1
PhD in Islamic Iranian History, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
2
PhD Candidate in Islamic Iranian History, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
3
PhD Candidate in History of Islamic Iran, Kharazmi University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran & Research Expert at the Hamadan Medical History Museum, Hamadan Universiry of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
4
Master in Political Science Frim California State University, Los Angles, USA
During the Safavid era the Armenian community emerged as one of the most significant ethnic and religious groups in Iran, distinguished by its unique cultural and social characteristics. The dress of Armenian women was not only influenced by local culture and religious traditions but was also shaped by broader social and political developments of the time. European travel writers provided valuable information about the clothing and daily life of Armenian women, making their accounts important sources for historical inquiry. This study employs a descriptive analytical approach, relying on library research and the examination of both primary and secondary sources. It aims to reconstruct, from a historical perspective, the representation of Armenian women’s dress in the Safavid period through the lens of European travelogues. The central research question is: How did European travel writers describe the dress of Armenian women in Safavid Iran? The findings indicate that European observers perceived Armenian women’s clothing not merely as everyday attire but as a symbolic marker of their cultural and religious identity. Furthermore, their dress exhibited notable distinctions from that of other Iranian women and reflected the impact of prevailing social, economic, and political conditions in Safavid society.
ریچی، ماتئو، (1387)، چین نامه، مقدمه و ترجمه مظفر بختیار، تهران: مؤسسه میراث مکتوب.
سلطانی، فاطمه، (1403)، «بررسی و معرفی لباس ارامنه جلفای نو اصفهان»، دومین همایش باز اندیشی در چشم اندازهای بوم های بیابانی، چالش‌ها و فرصت‌های کالبدی، انسانی و اقلیمی، محل برگزاری: دانشکده هنر، معماری و شهرسازی دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد نجف آباد.
سومر، فاروق، (1369)، قراقوینلوها، مترجم وهاب ولی، جلد اول، تهران: شرکت انتشارات علمی و فرهنگی.
سیلوا ای فیگوئروآ، گارسیا (1363)، سفرنامه دن گارسیا دسیلوا فیگوئروآ، ترجمه غلامرضا سمیعی، تهران: نشر نو.
سیوری، راجر، (1385)، ایران عصر صفوی، ترجمه کامبیز عزیزی، چاپ شانزدهم، تهران: نشر مرکز.
ضیاءپور، جلیل، (1347)، پوشاک زنان ایران از کهنترین زمان تا آغاز شاهنشاهی پهلوی، تهران: وزارت فرهنگ و هنر.
علی‌زاده مقدم، بدرالسادات و هاشمی پور، (1397)، «بررسی نقش ارامنه در گمرک بوشهر در دوره قاجار براساس اسناد این دوره(1210تا1332ق/1795تا1914م)»، پژوهش های تاریخی ، س54، دوره جدید، سال10، شماره پیاپی 4، 18, 37-40.
غیبی، مهرآسا، (1385)، هشت هزار سال تاریخ پوشاک اقوام ایرانی، تهران: هیرمند.
میناسیان، لئون، (تابستان 1385)، «پوشاک زن ارمنی در زمان صفویه»، نشریه فرهنگ اصفهان، شماره 32، 76-79.
نصیری، محمد ابراهیم بن زین‌العابدین، (1373)، دستور شهریاران (سال‌های 1105 تا1110 ق پادشاهی شاه سلطان حسین صفوی)، تهران: بنیاد موقوفات دکتر محمود افشار.
References
Alizadeh Moghaddam, Badr al-Sadat; Hashemipour (2018). Examining the Role of Armenians in the Customs of Bushehr during the Qajar Period Based on Archival Documents (1795–1914).” Historical Researches (Pazhuhesh-hā-ye Tārikhi), new series, Vol. 10 (No. 4), PP. 18, 37–40. [In Persian [
Chardin, Jean (1993). Chardin’s Travelogue, Vol. 1–2 and 4. Translated by Eqbāl Yaghmaei. Tehran: Tous. [In Persian]
d’Allemagne, Henry Rene (1956). From Khorasan to the Land of the Bakhtiaris: Travelogue. Translated by Mohammad-Ali Farhushi. Tehran: Amir Kabir. [In Persian]
Derhohanian, Hartoon (2000). The History of Jolfa in Isfahan. Translated by Leon G. Minassian and M. A. Moosavi Faridni. Isfahan: Zendeh-Rood Publishing, in cooperation with Nakhshe-Khorshid Publications. [In Persian]
Drouville, Gaspard (1991). Travel in Iran. Translated by Manouchehr Etemad Moghadam. Tehran: Shabaviz. [In Persian]
García de Silva Figueroa, Don García (1984). The Travelogue of Don García de Silva Figueroa. Translated by Gholamreza Samiei. Tehran: Nashr-e No. [In Persian]
Gemelli Careri, Giovanni Francesco (1969). Careri’s Travelogue. Translated by Abbas Nakhjavani and AbdolʿAli Karang. Tabriz: General Directorate of Culture and Art of East Azerbaijan. [In Persian]
