The second ETHS talk, Elephants in Central Asian and Iranian Art of Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages, was delivered by Dr. Patryk Skupniewicz of the University of Siedlce.

May 13, 2025, 18:00 CET, in person at University of Lille, Pont-de-Bois, Building E. 51.

Elephants entered Western Asian history in the Hellenistic period; earlier Achaemenid references are late and likely reflect ethnic diversity in the army facing Alexander. Actual military use began with the Hellenistic dynasts and expanded under the Sasanians. Though used in warfare and executions, elephants remained marginal in Iranian visual culture, with rare depictions in sigillography and Taq-e Bustan. In Central Asia, elephant imagery ranged from naturalistic to stylised, shaped by Kushan and Buddhist influences. Linked to royal power and narrative art, these motifs spread via Sogdiana to Tibet and China.

Your can view a video of this talk on YouTube