Publisher's Synopsis
The art of the Parthian and Sasanian empires exercised enormous influence on art and culture in the early Islamic period and its legacy has continuing relevance in modern times. Pre-Islamic stylistic developments and motifs were widely adopted in the Islamic period: traditional mosque architecture, for example, draws much from Parthian and Sasanian forms.;This text brings together an international panel to assess the state of knowledge of the Achaemenid, Parthian and Sasanian empires, and their contributions cover a range of subjects relating to the art and archaeology of Iran and neighbouring countries from the 5th century BC to the 7th century AD. Previously unpublished material from excavations in Central Asia is presented, along with actual evidence of cultural continuity between ancient Persia and the modern Middle East.
