European Scientific Journal, ESJ

The Sasanian Simorgh and Its Reflections in Islamic and Byzantine Art

Seyed Salam Fathi — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 14:08:28 +0000

The Simorgh, a prominent composite creature in ancient Iranian mythology and art, achieved its most stylized and symbolic form during the Sasanian period. A mythological hybrid with canine or leonine heads, eagle wings, scaled bodies, and peacock-like tails, it became a key motif in Sasanian luxury arts. This study introduces a new typology of the Sasanian Simorgh based on a comparative formal analysis of its visual variations in silk textiles, silverware, and architectural ornamentation. Four main morphological groups are identified, each defined by distinctive tail structures and compositional elements. Employing Panofsky’s iconological method in conjunction with the theories of Hans Belting and Michael Baxandall on visual transmission, the research explores how the Simorgh motif was recontextualized in Islamic and Byzantine art. The findings demonstrate how the proposed typology enhances our understanding of the Simorgh’s visual transmission across cultural and temporal boundaries, revealing consistent patterns of adaptation and transformation in Islamic and Byzantine art. This typological framework thus contributes to broader discussions on image circulation, visual hybridity, and cultural exchange in Late Antique and Byzantine visual cultures.

The Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Advancing Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Academia: A Conceptual Framework

Rafidah Abd Karim — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 13:37:36 +0000

Education has a major impact on a society's political, social, economic, technological, and human capital development. The history of women's exclusion from higher education has resulted in a lack of diversity among the highest levels of leadership, particularly at significant institutions. Barriers, including institutional bias, gender preconceptions, and a lack of administrative support, must be overcome by women who aspire to hold leadership positions in higher education. However, AI is an effective tool for promoting gender equality and empowering women around the world through a number of charitable endeavours. The main aim of the study was to present a conceptual framework of AI's role for gender equality and women’s empowerment in academia. This study used a qualitative and conceptual design of study. A total of 30 identified reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2025 were systematically analysed using thematic analysis to identify the role of AI among women in academia. Three major themes were identified: AI capabilities and tools, empowerment and support mechanisms, and gender equality and institutional impact. A conceptual framework was developed from these findings and shows that these three framework components were connected through a multifaceted, intricate network of interactions and introduced to guide future research that explains the role of AI in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment in academia. The study serves as a catalyst for creating a more equitable AI landscape. Consequently, this study will promote diversity, which underscores the importance of gender diversity in AI, and can lead to more innovative and well-rounded solutions.

Cultivating Gender Equality to Achieve Educational and Social Sustainability among Indigenous Women of Malaysia

Rafidah Abd Karim, Ramlee Mustapha — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 13:27:58 +0000

The ultimate aim of sustainability is to meet present-day requirements without endangering those of future generations. Gender equality is essential for social and educational sustainability because it allows people and society to reach their full potential, which produces more inclusive, equitable, and profitable results. This study depicts certain cases of the indigenous women in Malaysia, exploring the gender equality aspects in achieving educational and social sustainability in the indigenous peoples. A qualitative case study approach was employed for this case study. A semi-structured interview was conducted with 10 indigenous women from two main tribes, which are the Mah Meri and Temiar. Data were transcribed and analysed using a thematic analysis process. The findings reveal that there were three major themes generated from the thematic analysis, which are contributions to society and freedom in the pursuit of education. This case study highlights that indigenous women play a vital role in creating a balance between the responsibilities of the genders in order to achieve SDG5 (gender equality) and educational sustainability in indigenous communities.