The Impact of Political and Cultural Alterations on Crown Designs in the Herat School Paintings of the Timurid Period

A crown or headwear was considered one of the most important parts of clothing in the past. More than any other article of clothing, it expressed one’s social position and status. As a symbol of royalty in Iran, the design of crowns evolved over different historical periods. At times, it was used as a symbol to show power and authority. At others, it was as a symbol of the tyranny of mighty kings, and sometimes a symbol of luxury and aristocratic life. The Timurid period, with all of its political and social turbulence, is considered one of the most brilliant periods of painting, where new details and subjects appeared. This article investigates the role of crowns and headdresses with a historical descriptive method based on the existing library sources. It shows how the design of the crown in the paintings of the Timurid period was mostly influenced by cultural and religious factors. Timurid artists of the Herat school did not stick to the historical facts. Instead they sought to present an ideal image of the king, following the standards of the era, displaying slight differences in each period and reign.