Discovery and acquaintance of saffron by mankind goes way back in history. It’s been said that pigments of saffron were discovered in a painting within a prehistoric cave with antiquity of 5000 years located in Iraq. These paintings are images of animals and for painting them they have used saffron.
Saffron’s utilization background in Iran:
Iranian were familiar with saffron from ancient times and since then, saffron has a special place in Iranian’s ceremonies and rituals as an aromatic herb.
In Achaemenians era saffron was used to decorate and aromatize bread and other foods. It was around this era where they’ve discovered saffron’s medical and cosmetic characteristics and the more they’ve discovered about this wonderful herb the more value was added to it. In the book of Bondahesh which is from Sasanian period, saffron is mentioned as an aromatic herb.
Iranians attachment to flowers and herbs:
In another hand the characteristics of Iran’s mesmerizing nature gave its people a gentle soul and attached to beautiful and aromatic flowers and plants. The reflection of this attachment is obvious in Iranian’s culture, manners and art. Iranian used plants in their ceremonies and rituals. The evidence is in the paintings of plants on petroglyph ancient heritage of Persepolis, Shush, Tisfun and Bistun. These prints also were commonly used in earthenware, silvery, carpets, royal letters and books and have a blazonry impact on Iranian literature.
Among flowers and plant, Iranian payed special attention to saffron because of its mesmerizing color and amazing attributes, in Iranian literature and poetry, poets and writers described saffron with an artistic view.
Discovery and acquaintance of saffron by mankind goes way back in history. It’s been said that pigments of saffron were discovered in a painting within a prehistoric cave with antiquity of 5000 years located in Iraq. These paintings are images of animals and for painting them they have used saffron.
Saffron’s utilization background in Iran:
Iranian were familiar with saffron from ancient times and since then, saffron has a special place in Iranian’s ceremonies and rituals as an aromatic herb.
In Achaemenians era saffron was used to decorate and aromatize bread and other foods. It was around this era where they’ve discovered saffron’s medical and cosmetic characteristics and the more they’ve discovered about this wonderful herb the more value was added to it. In the book of Bondahesh which is from Sasanian period, saffron is mentioned as an aromatic herb.
Iranians attachment to flowers and herbs:
In another hand the characteristics of Iran’s mesmerizing nature gave its people a gentle soul and attached to beautiful and aromatic flowers and plants. The reflection of this attachment is obvious in Iranian’s culture, manners and art. Iranian used plants in their ceremonies and rituals. The evidence is in the paintings of plants on petroglyph ancient heritage of Persepolis, Shush, Tisfun and Bistun. These prints also were commonly used in earthenware, silvery, carpets, royal letters and books and have a blazonry impact on Iranian literature.
Among flowers and plant, Iranian payed special attention to saffron because of its mesmerizing color and amazing attributes, in Iranian literature and poetry, poets and writers described saffron with an artistic view.
Utilization of aromatic saffron in ceremonies and rituals:
The unique place of red gold among Iraniansresulted in utilizing this amazing aromatic herb to aromatize the air in most of the ceremonies and rituals. For instance, in the ceremonies that king attended they would throw saffron with other aromatic herbs into fire so that the air is filled with pleasant smells, of course it’s an additional use to itsmedical and eatable properties.
In the poetry of legendary Ferdowsi, saffron is also among perfumes;
The place is full of musk and saffron
From horse’s mane to where eyes could reach
*****
The order has arrived
Throw the fire
Burn all the ambergris and saffron
*****
Danseuse are everywhere
And you see rose water, wine, musk
and saffron everywhere
The value of saffron among kings:
The belief of saffron being lucky and because of its expensive ink, saffron’s ink was mostly used to write king’s order, letters and other important commands.
And also based on anther belief that aromatic herbs are from heaven, saffron maintained its place and value during the Islamic period, kings and rulers gifted saffron to each other. In historical documents it’s been said that Motevakel, the tenth Abbasid Caliph gifted saffron among other gifts to the emperor of Rome.
Sometimes some of Abbasid caliph ordered to aromatize the Kaaba with saffron.
To give away saffron in celebrations and rejoicing:
In different ceremonies like throwing celebration for winning the battles and marital occasions, or greeting the kings and royals, saffron was given away along with golden and silver coins and gems, in their beliefs with doing such things they were emphasizing on the importance and splendour of the ceremony.
When the great Ferdowsi is going to describe the return of Keykhosrou to the homeland, he says Iranian decorated the city and gave away gold and saffron to welcome him to the city and show their joy.
They’ve decorated the whole city
They’ve asked for wine and danseuse
*****
They’ve showered them in gold and saffron
You could see Dinar and musk everywhere
Also when Rostam the knight errant returns home after defeating Afrasiab, Iranians welcomed him like this;
Everywhere eyes could reach was filled with his great physiques
Everywhere was filled with the aroma of musk, wine and saffron
*****
They’ve showered him in saffron and money
They’ve showered him in musk and ambergris
Utilizing saffron in ink making, calligraphy and book decorating:
from a long time ago using natural and long lasting color of saffron in various arts was the center of Iranian artists’ attention, they figured out the value of saffron and writing books with saffron ink was a common thing, also saffron was used to decorate books and book margent. It was also commonly used in other types of art such as painting and calligraphy.
In one of the Mani’ books, the prophet of Manichaean religious in Sasanian era, which is called ” penitential” and was discovered in a region in China named Khocho you can see tabulation with saffron’s color, dark red or yellowish red. Also to prevent monotony of black lines, there are some lines with purple red which made it more beautiful.
Studies show that from 3rd century to 12 century Anno Hegirae saffron was used to decorate Quran but mostly to write tittle of sura or to assign the space between lines.
The great experts of calligraphy used saffron ink to create their art because they knew that the ink of saffron is an expensive long lasting ink with the highest qualities.