Doctoral Degrees (Ancient Studies)

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The Apadana reliefs at Persepolis: An iconographic analysis with special emphasis on the identification and function of the gift-bearing delegations
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2021-12) Swart, Antoinette; Cornelius, Izak; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Ancient Studies.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: For many years, specific delegations on the façades of the Apadana at Persepolis posed an ongoing identification problem among scholars. Incongruities occurred in the identification of some of the groups – labelled Problem Groups in the current study. An attempt was made to try and solve the identification problem of specific delegations. It was necessary to look at the context in which these groups occurred, e.g., their physical world as well as their natural environment. The reliefs on the eastern façade of the Apadana was used in this study because they are still in a reasonably acceptable state. The combined iconographic analysis method (Panofsky/ Keel), as well as comparisons, were used to try and find a solution for the identification problem in the Problem Groups. After a detailed analysis and comparative research, the identification problem of the Problem Groups still evades answers except for one group. A totally different approach to the solving of the identification problem was suggested, and this deserves some attention from future scholars.