Gavar tapanakar 01

Front side. An impressive and vivid tombstone, whose northern and southern faces depict everyday scenes of great interest. On this face is a hunting scene, carried out in two groups. In the first group, two mounted figures chase a deer. The first, wearing a cap, has already pierced the deer with a long spear. The second, wearing a three-lily crown, raises a dagger in preparation to strike. The second group is engaged in lion hunting. Here too participates a rider with a three-lily crown, a quiver of arrows hanging at his back, his hand aiming a bow with an arrow at the rearing lion. The animal is already wounded, a shaft penetrating its body. The final rider attempts to strike the lion with a pointed axe. Two of the four riders wear three-lily crowns, indicating that they likely belonged to the higher class. Their participation in the hunt was probably part of a royal ceremony, while the other two riders can be viewed as attendants or companions.

Back side. The carved surface presents the mounted bride with an ornate chest ornament and long braids, her horse’s bridle held by the brother of the bride. The mounted groom, in a grooved robe, holds the bridle with one hand and stretches the other toward a plate. He is accompanied, it seems, by the “cross-brother,” depicted with a dagger and expressive facial features. Following them is a servant offering wine with a jar, and another figure serving wine to the groom with a plate. To the right of these figures is the tree of life, inseparable from wedding scenes. Then follow the seven musicians, playing flute, saz, kamancha, qanun, zurna, duduk, and daf. Some of the performers are shown wearing three-lily crowns, adorned with ornaments and dressed in grooved robes.

Lateral sides. On both sides are finely stylized woven crosses.

Upper side. Damaged and broken.