iranian culture and persian literature

 in Iran before islamic era were two main languages:1-old persian(achaemenian) 2-middle persian(Parthian and sassanid empires of Iran).but it was another main literary language before:Avestian which started the literature in Iran in probably about 1000 BC (6000,7000 in other opinions) by Zarathushtra or same Zoroaster.his language, Gahani(Avestian), was so old and his orders and suggestions exist in Yasna book of Avesta.the other parts of Avesta added after him and includes the poems , philosophia , praise and somethings like those.but the other books of iranians in pre islamic eor ancient age, is in middle persian (Pahlavic).
 achaemenian script (Ganjname= treasure book)         Achaemenian

 Achaemenian empire (6th BC- 3th BC)had a great library in Perspolis that is pointed by some greek historians like Xenophon. but Alexander the great destroyed that in Perspolis firing and were burned there, in 3th BCE. he wanted to Helenization in ancient Iran. he ordred 20000 of his soldiers to marry with Iranian girls and brought more than 30000 greeks into Iran. but he didn’t succeeded.greeks got lost in Iran and no his language nor his Helenism did not remain .just their philosophia and sciences and some views of their art maybe could find in Iran.but the Achaemenian books were burned in Alexander conquest but Avesta was saved.
Iran in Sassanid Empire

 in Parthian era it(2th BC-3th ACE) was middle Persian the official language.in that time they had a laic and federal empire ,there were much academies to following helenists , their culture was combined from Iranian and Babylon and orarto or Assyrian and helenic arts.but today few things is remained from Parthian.something like two novel named DRAKHT ASURIK( assyrian tree) and YADIGAR ZARIRAN (memory of Zariran).the other living things is some buildings in Iran and Iraq and Armenia.and some script and scrolls.
Iranian’s art in Parthian era           A Parthian king                  

in the sassanid(3th - 7th ACE) empire of Iran you can find an honourable literatre. in middle persian literature exist some subjects contain: religion-philosophia-novel-story-poem-sciences-history-Ideology and the other.but in Arab conquest of Iran books were burned or disappear by Arabs and remained just number of them.after attackting Iranian’s religion Changed from Zoroasterian to Islam and they payed attention to Former Persian books and many of that books were translated again to  new Persian or Arabic. Shahname(epic of kings) one of the greatest books is one of them that translated from middle Persian reference named “Khwatay namag”.Famous Iranian historians like Tabari and Ruzbe Daduye( Ibn mughafa) Used middle Persian books as the base of Ancient history of Iran.after the caliphate dynasty Iranian started to find the loss books and a number of  them were rewrited,again, in middle persian.
some of the more important of those books are Bundahishn and Ardavirafnama,ONE THOUSAND ONE NIGHTS( wich is incorrectly known as Arabian nights) Shapurgan (by Manichae) and etc.
  But now ,the ancient books from Middle Persian which exist today,  is more than one hundred books. and also some exist books in Avestian( 1000 BCE- christ birth) are about 7 books, contains : Gatha(lifestyle an worship education)-wispred- Yasna(celebrations)-Yasht-Vandidad(anti satanism and the creation)-Xorde Avesta-datik-Hatik mansrik.
 in middle Persian books there were  many books with Avestian origin. that their Avestian version is lost.include nirangistan (about lifestyle and ethics)-Bahram yasht-Hurmozd Yasht-haptan yasht-Afaringane gahanbar-Mah yesht-Xurshet yash-Farhang Evim ( avestian-persian dictionary) and the other,in all they are more than Middle Persian book with Avestian Version.
Sassanid coins

