Shield (Sipar)
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Shields of this type were used by infantry and cavalry across Iran and India. Eight cartouches contain verses from the preface to the Persian poet Sa‘di’s Gulistan (The Rose Garden), written in 1258, demonstrating that apotropaic inscriptions were derived from a variety of sources, including poetry and prose. The choice of inscription suggests that the shield’s creator, rather than its owner, was asking for blessings, indicating that armorers and artisans were also active participants in the talismanic process.
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