Šahrestānīhā ī Ērānšahr[2] (literally "The Provincial Capitals of Iran") is a surviving Middle Persian text on geography, which was completed in the late eighth or early ninth centuries AD. The text gives a numbered list of the cities of Eranshahr and their history and importance for Persian history. The text itself has indication that it was also redacted at the time of Khosrow II (r. 590–628) in 7th century as it mentions several places in Africa and Persian Gulf conquered by the Sasanians.[3]
The book serves as a source for works on Middle Iranian languages, a source on Sasanian administrative geography and history, as well as a source of historical records concerning names of the Sasanian kings as the builder of the various cities. The text provide information on the Persian epic, the Xwadāy-nāmag (lit. “Book of Kings”).[4]
The book may be the same as "Ayādgār ī Šahrīhā" (lit. “Memoir of Cities") named in the Bundahishn and said to have been written following an order of Kavad I.[3]
The terms Eranshahr () and Eran were in use in SasanianIran. From early Sasanian era (Ardashir I and Shapur I's elaborations), as a designation of their land they adopted Ērānšahr “Land of the Aryans” and this served as the official name of their country.[5]
Ardashir I, who was the first king of the Sasanian Empire, had used the older word ērān (Parthianaryān) as part of his titles and in accordance with its etymology. At Naqsh-e Rostam in Fars province and the issued coins of the same period, Ardashir I calls himself Ardašīr šāhānšāh ērān in the Middle Persian version and šāhānšāh aryān in its Parthian version both meaning “king of kings of the Aryans.” His son Shapur I referred to himself as šāhānšāh ērān and anērān (lit. "king of kings of the Aryans and the Non-Aryans") in Middle Persian and šāhānšāh aryān and anaryān in Parthian. Later kings used the same or similar phrases.[6] and these titles became the standard designations of the Sasanian sovereigns.[5]
However the major trilingual (Middle Persian, Parthian, and Greek) inscription of Shapur I at the Ka'ba-ye Zartosht in Fars, introduces another term ērānšahr in Middle Persian and aryānšahr in Parthian. Shapur's declaration reads an. . .ērānšahr xwadāy hēm.. (lit. “I am lord of the kingdom (Gk. nation) of the Aryans”). This follows his title “king of kings of the Aryans,” and thus makes it "very likely" that ērānšahr "properly denoted the empire".[6] Next to Darius's inscription, this inscription of Shapur at walls of Ka'ba-ye Zartosht is among the most important inscriptional records. It records parts of Persian-Roman wars and gives "a clear picture of the extent of his empire" by naming of provinces, mentioning religious foundations and mentioning senior officials of the court of Papak, Ardashir and Shapur I. According to the inscription, after death of Shapur's father and his accession, the Roman emperor Gordianus III “marched on Assyria, against Ērānšahr and against us”.[7]
Beside the royal title, the term "Eran" was also used as an abbreviation of "Eranshahr" and referred to the empire in the early Sasanian era. In this case the Roman west was correspondingly referred to as “anērān”. As references to empires, Eran and Aneran occur already in a calendrical text from Mānī (dating back probably to Ardashir I's era.) This shorter term "Eran" appears in the names of the towns build by Shapur I and his successors as well as in the titles of several high-ranking administrative officials and military commanders. For the former there are examples such as "Eran-xwarrah-Shapur" (The glory of Eran (of) Shapur), "Eran-ashan-kard-kavad" (Kavad pacified Eran) and for the latter "Eran-amargar" (Accountant-General), ”Eran-dibīrbed" (Chief Secretary), ”Eran-drustbed“ (Chief Medical Officer), ”Eran-hambāragbed" (Commander of the Arsenal), and ”Eran-spāhbed“ (Commander-in-Chief).[6]
According to the book and as an ancient Iranian tradition, Ērānšahr is divided into four "mythologically and mentally"[8] defined regions or sides called kusts. These parts/regions/sides of the state during and after Khosrow I, on the pattern of the four cardinal points, are (1) Xwarāsān “northeast”; (2) Xwarwarān “southwest”; (3) Nēmrōz “southeast”; and (4) Ādurbādagān “northwest”.[3]
The kusts were named diagonally beginning from northeast to southwest, and from southeast to northwest-a style likely following an Old Persian tradition in naming satraps. The usual Middle Persian term "abāxtar" (loanword from MIr.s: abāxtar, abarag <Av.: apāxtara) used for northern direction in ancient Iranian tradition has been avoided in this designation and replaced by the name of their province ādurbādagān. This is believed[9] to be because of "the Zoroastrian association of the north with the abode of evil"[10] which "would be evoked by use of abāxtar".[3]
^According to Tafażżoli and Cereti. cf. (Daryaee 2008).
