Iranian Studies - Articles List

A Comparative Study of the Concept and Quality of Love in Tamhīdāt of ʿAyn al-Quḍāt in Comparison with the Ghazals of Ḥāfeẓ Shirazi

abdolreza seif; Behzad Geranmaye

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 24 June 2025

https://doi.org/10.22059/jis.2025.393666.1343

Abstract

This study undertakes a comparative examination of the concept and quality of love in two prominent works of Persian mystical literature: Tamhīdāt by ʿAyn al-Quḍāt Hamadānī ... Read More

View Article

The Role of Salaries and Religious Donations in Consolidating Achaemenid Political Power: A Documentary Analysis of the Persepolis Tablets

Mahshid Khoddami; Hossein Badamchi

Volume 16, Issue 1 , May 2026, , Pages 1-18

https://doi.org/10.22059/jis.2026.408992.1392

Abstract

The present study examines the multifaceted role of wages and religious offerings in consolidating and reinforcing political authority within the Achaemenid Empire, with particular ... Read More The present study examines the multifaceted role of wages and religious offerings in consolidating and reinforcing political authority within the Achaemenid Empire, with particular emphasis on the ancient documentary evidence preserved in the Persepolis Fortification Tablets. The primary objective of this research is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the mechanisms through which ritual and economic resources were distributed among social, administrative, and religious groups, and to evaluate the impact of these practices on the legitimacy, stability, and durability of the imperial power structure. The research data consist of the extensive corpus of Persepolis Fortification Tablets, which have been meticulously examined and systematically coded using a rigorous documentary analysis methodology. The findings reveal that the system of payments, rations, and ritual allocations functioned not merely as an economic mechanism but also as a strategic instrument for strengthening the loyalty, cooperation, and compliance of court officials, priests, and local elites throughout the empire. Furthermore, a detailed geographical and structural analysis of these documents demonstrates a deliberate and clear correlation between the central authority in Persepolis and the distribution of wages in subordinate regions, reflecting a sophisticated approach to administrative control and political governance. The results highlight the critical role of religious offerings and state-administered wages as essential tools employed by the Achaemenids to legitimize their rule, stabilize social hierarchies, and maintain imperial cohesion. By providing new insights into the interplay between economic, ritual, and political dimensions, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the organizational and ideological foundations of Achaemenid imperial power and offers a valuable perspective for reevaluating the empire’s economic and religious–political structures

Manichaeism and Its Zurvanian Roots: From Conceptual Interaction to Cosmological Opposition

ّFarshad Farshbaf Abrishami; Majidreza Rajabi

Volume 16, Issue 1 , May 2026, , Pages 19-46

https://doi.org/10.22059/jis.2026.411642.1405

Abstract

As one of the most significant Gnostic movements of late antiquity, Manichaeism emerged from the cultural and religious context of Iran. One of the most debated issues in Manichaean ... Read More

Iconographical Analysis and Iconological Interpretation of the Snake and Eagle Motif in the Jiroft Civilization (3rd Millennium BC)

Esmaeil Sangari; Shaghayegh Taheri Bakhtiarvand

Volume 16, Issue 1 , May 2026, , Pages 47-68

https://doi.org/10.22059/jis.2025.393018.1341

Abstract

In January 2001, a common surge within the southeastern area of Kerman, Iran, uncovered an obscure culture in Jiroft. The surge revealed artifacts that each uncover a covered up corner ... Read More

Proposal for Determining the Function and Chronology of Qaleh Dokhtar (Maiden's Fortress) of Sāveh

Ismail Sharahi; Mohammad Ebrahim Zarei; Hamide Choubak

Volume 16, Issue 1 , May 2026, , Pages 69-97

https://doi.org/10.22059/jis.2024.365574.1231

Abstract

The structure of Qaleh Dokhtar (also known as Qiz Qal'eh or Qiz Qal'eh) is a mountain fortress situated 25 kilometers southwest of Sāveh, atop a solitary mountain in the Hendeš ... Read More

