An analysis of the role of Shiite religion in the formation of decorative symbols of the Safavid period in Isfahan (Case study: Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque and Imam Mosque)

Introduction: As an integral part of man's spiritual beliefs, religion has always played an essential role in his life. The relationship between religion and art is such that in most cases, by looking at a work of art and analyzing the visual elements used in it, one can understand the beliefs of the creator of the work or in other words, the work of art is a reflection of an artist's beliefs. The topics and concepts of interest and emphasis of the Shiite religion Important and symbolic events from the Shiite point of view are part of the spatial theme of the religious holy buildings in different periods. Methodology: This research has various study dimensions, so, different research methods are needed, like the Library method, Field method, and comparative-comparative method. The text content interprets through systematic coding and theme-building processes. Finally, the conclusion of the research subject was discussed in detail according to the codes extracted using ATLASti software from existing documents and information collected from decorative designs related to the mosques of Imam and Sheikh Lotfollah in Isfahan. Results: All plant motifs are designed according to a basic principle and have their own rules, but the reason for their great variety is the placement of petals of different sizes and shapes. In some cases, even combining several flowers leads to the creation of a new design. Geometric patterns have been appropriate in the principles of systematic lines. In the case of the qibla wall, its ratio is close to square, as well as the use of one-second ratio to determine the height of the altar and the intersection of one-second diameter and rectangular lines for the upper surface and the division of lateral spaces into two-height frames are common principles. In the field of using hot and cold colors, the designers of the dome of Imam Mosque have generally used a ratio of close to 0.57 (cold to hot), while this amount reaches 0.25 in the dome of Sheikh Lotfollah. In the art of drawing and writing letters and words in Islam, the focus is on the vertical direction because it refers to the higher world and the oneness of God. In the art of architecture, this category has received special attention. Meanwhile, the letters "A" and "Lam", which symbolically refer to God and His greatness, are more prominent as an indicator of visual movement. Conclusion: An important and prominent feature of Shiite art is Shiite religious themes and symbols in works of art. During the Safavid period, the formalization of the Shiite religion allowed Shiite architects to propagate their ideas more freely and reveal the Shiite worldview by creating religious spaces. It is the spirit and nature of Shiism.