^(Tafazzoli 1989) Excerpt: In the Zoroastrian cosmogonical division, the northern part (nēmag/kanārag “side”) is called abāxtar, which is under the superintendence of the star Haptōrang “Ursa Major”. The Zoroastrians also supposed hell to be located in the north, where Ahreman and the demons reside...
Bibliographyedit
Daryaee, Touraj (2008). "ŠAHRESTĀNĪHĀ Ī ĒRĀNŠAHR". Encyclopaedia Iranica. Vol. To appear.
Daryaee, Touraj (2002). Sahrestaniha I Eransahr(PDF). Mazda Pub. p. 90. ISBN1-56859-143-8.
Markwart, J. (1931). A catalogue of the provincial capitals of Eranshahr. Rome: Pontificium Institutum Biblicum. ISBN88-7653-203-X.
Mackenzie, D. N. (1998). "ĒRĀN,ĒRĀNŠAHR". Encyclopaedia Iranica. Vol. 8. ISBN1-56859-058-X.
Shahbazi, A. Shapur (2005). "SASANIAN DYNASTY". Encyclopaedia Iranica. Vol. To appear. ISBN1-56859-058-X.
Tafazzoli, A. (1989). "BĀḴTAR". Encyclopaedia Iranica. Vol. 3. ISBN1-56859-058-X.
January 01, 1970
Šahrestānīhā, Ērānšahr, literally, provincial, capitals, iran, surviving, middle, persian, text, geography, which, completed, late, eighth, early, ninth, centuries, text, gives, numbered, list, cities, eranshahr, their, history, importance, persian, history, t. Sahrestaniha i Eransahr 2 literally The Provincial Capitals of Iran is a surviving Middle Persian text on geography which was completed in the late eighth or early ninth centuries AD The text gives a numbered list of the cities of Eranshahr and their history and importance for Persian history The text itself has indication that it was also redacted at the time of Khosrow II r 590 628 in 7th century as it mentions several places in Africa and Persian Gulf conquered by the Sasanians 3 Sahrestaniha i EransahrCountrySasanian Empire latest edit in the Abbasid period 1 LanguageMiddle PersianSubjectGeography The book serves as a source for works on Middle Iranian languages a source on Sasanian administrative geography and history as well as a source of historical records concerning names of the Sasanian kings as the builder of the various cities The text provide information on the Persian epic the Xwaday namag lit Book of Kings 4 The book may be the same as Ayadgar i Sahriha lit Memoir of Cities named in the Bundahishn and said to have been written following an order of Kavad I 3 Contents 1 Terms Eran and Eranshahr 2 Kusts of Eranshahr 3 Notes 4 BibliographyTerms Eran and Eranshahr edit nbsp Coin of Ardashir I r 224 242 and Shapur I r 240 270 The terms Eranshahr nbsp and Eran were in use in Sasanian Iran From early Sasanian era Ardashir I and Shapur I s elaborations as a designation of their land they adopted Eransahr Land of the Aryans and this served as the official name of their country 5 Ardashir I who was the first king of the Sasanian Empire had used the older word eran Parthian aryan as part of his titles and in accordance with its etymology At Naqsh e Rostam in Fars province and the issued coins of the same period Ardashir I calls himself Ardasir sahansah eran in the Middle Persian version and sahansah aryan in its Parthian version both meaning king of kings of the Aryans His son Shapur I referred to himself as sahansah eran and aneran lit king of kings of the Aryans and the Non Aryans in Middle Persian and sahansah aryan and anaryan in Parthian Later kings used the same or similar phrases 6 and these titles became the standard designations of the Sasanian sovereigns 5 However the major trilingual Middle Persian Parthian and Greek inscription of Shapur I at the Ka ba ye Zartosht in Fars introduces another term eransahr in Middle Persian and aryansahr in Parthian Shapur s declaration reads an eransahr xwaday hem lit I am lord of the kingdom Gk nation of the Aryans This follows his title king of kings