Roman Ghirshman (1895–1979)

Well, I thought I was going to get a really detailed exposé of Persia and its history but it was not to be. Ok the history was covered in a kind of way but it was all from the perspective of the art that had been found. And, because the author seems to have been involved in a number of significant archeological digs, the evidence seemed to be very much skewed towards those locations. So there was no great sweep of history with the Assyrians sacking Babylon etc., (Yes that did get a mention...but not much). On the positive side, there are a lot of good maps ...some showing the incursions of the cimmerians and Scythian's etc. And the photographs are superb. I was stunned by the multipage fold out photo of Persepolis. I'd never appreciated just how extensive the sculptural works there were ..nor how well they have been preserved. The photo is quite stunning. And there are many others.....especially of Persepolis.
I've just finished reading a book about the Scythian's and it was interesting to see the influence of Scythian art on the Art of Persia but the rather limited interplay of the populations. Yes the Scythian's briefly invaded and went as far as Egypt but it was for a very limited time. I was also rather fascinated by the archeological approach to art history and the logical pyramids built on (what appears to me anyway) to be a rather small conjectural base. ......most of it conjecture. Horses in galloping mode or horses walking.......antelope with hooves together or legs separated. etc etc. Yes, I guess that these might demonstrate a migration of people and ideas but it really only takes one craftsperson to see a model and it can be copied. (And the model might have been traded many times between source and the sighting. I worked in an art bronze foundry for a while and it was astonishing how fast a new idea was picked up and copied .......and how people would experiment with new ways of doing things. And, as the Persians basically followed the Assyrians ....and the Assyrians specialised in translocating populations wholesale....especially skilled artisans....it's no surprise that ideas and techniques in Art would spread widely.
One thing that Ghirshman does draw attention to....and, I think it's important, is the role of geography and the high mountains surrounding Persia and the limited cultures developing in semi isolated valleys such as in those of the Zagros Mountains....The Luristan culture. Though I was disappointed that, though the Medes were mentioned a lot, there is not a lot about them or how they differed from or merged into the Achaemenian culture. I was interested in the fusion of greek motifs and techniques into Persian art and some of the examples given were very convincing. I was also aware that there had been numerous Greek outposts (both for trading and for skills such as silversmiths and gold workers) around the Black sea and that there was a blending of Scythian motifs with greek styles and this was imported into the Persian empire too.
Overall, an impressive book. Now somewhat dated but great photos and an interesting exegesis. I give it four stars.… (altro)