SOME OF PHILOSOPHICAL AND RELIGIOUS BOOKS IN MIDDLE PERSIAN 

DINKART: about religion and religious acts
BUNDAHISHN: about judgement witha long introduction.
RIVAYAT: about the value of fast andgoodness, ethics,to avoid sinanimals and the other subjects.
WIZARESHN HIMIDA : by Himida Shuhistan- common question and answers.
SHAPURGAN: abook by Manichae or Manes in structure and philosophy of Manichaeism.
VECHERKARD DINIK: by Midiu mah in biography of Zoroaster,buurrying policy,wedding,marriage,
GOWZIDAK ZADESPRAM:in three chapter:his opinions,humanity,the creation of the earth
SHIKAND VICHAR:proving ,logic and philosophia,one of the most important middle persian books.
SHAYAST NA SHAYAST:about Ideology and goodness and avoid sin.
DANAG VA MINOO XRAD:answer to 62 question about  spirit of thinking
NAMAG MINOOCHEHR: report of the complaint of Makranians from a spiritual leader
ARDA VIRAF NAME : the base of Dante’s book and discribtion of heaven after drug abuse and a spiritual trip.
JAMASP NAMA :about creation and ancient history.
PROSESHN PASOX : 580 questions with the answers about Avesta(holy book)
BAHMAN YASHT: prediction of IRAN and zoroastrianism
PETIT IRANIC :about Iranian mystics.
PETIT DARGOZASHTEGAN :about preventive behaviours
PETIT XOD: it is about religious programs
MARDE XUSHBAXT: the specialities and personality of a lucky man
STAYESHN DARUN : about invitation to dinner and kings and princes
ASHIRVAD : the worship of wedding
NIRANG :biography of deads
AFARIN GAHANBAR JASHNI : information about calender.
DARUK XWORSANDI : about Mystics
AZARABAD MEHRSPANDAN : invitation and advice to ethics and goodness,avoid to lying,and behaviours,..
MATIKAN MAH FARVARDIN RYJ XWORDAD : about calender and prediction
PEYMAN ZANASHUYI: the life style after weddind
CHEM KESTY: zoroastrianism structure.

ligious Counsel Books:

 :1-DAHPAND 2-ANDARZ XUSRO CUATAN 3-ANDARZ BEHDINAN 4-PAND BE MAZDYASNAN  5-pandnama zartush 6-ANDARZ USHNER DANA 6-YADGAR BZORGMEHR 7- ANDARZ MARSPANDAN  8-ANDARZ BE SHOMA KUDAKAN(I advice you children!) 9-PANDE PEDAR BE PESAR 10-HAFT AMSHASPANDAN - 11- ANDARZ USHNER — 12 PORYUTKISHAN — 13-ANDARZ KHOSRO CUATAN 14-ANDARZ DANAYAN –15-KHWITKARI REYDAKAN. 16- 5KHIM MUBADAN.

religious pray and worships:
AFARIN VARZGAN — NAM STAYISHN — NAMAZ UHORMOZD — AFARIN ARTAFRUSH –SITAYISHN SI RUCHAK –

NOVEL AND  NON-RELIGIOUS BOOKS IN MIDDLE PERSIAN
——-
MATIGAN YUSHT FARYAN: story of a magician named Axt.
GOJASTAK ABALISH :beautiful stories about kings.
MATIKAN HIZARDASTAN: in citizenship rights
KARNAME ARDASHR BABAKAN: biography of ardashir:founder of sassanid empire
YADGAR ZARIRAN: story about brave heart Zariran’s fights.
KHOSRO VA PESARI: a story about a misrible boy who asked help from king..
FARHANG PAHLAVIK :a dictionary
AYIN NAMENEBISHTAN: the methods of writing and being a writer
SHAHRHAY IRAN :geography of IRAN
MADIGAN CHATRANG: astoy book about invention of the Chess and Nard
DREXT ASSURIC:(assyrian tree): a story about aryans and semitics by the dialogue between a tree and a wild goat
SIKIHAY SAXTAN : about geography
NAMAG TENSER : letters between the religious leader and king of tabarstan about conflictios in Iran.
KHWOTAY NAMAK: epic of kings, and the base of Ferdosi work
DIN NAMAG: about the methods of governing
KHIM O XRAD FARROX MARD : thought
DASTANHAY FARANBAGH: stoty
DASTANHAY SORUSH FARANBAGH: story
OMID ASHUHASHTAN
SHAH ZANAN : story about princess and empratoresses
MASK ZANANE : story about  women
RUZBEH: novel
KHERS KHARGUSH : a story about a bear and hare
HEZAR AFSANE : abou thousand stories
HEZAR YEK SHAB : one thousand one nights that incorrectly nown Arabian nights
NAMAG ANUSHRAVAN: anovel about the king leters
PROSESHN PASOX XOSRO MARZBAN
NOSHIRVAN NAME
BAHRAM NERSI
KARNAME ANUSHIRVAN SHAHRZAD
ROSTAM SPHANDIAR : a teragedian story between two heros.

translations into middle persian before 7th century:

ZANDS (books by zand script for general people in discribtion of avesta):
ZANDYASH- ZAND HUMAN YASN -ZAND BAHMAN YASHT -ZAND VANDIDAD - ZAND WISPRED

  

all religious and philosophical and praise):

