, the goddess of fertility and abundance, reflecting the deep-rooted significance of the pomegranate flower in ancient Iranian beliefs.

Keywords

Golnār
Sassanian
Culture and rituals
Persian literature
Carpet motifs
bas-relief
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