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Sassanian

Sassanian

1 9.9
Relating to the Persian empire that ruled from the 3rd to the 7th centuries AD
  • adjective
  • /sæˈseɪniən/
: sasanida
  • Tourists and locals, for example, have been picking up Sassanian-Islamic ceramics, a distinctive blue-glazed ware dating from the late eighth to tenth centuries, from an area between Lamu and the beach at Shela.

Examples

  • During the Sassanian period, numerous advancements in architecture influenced later Islamic designs.

  • The intricate designs of Sassanian pottery reveal the advanced artistic skills of ancient Persia.

  • The Sassanian archers kept Julian's Roman legions from forcing a decisive engagement on the approach to Ctesiphon.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Many ancient texts provide insights into the cultural practices of Sassanian society in Persia.

Synonyms

Sassanid
vsSassanian
1 9.9

Relating to the rulers and culture of ancient Persia

has identical meaning but uses a different adjective form

Surface Forms

Sassanian positive

Morphology

Sassanian = Sassanid (transparent) = Sassanid + ian

The adjective is a standard formation meaning 'relating to the Sassanid dynasty', using the productive suffix '-ian'.

Etymology

The word Sassanian comes from the name of a Persian ruler, Sasan, and originally meant 'of Sasan' or 'from his family'. So Sassanian describes things that belong to or come from that old Persian dynasty.