RAZAN -ZABUR MANI -  NIYAN ZENDEGAN - CAVAN - DIBAN-ARTHANG (all by Manes)- ENJIL ZENDE (alive bible)- ZABUR PAHLAVI -ARISTOTLE LOGIC- KELILE DEMNE - HIRBADSTAN - SOUSH YASHT HEDOXT- WISHTASP YASHT - XURSHET NIAYISHN - URMOZD YASHT - BAHRAM YASHT - ABAN YASHT - AFARINGAN GATHA - CHITAK AVISTA GASAN - VICHARKART - FARAVARTIKAN - ATAXSH YASHT - MAH YASHT - AFARINGAN DAHMAN - HADOXT NASK .

  kara kelisa, church of St Jude(Thaddeus) ,(Armenians church)

Kara klisa ( Black chrch) in northwestern of iran  and one of the oldest churches in the world  added to UNESCO world heritage list in Quebeck of Canada. this church builed about 68 ACE.and also the Saint Jude(Thadeus)  shrine is there.Saint Jude, one of theapostles went to eastern lands to guide people to christianity.there was Parthian Empire in Iran .he he was killed in northwestern of Iran by Sanadork- the king of Armenia (Armenia was a satrap in parthian Empire).he burried there and after christianization in armenia this place decame a holy place for Armenians. the church is so old but few time  it was destoyed and rebuilt.Also the Tomb of Sandokh, the armenian princess and Sanadork’s daughter is beside thadeus tomb.Sandokh believed the toughts of christ by guidence of st Jude and her father got angry and killed his daughter.
                                      
karaklisa was hurted in mongol attackts in 616 CE  but again rebuilt by persian philosopher and scientist Khaje nasir Tusi .
this church  is located in 20 km of Maku in northwestern of Iran

today ,Iranian Armenians and the Armenians of other counties go to Maku to visit this church and the tombs of  S.t Jude and Sandokht .

 chogha zanbil the temple of God (1250 BC) in the southwestern of Iran

in the southwestern of Iran-today Khouzestan(Cusistan) close to Susa you can see a wounderful ancient building.it is choghazanbil, an Elamite ancient Ziggurat (temple of god) founded by Elam king Untashgal in more then 1250 BCE .it is one of the Oldest temples in UNESCO world heritage list.

this temple has wonderer specialities.like watter channel and cleaning water or Solar clock and water reticulation with pipework and also filtering.they refine the water to carry up to the upper storey which had more than 50 meter height.it is oldest refinery system in the world.
 it had 52 meter in  height 5 storeys at first but today remain just 26 meters.this beautiful temple was found in the first half of last century.the french man Roman Grischman saw a single hill in a desert.he started to discovering arround that hill and this unusual building was revulged. on that time they found many untique things and brought them for knowledge studies.and it was revealed that this temple is an Ancient Elamite temple of god that Untash Napirisha commanded to build it.in the walls it has many scripts and writing bricks on the Elamite 
alphabet(Mikhi=cuneiform).and also some of that bricks were painted on a fresh color. 
  this refinery system is the oldest in the world                   

in addition to the ziggurat ,choghazanbil includes eleven lesser temples too.also royal palace and walls guarding the temple. and also it has a underground cemetery.and the Elamite kings are burried there.it has a  dredful entery.

this building destroyed by ashurbanipal - the Assyrian Empire - when he attackted to elam  about 7th BC.this pretty and wounderful tower located near the king road from Elam to Persis (today Fars state of Iran) and many of great kings  Like Cyrus and Alexander and also Darius when acrossed this road ,were suprised to see one of the unbelievable buidings on that time.

 
zoroaster,the ancient Iranian prophet is the founder of zoroastrianism .his birth probably accured in more than thousand years before the birth of the christ.he encouraged people to work and doing good beneficence and goodness.his toughts has created on three bases: good speech -good behaviour -good thought. it was so simple to understand and ancient people could know his toughts and believe his new religion.in afew times zoroasterianism became prevalent and many people in many lands from iran to central asia ,Armenia and yemen believe him.