of the Aryans and thus makes it very likely that eransahr properly denoted the empire 6 Next to Darius s inscription this inscription of Shapur at walls of Ka ba ye Zartosht is among the most important inscriptional records It records parts of Persian Roman wars and gives a clear picture of the extent of his empire by naming of provinces mentioning religious foundations and mentioning senior officials of the court of Papak Ardashir and Shapur I According to the inscription after death of Shapur s father and his accession the Roman emperor Gordianus III marched on Assyria against Eransahr and against us 7 Beside the royal title the term Eran was also used as an abbreviation of Eranshahr and referred to the empire in the early Sasanian era In this case the Roman west was correspondingly referred to as aneran As references to empires Eran and Aneran occur already in a calendrical text from Mani dating back probably to Ardashir I s era This shorter term Eran appears in the names of the towns build by Shapur I and his successors as well as in the titles of several high ranking administrative officials and military commanders For the former there are examples such as Eran xwarrah Shapur The glory of Eran of Shapur Eran ashan kard kavad Kavad pacified Eran and for the latter Eran amargar Accountant General Eran dibirbed Chief Secretary Eran drustbed Chief Medical Officer Eran hambaragbed Commander of the Arsenal and Eran spahbed Commander in Chief 6 Kusts of Eranshahr edit nbsp Coin of Khosrow I 531 579 According to the book and as an ancient Iranian tradition Eransahr is divided into four mythologically and mentally 8 defined regions or sides called kusts These parts regions sides of the state during and after Khosrow I on the pattern of the four cardinal points are 1 Xwarasan northeast 2 Xwarwaran southwest 3 Nemrōz southeast and 4 Adurbadagan northwest 3 The kusts were named diagonally beginning from northeast to southwest and from southeast to northwest a style likely following an Old Persian tradition in naming satraps The usual Middle Persian term abaxtar loanword from MIr s abaxtar abarag lt Av apaxtara used for northern direction in ancient Iranian tradition has been avoided in this designation and replaced by the name of their province adurbadagan This is believed 9 to be because of the Zoroastrian association of the north with the abode of evil 10 which would be evoked by use of abaxtar 3 Notes edit Welcome to Encyclopaedia Iranica Also transliterated as Shahrestaniha i Eranshahr a b c d Daryaee 2008 Daryaee2002 a b Shahbazi 2005 Rise of the Sasanian empire a b c Mackenzie 1998 Shahbazi 2005 War with Rome rather than real per Gignoux cf Tafazzoli 1989 According to Tafazzoli and Cereti cf Daryaee 2008 Tafazzoli 1989 Excerpt In the Zoroastrian cosmogonical division the northern part nemag kanarag side is called abaxtar which is under the superintendence of the star Haptōrang Ursa Major The Zoroastrians also supposed hell to be located in the north where Ahreman and the demons reside Bibliography editDaryaee Touraj 2008 SAHRESTANiHA i ERANSAHR Encyclopaedia Iranica Vol To appear Daryaee Touraj 2002 Sahrestaniha I Eransahr PDF Mazda Pub p 90 ISBN 1 56859 143 8 Markwart J 1931 A catalogue of the provincial capitals of Eranshahr Rome Pontificium Institutum Biblicum ISBN 88 7653 203 X Mackenzie D N 1998 ERAN ERANSAHR Encyclopaedia Iranica Vol 8 ISBN 1 56859 058 X Shahbazi A Shapur 2005 SASANIAN DYNASTY Encyclopaedia Iranica Vol To appear ISBN 1 56859 058 X Tafazzoli A 1989 BAḴTAR Encyclopaedia Iranica Vol 3 ISBN 1 56859 058 X Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sahrestaniha i Eransahr amp oldid 1185794275, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