From Syncretism to Rationalism: Examining the Threefold Approaches to Iranian Mythology in the Historiography of the Seljuk Period (Based on Tarikh-e Sistan, Farsnameh, and Mujmal al-Tawarikh wa’l-Qisas)

hasan shahryari

Volume 16, Issue 1 , May 2026, , Pages 99-122

https://doi.org/10.22059/jis.2026.405097.1380

Abstract

Iranian myths are among the most fundamental components of national identity, which have undergone continuous reinterpretation in connection with political and religious transformations. ... Read More

A Structural and Content Analysis of the Taṣdīq-nāmeh of a Siyurghal Decree Issued by Tīmūr Gurkānī in Favor of Mīr Ikhtiār al-Dīn Ḥasan al-Ṭabāṭabāʾī al-Bihbahānī from the Late Zand Period

Seyyed Mohammad Mansour; Alireza Khazaei

Volume 16, Issue 1 , May 2026, , Pages 123-149

https://doi.org/10.22059/jis.2026.402271.1369

Abstract

The present article examines the structural and content-based aspects of a certification document related to a siyurghal decree issued by Tīmūr Gurkānī in favor of Mīr Ikhtiār ... Read More

A Comparative Study of the Form and Content of Composite Creatures in the Lithographic Edition of Qazvini’s Ajāib al-Makhlūqāt and the Images of Mesopotamian Cylinder Seals

Ahang Mirmongereh; Shohreh Javadi

Volume 16, Issue 1 , May 2026, , Pages 151-176

https://doi.org/10.22059/jis.2026.411990.1409

Abstract

The techniques employed in the engraving of images on Mesopotamian cylinder seals possess novel and unprecedented characteristics. These seals contain valuable information about the ... Read More The techniques employed in the engraving of images on Mesopotamian cylinder seals possess novel and unprecedented characteristics. These seals contain valuable information about the rituals, beliefs, and intellectual structures of the societies of that period. With the appearance of images of composite creatures from the third millennium BCE, a fundamental transformation occurred in the depiction of these beings particularly in the form of gods, goddesses, and supernatural entities in Mesopotamian civilization. It appears that the origins of many composite creatures in various later mythological, historical, and geographical narratives are rooted in these early images. The aim of this research is a comparative study of the engraved images on Mesopotamian cylinder seals and the shared visual elements, in terms of form and content, found in the depictions of composite creatures in the lithographic edition of Zakariya Qazvini’s Ajāib al-Makhlūqāt. The research question asks what formal and content-related relationship exists between the depictions of composite creatures in Qazvini’s book and the images on Mesopotamian cylinder seals. Using a descriptive–analytical approach and focusing on identifying the origins and visual roots of these depictions, the present study examines the formal and content-related similarities between these two sets of images through comparative analysis. Based on the visual findings of this study, the imagery on cylinder seals of the Mesopotamian civilization gradually persisted in subsequent civilizations within the same geographical region, as well as in neighboring ones. This cultural continuity is observed during the Qajar era in the form of legends and myths in the lithographed book Ajāib al-Makhlūqāt. By comparing these images in terms of both form and content, it appears that the depictions of composite creatures in this book have their roots in the motifs found on Mesopotamian cylinder seals

Evidences of Sasanid art in the Eastern States and its influence on Chinese art (Case study: pearl decorations)