This religion was an Aryan faith and differs to the Abrahimic religions.however zoroaster’s toughts was easy to be understood, but it had a great philosophia that is taken from aryan thoughts and their believes.much aryan elements are cleary evident in zoroasterianism . in the later comments , religious lyrics , worships and blessings those elements widely is used.
   zoroasterianism Holy book is Avesta.it is a collection of zoroasterian books and texts that are divided in 5 books.the oldest texts is gathic text and gahans of Yasna that are the zoroaster’s speeches.they are named GATHAHA in persian. they are so beautifull poems and lyrics.Avesta has divided in 5 books:

1-YASNA: it has 72 hats(chapters) that eachother has few lines.consists of prayers and hymns in honour of the Supreme Deity
2-visperad: it has 24 kerdo (seccion) that in subject is the same yasna.
3-vandidad: this book has 22 fargard and consist of the discussion between Ahuramazda(the god) and zartusht(prophet).this book also try to show the goodness way and separate it from Ahriman(devil) way.
4-yasht: it has 21 hymnes and is a book about the praise and worship.
5-khorde avesta : or the little avesta is wroten by great mubad Azargoshasb in sassanid dynasty.this main book has many philosophical material and religious element of zartusht’s toughts.the khorde avesta has divided in 4 parts:1,introduction - 2,four niayeshn (praises) 3,five gahs(five times) that is about the time of praying 4,four afaringan(blessing) that also speak around the birth , dead and the goal of life.

   

 

Cyrus the great(c. 590 BC or 576 — August 529 BC or 530 BC): the founder of Achaemenian empire and the first Persian king of iran that is known in the world by his cylinder.

  Cyrus cylinder is known as the first charter of nayion and human rights.it ia discovered by  the Englo-Assyrian archeologist Hormozd Ressam in the 19th century in ancient babylon land.and in the 1970 this cylinder was completely translated  and revealed that it signifies human and nation rights.It has a replica in UN  in the New York city that is translated to all six official languages of united nations .the translation of cylinder  have been interpreted as expressing Cyrus’ respect for humanity, and as promoting a form of religious tolerance and freedom. By this argument, Cyrus’ generous policies, support for freedom of local religions, repression and tyranny did win him support from his subjects.

   this cylinder was wrote after persian conquest in Babylon by cyrus.he he behaved kindy with them and didn’t ruined their temples  and permitted them to continue their faith .he also released Jews from slavery in babylon and took them to Jeursalem.but some of them stayed in Iran ind didn’t came back to their motherland.todayJewish minority of iran have remained from that time.in the Ester book you can see an iranian jewish prince.in the Bible records that the jewish salve people returned to their promised land by Cyrus king of persia.and also in the Book of Ezra repreduced his edict to rebuiled their temple.

   then,Cyrus wrote this cylinder and consist to freedom and happiness of  people.he sayed that every people are free in religion andlife and he forbided the slavemerchant system of Babylon . Cyrus empire maybe the first laic goverment of the world that respect to every faiths and nation and religions.

        IT IS SOME PAROF CYRUS CYLINDER:      

                                                                                                                   

• I am Cyrus, king of the world, the great king, the powerful king, king of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, king of the four quarters of the world,
• 
  
• son of Cambyses, the great king, king of the city of Anshan, grandson of Cyrus, the great king, king of the city of Anshan; great-grandson of Teispes, the great king, king of the city of Anshan;

• eternal seed of royalty whose rule Bel and Nabu love, in whose administration they rejoice in their heart. When I made my triumphal entrance into Babylon

   

• My numerous troops marched peacefully into Babylon. In all Sumer and Akkad I permitted no enemy to enter.

   

• The needs of Babylon and of all its cities I gladly attended to. The people of Babylon [and . . . ], and the shameful yoke was removed from them. Their dwellings,

  The lord, who by his power brings the dead to life, who amid destruction and injury had protected them, they joyously blessed him, honoring his name

  I permitted all to dwell in peace .
  

• 
  

   A bas relief found in Shiraz thought be Cyrus the Great.he has egyptian Hemhem and Persian dress and depicted assyrian four wings.so he must be the king of Iran and Neareast and Egypt. 

  references:

  
  

  1. www.cais_soas.com
  2. www.cfiwest.org
  3. www.ccel.org
  4. www.efn.org
  5.  The Emperial Iranian army from Cyrus to Pahlavi - by yahya zoka-translated by Roger Cooper-miinistry of culture and art press
  6. www.thebritishmuseum.ac.ir
  7. http://www.cyrusgreat.com
     

  Persian is an indoeuropian language of Iranian languages branches spoken in  Iran, Tajikistan ,Afghanistan ,Uzbakistan ,China,Pakistan,Bahrain,Dubai,USA,Western Europe and Canada.it has so relation between another indoeuropian languages branches.those branches include:

