Aromata in der iranischen Kultur

This study has been undertaken to show how fragrances are referred to in Persian literature and what part they played in Persian art and archaeology. Arabian, Greek and Indian source material as well as secondary literature have been consulted. This to-date quite unique monography deals with the aromatas’ composition, their countries of origin, but also with their diverse metaphoric handling in poetry and with their role in religious ceremonies, weddings, general writing, culinary art, building industry, and habits of giving presents.
Geographically this study focuses on the Iranian culture area which far exceeded today’s Iranian national territory in the times of the Achaemenides, Parthians and Sassanides, so much so that in part it even included Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan and even parts of India.
The period considered here beginns with rule of the Achaemenides (550-33 BC) and ends with the Safawid period (1501-1722 AD). In respect to customs and traditions there is little change to be seen in this period, except for the Mongolian era. In particular The Sasanians (224-642 AD), who viwed themselves as the Achaemenides’ successors, were concerned with the preservation of the handed down way of life. Their cultural heritage was taken up by the Abbasides (750-1258), Samanides (892-999), Buyides (945-1055), Ghaznavids (962-1040) and Seljuks (1000-1218).That is why – amongst other traditions - the continuous use of aromas at enthronement ceremonies, receptions, as well as celebrations of Nowruz and Mehregan survived at least until the Seljuks period.

The study consists of 4 parts:
Part I: Aromata of animal provenance (ambergris, castor, musk, zibet)
Part II: Aromata of vegetable matter (aloe wood, camphor, costus, nard, rose water, saffron, sandalwood)
Part III: Mixed fragrances (ointments, pastilles, powders)
Part IV: Aromatic resins, balsams, oils and mannas