SYMBOLIC AND AESTHETIC FUNCTIONS OF CLOTHING ORNAMENTATION IN THE TIMURID PERIOD

Abstract

This study examines the symbolic, aesthetic, and socio-cultural functions of clothing ornamentation in the Timurid period. It argues that decorative motifs were not merely visual embellishments but constituted a complex semiotic system reflecting religious beliefs, social hierarchy, gender roles, and artistic ideology. The research analyzes geometric, arabesque, floral, vegetal, and star-shaped patterns, exploring their meanings in both religious and secular contexts. The study employs historicalanalytical, iconographic, semiotic, and comparative methods, drawing on primary sources such as Baburnama, Zafarnama, and Timurid miniature art. The findings demonstrate that clothing functioned as a medium of visual communication, ideological expression, and cultural identity, reflecting the high level of intellectual and artistic development in Central Asia.