Sacred Circle: Symbol of Wholeness in Traditional Persian Art and Architecture.
Fariba Darabimanesh
Journal of Analytical Psychology September 27, 2023 DOI: 10.1111/1468-5922.12954 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Historical analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Humans Individuation Consciousness Esthetics Jung Ancient persia Юнг 荣格 Individuación Individuazione Индивидуация 自性化 Zoroastrianism Mandala Mithraismus Perse antique Persian art Altes persien Antica persia Antigua persia Art persan Arte persa Arte persiana Mithraïsme Mitraismo Mitraísmo Persische kunst Древняя персия Мандала Митраизм Персидское искусство 古代波斯 密特拉教 曼陀罗 波斯艺术 |
| Key points | Argues that the archetypal mandala symbol has been widespread across Persian sacred art for millennia, from ancient stone carvings through Mithraism, Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and Islam to contemporary traditional architecture, and that this history illustrates the Jungian idea that the wholeness sought in individuation is expressed through archetypal circular symbols of divine interplay with humanity. |
Abstract
Jung wrote extensively about the archetypal mandala symbol as an expression in many cultures of the centrality and nature of the interplay between human consciousness and divine consciousness. This article investigates-how in Persia, for millennia-the archetypal symbol of the mandala has been widespread in many expressions of the sacred arts. My research outlines the importance of the archetypal mandala symbol in Persian religio-aesthetic history from the first unearthed stone carvings of Persia's ancient foundations until the more recent, breathtakingly marvellous ceilings of traditional Persian architecture today. From the artistic expressions of first religious beliefs of ancient Persia-Mithraism-and through the development of the Zoroastrian faith until the subsequent rise of Christianity and then Islam, Persian sacred art illustrates the Jungian idea that wholeness sought in the journey of individuation is often expressed through archetypal symbols of circles that articulate basic truths about the divine interplay with humanity.