Mina Rastgar fard; Yaghoub Mohammadifar; Esmail Hemati Azandaryani

Volume 15, Issue 4 , February 2026, , Pages 1-29

https://doi.org/10.22059/jis.2023.362774.1216

Abstract

Pearl is one of the most frequently used ornaments in Sassanid decoration arts which, as a valuable element and the symbol of divine glory in religious and nonreligious figures. In ... Read More Pearl is one of the most frequently used ornaments in Sassanid decoration arts which, as a valuable element and the symbol of divine glory in religious and nonreligious figures. In the Sassanid era comprehensive and vast connections with the east was formed which led to exchange of cultural concepts and content of Sassanid art with those countries. The wide-range reach of Persian culture and its expanse and popularity in China on the Silk Road is one of the main focuses of this research; and thus, the study of pearl decorations as an index of most repeated common decorations in Sassanid era, especially particular art of the courtiers and nobles, has been considered. This study aims to answer two important questions: By studying the pearl motifs, the influence of the artistic and religious thinking of the Sassanid court on Chinese civilization can be examined from what aspects? Was the usage of pearl depictions in Chinese arts consciously or was it a mere imitation of Sassanid royal arts as a new and luxurious commodity or tradition? The nature of current study is fundamental and its approach is descriptive, analytical-comparative and the data gathering method is of library type. In this study culture refers to distinct and unique parts of artistic tastes and thoughts, architectural decorations, textiles and other artworks that had an impact on Chinese culture. The considered geographical expanse includes documents achieved in the eastern Sassanid provinces and further the study of its impact along the Silk Road through China. The pearl decorative elements used in Buddhist temples, Sogdian tombs or Manichaean sources are not merely imitations derived from the Sassanid aesthetic concept; Rather, it is a conscious choice of its original concept and then the application of this art in a new religious and cultural context. It seems that the main factor in introducing the Sassanid culture to the neighboring nations is trade along the Silk Road, in front of the presence of numerous ambassadors and the sending of various gifts from the Sassanids to the Chinese court.

Philanthropy and its dimensions in Zoroastrianism

Farahnaz Shams; Kolsoum Ghazanfari

Volume 15, Issue 4 , February 2026, , Pages 31-48

https://doi.org/10.22059/jis.2025.380726.1303

Abstract

Among the important concepts in Zoroastrianism, philanthropy is highly recommended and has received special attention. Philanthropy has a wide scope and dimensions, and knowing its ... Read More Among the important concepts in Zoroastrianism, philanthropy is highly recommended and has received special attention. Philanthropy has a wide scope and dimensions, and knowing its examples, scope and mechanisms can clarify its individual, social, spiritual and cultural functions. Considering the impact of philanthropy on the morality and life of individuals and society, the explanation of this concept can clarify the perception and view of society and individuals towards it. The purpose of this article is to examine philanthropy and its dimensions in Pahlavi texts that were formalized in the Sasanian period or the first Islamic centuries. Depending on the period in which these texts were written, it is possible to learn about the definitions and activities of individuals, religious institutions and the state apparatus in this field, which required interaction between them. Studies show that the interests of the individual and the family, the community and the religious community were taken into account in the discussion of philanthropy.Among the important concepts in Zoroastrianism, philanthropy is highly recommended and has received special attention. Philanthropy has a wide scope and dimensions, and knowing its examples, scope and mechanisms can clarify its individual, social, spiritual and cultural functions. Considering the impact of philanthropy on the morality and life of individuals and society, the explanation of this concept can clarify the perception and view of society and individuals towards it. The purpose of this article is to examine philanthropy and its dimensions in Pahlavi texts that were formalized in the Sasanian period or the first Islamic centuries. Depending on the period in which these texts were written, it is possible to learn about the definitions and activities of individuals, religious institutions and the state apparatus in this field, which required interaction between them. Studies show that the interests of the individual and the family, the community and the religious community were taken into account in the discussion of philanthropy.

The conceptual image of Iran in the Shiite discourse of the Safavid era (with emphasis on reciting Roza Al-Anwar Mullah Muhammad Baqer Sabzevari)

Fatemeh Taherkhani; Heydar valizadeh

Volume 15, Issue 4 , February 2026, , Pages 49-64

https://doi.org/10.22059/jis.2024.378202.1293

Abstract

The purpose of writing this article is to investigate the language mechanisms in the Shiite discourse that led to the recovery and revival of the concept of "Iran" in the Safavid era.The ... Read More

Woman as the Other in Qajar-Era Travelogues: A Critical Reading through Narrative Identity, Power/Knowledge, and the Third Space

somayeh Abbasi; Somayeh Khanipour

Volume 15, Issue 4 , February 2026, , Pages 65-84

https://doi.org/10.22059/jis.2025.402095.1368

Abstract

Historical–literary studies of the Qajar era—especially travelogues—have often settled for superficial, stereotypical depictions of women and neglected deeper discursive ... Read More

Namri; An ancient land in a part of Ilam province?

