The construction of gardens in Iran has a long history, and throughout different periods, gardens have served various functions. The Persian garden is one of the spaces that has received particular attention from Iranian miniaturists. Miniature painting, as one of the most significant and valuable forms of art, depicts the buildings and architecture contemporary to the artists. Since artists throughout history have visually expressed their perceptions of their culture and environment, these images represent the architecture of their respective periods.

The purpose of this research is to identify and analyze the functional system of the Persian garden within the pictorial space of Shah Tahmasp’s Shahnameh and to propose a new classification for the functional system of the formal–historical gardens depicted in these miniatures. Accordingly, the study seeks to answer the following questions based on the miniatures of Shah Tahmasp’s Shahnameh: which functions of the Persian garden are represented, and which of these represented functions demonstrate greater frequency and prominence in the miniatures? These questions are addressed using a descriptive–analytical method. Data and sources were collected through documentary and library-based research, and the statistical population consists of 74 garden miniatures from Shah Tahmasp’s Shahnameh.

Based on the verses of the Shahnameh and the visual analysis of the miniatures, the depicted gardens can be classified as governmental (palatial) gardens, pavilion gardens, residential (domestic) gardens, encampment (tent) gardens, and recreational gardens, whose primary functions include governmental, ceremonial, residential, recreational, and combined uses. Given that the patrons of these miniatures were kings and contemporary rulers, and considering the thematic content of the Shahnameh, the gardens represented in the miniatures belong to the social sphere of kings and rulers, while other garden functions are not taken into account. Among the various functions, governmental (palatial) gardens and encampment (tent) gardens have received greater attention from the miniaturist artists than other types.