Red Senmurv Silk

The creature what we call nowadays Senmurv was a mythological beast, what researchers identify with the beast known from the Persian Book of Kings – Senmurv. There are debates that if this identification is accurate or not, however the figure of the animal definitely comes from the same place: it has a Sassanian origin.

The picture of the Senmurv remained to us not only the Iranian artifacts (for example silver palates, rock reliefs), but it was a well known and “used” beast in the Medieval period. It appears in various textiles found in Europe thought the centuries. Even a Hungarian pouch plate or an Italian sarcophagus preserved the figure for the eternity.

Silks with Senmurvs

VI-VII. century
From the reliquary of St Leu in Paris.
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
There is a second piece in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris.
Source:W. Fritz Volbach: Early Decorative Textiles. 1969

VIII-Xth century
The “Senmurv kaftan” from Moshchevaya Balka
Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg
Source: Anna A. Jerusalimskaya – Moshchevaja Balka 2012.

VIII-IXth century
Pillow and sudarium of St Remigus
Byzantine (or Persian)
St Remi, Rheims, France
The sudarium was placed over the body of St Remigus (died 533) when it was moved to the newly-built church (852). 
Source of the picture and the text: W. Fritz Volbach: Early Decorative Textiles. 1969

XIth century
Spain
Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence
Source:W. Fritz Volbach: Early Decorative Textiles. 1969

Some historical reconstructions made from the Kazar Bazar's Red Senmurv silk:

Berandett Metellér-Sarka (HU) in here attire reconstruction of Karos Grave II/47

Norbert Kulcsár (HU) in his 10th century elite Magyar attire

Frame from the movie Karos 2/29 - Egy karosi honfoglalás kori előkelő sírjának rekonstrukciója - Zénó60 projekt (2025)
made by Pazirik