Sorena Firouzi; Muhammad amin Saadat mehr; Zohre Jozi

Volume 15, Issue 4 , February 2026, , Pages 85-103

https://doi.org/10.22059/jis.2023.358270.1197

Abstract

The study of Mesopotamian inscriptions, especially from the Middle and Neo-Assyrian periods, has provided researchers with much geographical data. Based on the topographical coordinates ... Read More The study of Mesopotamian inscriptions, especially from the Middle and Neo-Assyrian periods, has provided researchers with much geographical data. Based on the topographical coordinates provided by this information, the cultural and historical background of the western and central regions of the Iranian plateau has been better investigated. This process has formed the basis for many historical, cultural, and archaeological studies. Assyrians gradually began to pay attention to the east of their land from the era of Tiglath-Pileser I, and this view gained strength during the Neo-Assyrian periods. Therefore, in this upcoming research, we will use the geographical basis of the royal inscriptions of the Neo-Assyrian kings to investigate which territories described in those written documents corresponded to the boundaries of the current Ilam province or at least its northern part. This article demonstrates that contrary to opinions raised about the land of Namri, an important part of the coordinates of this ancient area coincided with the boundaries of Ilam province. Furthermore, this research argues that based on this conclusion and a study of the cultural components of Namri, we can gain a better understanding of the cultural state of the coordinates of Ilam province in the first millennium BCE .The study of Mesopotamian inscriptions, especially from the Middle and Neo-Assyrian periods, has provided researchers with much geographical data. Based on the topographical coordinates provided by this information, the cultural and historical background of the western and central regions of the Iranian plateau has been better investigated. This process has formed the basis for many historical, cultural, and archaeological studies. Assyrians gradually began to pay attention to the east of their land from the era of Tiglath-Pileser I, and this view gained strength during the Neo-Assyrian periods. Therefore, in this upcoming research, we will use the geographical basis of the royal inscriptions of the Neo-Assyrian kings to investigate which territories described in those written documents corresponded to the boundaries of the current Ilam province or at least its northern part.

The effectiveness of the possible relations of diplomacy on the institution of the family Emphasizing the drivers of governance in the Safavid era

zahra sadat keshavarz

Volume 15, Issue 4 , February 2026, , Pages 105-128

https://doi.org/10.22059/jis.2025.387372.1328

Abstract

In this connection, Max Weber's theory and comparative strategy have been put as a basis so that an ideal type of family change in the demography of the history of most societies becomes ... Read More

Was Frēdōn, the Possessor of Three Powers, a Warrior, a Physician, or a Prophet? (Based on the Three Texts: Sūdgar Nask, Waršt-Mānsar Nask and the Manichaean Text “dr”)

Poorchista Goshtasbi Ardakany; Zohreh Zarshenas; Farzaneh Goshtasb

Volume 15, Issue 4 , February 2026, , Pages 129-150

https://doi.org/10.22059/jis.2025.389555.1336

Abstract

Frēdōn is one of the most famous mythical heroes of Iran who defeated Zahhak and imprisoned him on Mount Damavand. In this study, the myths about Frēdōn that appear in the Sūdgar ... Read More

A Comparative Analysis of Moral Virtues and Vices in Ferdowsi’s Rostam and Sohrab and Matthew Arnold’s Sohrab and Rostum

mohammad mirnezami; homeira zomorrodi; Abdolreza seif

Volume 15, Issue 3 , November 2025, , Pages 1-24

https://doi.org/10.22059/jis.2025.399999.1363

Abstract

Epic literature has long provided a platform for representing moral and cultural thought. The story of Rostam and Sohrab in Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh and its re-creation in Matthew ... Read More

Analysis of Geometric Volume Evolution from the Perspective of Muslim Scholars since the First to the Fifth AH centuries

Aref Azizpour Shoubi; Ahad Nejad Ebrahimi; Yaser Shahbazi

Volume 15, Issue 3 , November 2025, , Pages 25-44

https://doi.org/10.22059/jis.2024.367308.1241

Abstract

Geometry plays an integral role in the architectural production of all cultures. Islamic scholars classified it into categories. In treatises of scholars and professionals, volume geometry ... Read More