Gheibi, Mehrasa (2006). Eight Thousand Years: The History of Clothing among Iranian Peoples. Tehran: Hirmand. [In Persian]
Khachatour, Zoya (Winter 2015). “The Dress of Armenians in Several Regions of Iran: Dress of New Jolfa Armenians; Dress of Faridan Armenians; Dress of Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari Armenians.” Peyman Cultural Quarterly, Vol. 19, No. 74, PP. 208–255. [In Persian]
Minassian, Leon (Summer 2006). “Armenian Women’s Dress in the Safavid Period.” Farhang-e Isfahan (Isfahan Culture Journal), No. 32, PP. 76–79. [In Persian]
Nasiri, Muhammad Ibrahim ibn Zayn al-Abedin (1994). Dastoor-e Shahriyaran (The Ordinances of Kings) covering the years 1695–1700(the reign of Shah Sultan Husayn). Tehran: Dr. Mahmoud Afshar Endowments Foundation. [In Persian]
Olearius, Adam (1984). The Travelogue of Adam Olearius. Translated by Ahmad Behpour. Tehran: Ebtekar Publishing and Cultural Organization. [In Persian]
Orsel, Ernest (2003). Travelogue of the Caucasus and Iran. Translated by Ali Asghar Saeedi. Tehran: Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies. [In Persian]
Padmagrian, Alexander; Aghasi, Giv (1973). Political and Social History of the Armenians up to the Year 1918. Tehran: Pad Cultural Organization. [In Persian]
Poghosyan, S, & Pahlevanyan, K. (2023). “Characteristics of the Armenian National Costume”. Patma-Banasirakan Handes (Historical-Philological Journal), 2023(3), 308–330. Retrieved October 3, 2025, from [https://doi.org/10.53548/0320-8117-2023.3-308]
Raein, Esmail (1977). Iranians of Armenian Origin. Tehran: Amir Kabir. [In Persian]
Ricci, Matteo (2008). China Journal (Chinā-nāmeh). Preface and translation by Mozaffar Bakhtiar. Tehran: Moassese-ye Miras-e Maktoob (Institute for the Written Heritage) [In Persian]
Royal Collection Trust, (RCIN 407299). “Woman from New Julfa”, Marcos, c.1640, oil on canvas, Retrieved October 3, 2025, from: [https://www.rct.uk/collection/407299/woman-from-new-julfa].
Savory, Roger (2006). Iran in the Safavid Era. Translated by Kambiz Azizi. 16th ed. Tehran: Nashr-e Markaz. [In Persian]
Soltani, Fatemeh (2024). “A Study and Introduction to the Costume of the New-Jolfa Armenians of Isfahan.” Paper presented at the; Second Conference on Rethinking Desert Ecoscapes: Physical, Human, and Climatic Challenges and Opportunities, Faculty of Art, Architecture and Urban Planning, Islamic Azad University Najafabad Branch. [In Persian]
Somer, Faruq (1990). The Qara Qoyunlu. Translated by Vahab Vali. Vol. 1. Tehran: Scientific and Cultural Publishing Company. [In Persian]
Treasures of Western Armenia, (2015). Russian: Russian Museum of Ethnography & Armenian Jewellers Foundation, [Digital flipbook]. Retrieved October 3, 2025, from: [https://online.fliphtml5.com/ldmzy/wqsh/]. (ISBN 978-9939-9077-6-5).
Ziaipour, Jalil (1968). Women’s Clothing in Iran from the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Pahlavi Monarchy. Tehran: Ministry of Culture and Art. [In Persian]
eghbalmehran, A., somali, M., karami, R., & Hovsepian, J. (2026). Representing Armenian Women's Dress in the Safavid Era (1501–1736)
A Study of European Travel Accounts. Modern research of Iranology, 1(2), 15-28. https://doi.org/10.22084/mris.2025.31436.1010
MLA
eghbalmehran, A., somali, M., karami, R., & Hovsepian, J. "Representing Armenian Women's Dress in the Safavid Era (1501–1736)
A Study of European Travel Accounts", Modern research of Iranology, 1, 2, 2026, 15-28. doi: 10.22084/mris.2025.31436.1010
HARVARD
eghbalmehran A., somali M., karami R., Hovsepian J. (2026). 'Representing Armenian Women's Dress in the Safavid Era (1501–1736)
A Study of European Travel Accounts', Modern research of Iranology, 1(2), pp. 15-28. doi: 10.22084/mris.2025.31436.1010
CHICAGO
A. eghbalmehran, M. somali, R. karami & J. Hovsepian, "Representing Armenian Women's Dress in the Safavid Era (1501–1736)
A Study of European Travel Accounts," Modern research of Iranology, 1 2 (2026): 15-28, doi: 10.22084/mris.2025.31436.1010
VANCOUVER
eghbalmehran A., somali M., karami R., Hovsepian J. Representing Armenian Women's Dress in the Safavid Era (1501–1736)
A Study of European Travel Accounts. Modern research of Iranology. 2026;1(2):15-28 (In Persian). doi: 10.22084/mris.2025.31436.1010
