A Semiotic Analysis of Repetitive Iconographic Patterns of Imam Ali (AS) in the Khawaran-Nama in Light of Roland Barthes' Semiotics

The figure of Imam Ali (AS) has consistently been portrayed in Islamic history—particularly within Shiite tradition—as a symbol of courage, justice, and spirituality, and has been repeatedly represented in religious texts and artistic works. Khawaran-Nama, the illustrated epic by Ibn Husam Khusfi, stands as a significant example of Persian manuscript painting that offers a symbolic and enigmatic depiction of this sacred character. This study seeks to answer the central question: How do the repetitive visual patterns of Imam Ali’s figure in the Khawaran-Nama contribute, through semiotic mechanisms, to the consolidation of implicit and mythological meanings? Accordingly, it examines the impact of these recurring patterns in conveying the essential attributes of Imam Ali (AS). Employing a qualitative, descriptive-analytical approach, the research gathers data through library resources—books and scholarly articles on Persian painting—as well as direct analysis of the manuscript version of Khawaran-Nama housed in the Golestan Palace Museum. From the total of 115 illustrations, 74 were purposively selected based on the recurrence of visual elements related to Imam Ali (AS), with particular emphasis on clothing as a central feature of his figural representation. The findings reveal that the repetition of Imam Ali’s iconographic patterns not only contributes to the visual cohesion of the manuscript but also plays a significant role in myth-making and the reinforcement of religious-cultural meanings. Through connotative and culturally embedded signification, these visual patterns transform Imam Ali (AS) into a cultural-religious symbol and naturally stabilize religious meanings in the viewer’s mind.