Mandaean Symbolic Art

Mandaean Symbolic Art examines the structure, function, and symbolic associations of the artwork within the major Mandaean religious scrolls. It acknowledges the artwork itself as a fundamental component of nine scrolls, in some instances occupying over half of the manuscript. Acting in conjunction with the Mandaic text, the illustrations are designed to communicate a complex body of religious knowledge. The organization of the study is primarily iconographic in that it is structured around an investigation of the three most dominant motifs: the figure, the drabsa (or 'banner') and representations of plants. This structure allows for the systematic examination of symbolic associations which are crucial to the functioning of the scrolls as an instructional tool for priests. Investigation of the figure is focused predominantly on the major 'Lightworld' beings, including representations of Adam and key female identities. The central icon of the Mandaean religion, the drabsa, is discussed in terms of its hidden symbolism, and also in relation to its possible development in the Mesopotamian region. As well as the image of the cosmic tree and the date palm, the final section looks at a range of plants whose ritual use is integral to the functioning of the religion. Analysis of the artwork is informed by a study of both the accompanying text and the wider tradition of Mandaean religious literature. Additionally, documentation of Mandaean ritual practices in present-day Australia, photographed by the author over a ten-year period, has been drawn on extensively to explain aspects of the iconography.