Luristan

MARLIK

Mannai

 The green and fertile site of Marlik, to the south west of the Caspian (north of the Elburz Mountains), gave rise to a pastoral culture between the 12^th and 10^th centuries BC.

Considerable riches were brought to light by an Iranian expedition in 1961 - these include golden vases and goblets, silver vessels, bronze artifacts, ceramics and weapons. The artists who fashioned these pieces were certainly from an advanced civilization and had a command of an elaborate technology.

The vases are mostly decorated with the likeness of animals: winged bulls, griffins, eagles, and rams; and it seems likely that these beasts inhabited the mythology of this pastoral race.

A Golden vase ornamented with two embossed friezes
representing griffins and winged bulls.
11^th century BC.

The admirable hunch-backed bull in beautifully polished ceramic, and the bronze hunch-backed bull mounted on four wheels are further evidence of the pastoral way of life in these rich communities.

A ceramic hunch-backed bull from Marlik.
10^th - 11^th century BC,
and a masterpiece of the potter's art.

Bronze sculpture of a hunch-backed bull
mounted on four wheels.
10^th - 11^th century BC.

The contrast of this area with the desert that stretches away to the south of the Elburz Mountains is dramatic. Rising like a wall, these mountains divert the clouds before they can reach the interior of the country. The importance of the bull to these settled pastoral farmers, in comparison with the semi-nomadic farmers of the plateau, must have been considerable.

The discoveries made so far in this area of Iranian archaeology are only the beginning. This place may not be well endowed with spectacular monuments, but it is rich in treasure filled tombs.

Persian Art
Through The Centuries

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Persian History
Iran before the Iranians