The Dog Qara Buraq Drives off the Wolves 1425 - 1430

This is a page from Ḥāfiẓ-i Abrū’s compendium of histories, made around 1430. Here, we see a black dog, Qara Buraq, in dynamic motion, driving off wolves amidst a landscape rendered with stylized clouds. Dogs have long held symbolic weight across cultures. In ancient Persia, dogs were revered for their protective qualities and their connection to the divine. Notice how the artist contrasts the dark, almost spectral dog with the menacing wolves, a visual shorthand for the struggle between good and evil, order and chaos. This mirrors similar motifs found in ancient mythologies, where canine figures often guard thresholds or battle against forces of darkness. It's fascinating how the symbolism of the dog evolves. From the loyal companion in ancient lore to its more complex, sometimes ominous, representations in later art, the image of the dog taps into our collective memory and surfaces in diverse cultural forms. It’s a testament to the enduring power of symbols to evoke profound emotions and psychological associations across time. The artist has captured a powerful force engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level. The cyclical progression of this symbol has resurfaced, evolved, and taken on new meanings in different historical contexts.