1.GERMAN:English, Dutch,Swedish,Danish
2LATIN:Italian, spanish , romanian,French,etc
3.Balto-slavian:Russian,Croatian,Polish,Ukrainian,etc
4.INDIAN: Indian,GOJARATIAN,ordu
5-IRANIAN:persian-talyshian-Ossetian(russia)kurdish-aimaq(china-pamir)jassic(hungary)
6-ISOLET BRANCHES:GREEK-ARMENIAN-TOCHARIAN-ANATOLIAN-CELTIC

there are many relations between persian and other indoeuropian language  specially English.indoeuropian languages comprise a family of several hundred related languages and dialects that have more than 3 billion native speakers.there are so mouch common root words in persian and English.for example:

this words are original and they are not a foreign loan word in each other and are used since befor the birth of crist.

       ENGLISH              PERSIAN

LIP       —————–LAB

EYEBROW    ———–ABROU

MOOM—— ———–MAH

BODY  ——- ———BADAN

MOTHER   ————- MADAR

BROTHER     ———–BRADAR

MIND       ————–MANESH

DARK     —————TARIK

MOUSE  —————MOUSH

COW      ————— GAV

DOG      —————- SAG

AM      —————–  AM

ME       —————– MAN

IS       —————— AST

GOD    —————– KHODA

DOOR    —————- DAR

MAN      —————- MARD

NO      —————– NA

TWO    —————- DO

NINE    —————- NOH

STAR   —————- SETARE

STOP   —————- IST

STAND  ————— STADAN

FINAL   ————— PAYANI

GRAND   ————– GERAN

NAME    ————— NAM

CHIN   —————- CHANE

PHYSICIAN  ———- PZESHK

CHAKAL   ————- SHOGHAL

BAD    —————- BAD

NEW   —————- NOW

Greater iran (iranzamin=iranland in persian) is a cultural and historical name called to today iran and tajikistan and northern afghanistan eastern little part of of China ,central Asia ,southern caucasus and eastern sides of iraq and turkey.it also used the term iranian cultural continent.Greater iran or Iranzamin reffer to lands that have iranian cultural influence. iranian pre islamic culture has two main part:1.pre Ariyans 2.ariyan dynasty.pre ariyans iranian civilizations were Elam Empire in Cusistan and Jiroft civilization in ancient Sistan.the Ariyans had four Empires in pre islamic iran:1.MEDIA kingdom: founded by Dieces in 7th B/C2.PERSIA( Iran) Empire: Achaemenian ,founded by Cyrus the great in 6th B/C3.Parthia Empire : founded by Araces after defeating Seleucids in 2th B/C4.Persia(iran) Empire or sassanids : founded by Ardashir in 2th to 7th A/D in the sassanid era Arabs conquest occured.Arabs attacted to Iran and captured it.in the caliphate era arabs was succeeded in arabization of their new lands in the Egypt an northern afica and the neareast but attemps of Arabization never succeded in Iran,because of Iranian reach culture.C.Caheb says that After the Islamic conquest of iran, Iran was annexed into the Arab umayyad Caliphate . But the Islamization of iran was to yield deep transformations within the cultural, scientific, and political structure of Iran’s society: The blossoming of Persian literature , philosophy,medicine,and art , became major elements of the newly-forming Muslim civilization.Culturally,politically , and religiously, the Iranian contribution to this new Islamic civilization is of immense importance. Indeed, the culmination of Iran caused the “Islamic Golden Age. some of the great iranians are:

1.zoroaster:(iranian ancient prophet and the founder of zoroastarianism)

2.cyrus the great: (founder of achaemenian empire and founder of nations and HUMAN RIGHTS in 500B/C)

3.Darius the great: another iranian powerfull Empror.

4.Mani: ancient Iranian Prophet and founder of the first COMMONISM.in the 3th century A/D

5.Mazdak: founder of Mazdaechism , the ancient Socialism in Iran .

6.quarismi :iranian scientist and scholar

7.Farabi :Iranian scholar and philosopher

8.Ferdosi : Iranian great poet.

9.Khayyam: poet.scientist.scholar.astrologist

10.Zachary razi :scholar-discovered Alchohol

11.Geber: persian chemist and scholar

12.Aviccena: persian physicion and scientist.

13.Biruni: iranian scholar and scientist

14.Rumi: great poet and sufi

15.Saadi :persian Poet : who his poet has wroten on UN,s hall

16.Hafez: iranian Great poet

17.Tabari : famous Islamic Historian