an overview of the depiction of female figures on sasanian silverwork

the demonstration of female figures on sasanian silver vessels was an interesting subject to sasanian silversmiths which caused much dispute among the scholars over whose character the female figure represents. are they representations of the goddess anahita or members of her cult? is there any connection between them and the cult of asiatic dionysus? the other question that arises is whether they are secular objects or bearing a religious significance. this paper aims to review previous studies and then, on the basis of an iconographical study and also referring to the sasanian religious text, present a new interpretation of themes.