"Nasser Khosrow Qabadiani's intellectual interaction with the legacy of Iranian/ Khusrawani wisdom; a case study of wisdom and discretion"

Mina Safa

Volume 15, Issue 3 , November 2025, , Pages 91-108

https://doi.org/10.22059/jis.2024.375147.1272

Abstract

The study of Khusrawani wisdom, also known as the wisdom of ancient Iran, encompasses all cultural conceptions. It serves as a means to gain a more accurate understanding of Islamic-Iranian ... Read More The study of Khusrawani wisdom, also known as the wisdom of ancient Iran, encompasses all cultural conceptions. It serves as a means to gain a more accurate understanding of Islamic-Iranian culture, tracing back to the second century of the Hijra. This culture predominantly consists of mystical mythology and philosophy. Iranian wisdom summarizes the various schools of thought, religions, and worldviews of the Iranian peoples. These traditions evolved in Iran for centuries both before and after the advent of Islam. Sheikh Shahab al-Din Suhrawardi referred to this wisdom as "Eshraq/Khusrawani wisdom." Iranian philosophers and sages emerged within Iran's rich intellectual and cultural milieu, drawing from the vast seas of wisdom and philosophy from both the East and the West. Among these sages was Nasser Khosrow Qubadiani, an Ismaili Da'i and Hujjat in the 5th century AH. While previous analyses of his works have been approached from a Western perspective, focusing on the influence of Greek philosophy, this research delves into fundamental questions. It explores Nasser Khosrow's relationship with the ancient world of Iran and whether he drew from the legacy of Iranian philosophy/Khusrawani wisdom, and to what extent. Nasser Khosrow's impact on Iranian culture and literature, spanning both ancient and Islamic eras, can be divided into two main aspects. In the first part, Nasser Khosrow was influenced by the heritage of ancient Iranian culture. This influence is evident in his references to figures like Zoroaster, Avesta, Zand, and Pazand, as well as mentioning great kings such as Anusharvan and Sam in his Diwan. The second part reveals Nasser Khosrow's assimilation of the culture of the Abbasid era, including its writers and poets. This article investigates the role and significance of Iranian/Khusrawani wisdom in Nasser Khosrow's intellectual framework. By highlighting the importance of reason and authority in his intellectual structure, it compares, interprets, and analyzes the key aspects of Khusrawani wisdom and Nasser Khosrow's wisdom concerning reason and authority.

An anthropological study of traditional, symbolic, and ritual dolls of the people of Ardabil province

ammar ahmadi; vahid rashidvash; yaqub sharbatian semnani; ali baseri

Volume 15, Issue 2 , September 2025, , Pages 1-28

https://doi.org/10.22059/jis.2023.361657.1207

Abstract

"At first glance, traditional dolls are considered a symbolic toy for girls and boys in most regions of Azerbaijan. Most regions have their own dolls that differ in terms of physical ... Read More

Lived culture arising from the ritual ceremony; Research sample: Ta'ziyeh on the eleventh day of Muharram in Talāvok village, Māzandarān province

Sajad Zoleykani; Elham Andaroodi; Asmar Shahbazi

Volume 15, Issue 2 , September 2025, , Pages 29-50

https://doi.org/10.22059/jis.2024.370438.1253

Abstract

Confronting the ritual performance of Ta‘ziyeh—a religious passion play closely tied to Shi'a beliefs—raises the question of its potential influence in shaping or ... Read More

Imagology of Iranian Culture in the travelogue Beyond the Caspian Sea

Esmaeil Alipoor

Volume 15, Issue 2 , September 2025, , Pages 51-70

https://doi.org/10.22059/jis.2024.370131.1251

Abstract

European travelogues about Iran are invaluable sources for Iranian Studies, offering insights into aspects of Iranian culture often overlooked or ignored by Iranian historians. However, ... Read More

Post-colonial reading of musical descriptions in four European travelogues of the Safavid Era

