Iconography of the three Icons in Shi’i Muharram Rituals; The Peacock, the Cypress & the Lion

In this paper I will introduce a vernacular emblem, a copper peacock with an open tail which resembles the form of hand and a tiny miniature sculpture of lion, adjacent to the peacock feet. This sacred Shi’it item consists of symbols which have always been presented during Muharram rituals, conveying a number of iconography connotations. Comparison this figure with other Islamic items such as Persian illustrated manuscripts, this paper tend to analyze symbols which play a key role in Muharram rituals and adorns standard or A’lam. Applying iconography approaches, I tend to elaborate this folkloric item which displays a remarkable item that can be seen during Muharram rituals. Not only during Muharram rituals but also in Persian manuscript such as Falnama or Shahnama, these emblems are recognizable. In this essay, after an introduction in order to demonstrate what the iconography is and how this methodology can be applied to analyze a form of art, I will compare different Christian and Islamic icons which demonstrate a key factor in order to answer how imaginary icons and symbols was transferred from the long established Christian Byzantine Empire to Islam? How cross-cultural tendencies of Byzantium era shaped the icons of Islamic art at the age of transition? And consequently, I try to shed light on this question how one can pursue these meaning on Shi’it A’lam or standard in Muharram rituals in terms of iconography?