On the 16 of November 2024 the lecture “Tsar-God, Tsar-Warrior. The Image of a Ruler on Arab-Sasanid Numismatic Monuments” was held at the Library of National Literatures. It was delivered by Konstantin Valerievich Kravtsov who is the Chief of the Department of Coins of the Ancient world and Asian and African Countries of the State Hermitage.
The image of a Tsar is a key image for the Middle Eastern culture. A ruler was perceived as a divine figure and the best warrior who is the representative of the God and His messenger. These beliefs influenced numismatic monuments, particularly of the Arab-Sasanid period. Studying these monuments gives research scholars answers about the sacralization of authorities in the ancient Middle Eastern societies.
The lecture covered the geneology of the concept of authorities in the Iranian culture and its reflection in numismatics. Particularly, it formed a portrait iconography on the Iranian coins of the Arab-Sasanid epoch.
The lecture was held with the assistance of Ibn Sina Foundation in collaboration with the Library of National Literatures.