Rezvan Ahrar; Narges Zaker Jafari

Volume 15, Issue 2 , September 2025, , Pages 71-92

https://doi.org/10.22059/jis.2024.374456.1270

Abstract

During the Safavid era, Music had a hight position and important place. Music was used in banquets, feasts and various court and social ceremonies. Also, Iranian music was influenced ... Read More During the Safavid era, Music had a hight position and important place. Music was used in banquets, feasts and various court and social ceremonies. Also, Iranian music was influenced by religious and political currents. Apart from music history texts, Iranian music has reflected a lot in the travelogues of Europeans of the Safavid era. For this reason, there are different and conflicting views on the quality and merit of Iranian music. In this research, the question is raised, what are the views of the travelogues towards Iranian music? To follow up and get the answer to this question, this research has selected four travelogues from the Safavid era, which have different characteristics of Iranian musical descriptions. These travelogues analyzed and investigated with Edward Said’s post-colonial theory. After the post-colonial reading from travelogues texts, if there are colonial concepts in these texts, their post-colonial concepts can be revealed and the objectives of these concepts can be followed. The current research, has selected the travelogues written by Raphael Dumans, Figueroa, Olarios and Chardin and analyzed them. The reason for this choice is that their reactions and encounters with Iranian music have been formed in different situations and different cultural and social conditions. According to the findings of this research; the authors of the aforementioned travelogues encountered Iranian instruments and music in different situations, circumstances and conditions. Therefore, different and various reactions have been expressed. Therefore, it is possible to introduce them in three separable groups. 1. Observation and generalized comment: non-interactive approach 2. Intellectual engagement and Field observations: non-interactive approach 3. Field observations and executive participation: interactive approach. This research has been conducted with the aim of investigating the music topics in the travelogues from the point of view of post-colonial theory in order to discover and identify the perspective of colonialism in the travelogues of Europeans during the Safavid period. The method of this present research is analytical and interpretive. Qualitative type was used for data analysis. The procedure of collecting information and data was done through the preparation of transcripts and receipts from libraries books, e-books and journals articles.

the early centuries' monastery located in the city of Susa; Continuation of ancient Iranian traditions in the monastic system

majid montazer zohouri; Darywsh Barati Dasht Rahi

Volume 15, Issue 2 , September 2025, , Pages 93-116

https://doi.org/10.22059/jis.2024.372369.1262

Abstract

The city of Susa, In the north of Khuzestan province, it is one of the first ancient places where extensive archaeological researches have been conducted. In 1947, the French archaeologist ... Read More

The philosophical aesthetics of everyday life's spatiality are explored in Jaubert s' travelogue"Travels to Armenia and Iran

Shahla Khalilollahi; Maryam Mousavi Joushaghani

Volume 15, Issue 2 , September 2025, , Pages 117-138

https://doi.org/10.22059/jis.2025.376297.1279

Abstract

Tom Ledi believes that the aesthetics of everyday life allow us to speak about things that are not commonly addressed in traditional aesthetics; instead, it opens up a completely new ... Read More

Urban Narrative in Women's Literature: Reinterpreting Kevin Lynch’s Theory in the Novel This Street Has No Speed Bump

Mansoureh Shahriyari; Abbasi sara

Volume 15, Issue 2 , September 2025, , Pages 139-161

https://doi.org/10.22059/jis.2025.402653.1370

Abstract

contemporary Persian literature, the city is not merely a physical backdrop but a dynamic site for the formation of memory, meaning, and narrative agency. This article applies Kevin ... Read More

Volume 16 (2026)

Volume 15 (2025)

Volume 14 (2024)

Volume 13 (2023)

Volume 12 (2022)

Volume 11 (2021)

Volume 10 (2020)

Volume 9 (2019)

Volume 8 (2018)

Volume 7 (2017)

Volume 6 (2016)

Volume 5 (2016)

Volume 4 (2015)

Volume 3 (2014)

Volume 2 (2013)

Volume 1 (2011)

Main Subjects = Click subject name to see related articles.

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract

Abstract