Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-g7gxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T10:44:18.966Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Cities and social order in Sasanian Iran – the archaeological potential

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Hassan Karimian
Hassan Karimian*
Affiliation:
*Department of Archaeology, University of Tehran, Enghelab Street, Tehran, Iran (Email: hkarimi@ut.ac.ir)
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The author shows how several of the great ruins of Sasanian cities of the last centuries BC are enriched by a vivid documentation. And while archaeological study is only just beginning, it clearly has exceptional potential for mapping the social order onto the streets and buildings.

Keywords

IranSasanianurbanspacesocietyhierarchical
Type
Research articles
Information
Antiquity , Volume 84 , Issue 324 , June 2010 , pp. 453 - 466
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Editorial note: titles in square brackets indicate English paraphrases of Iranian publications.Google Scholar
Barthold, V.V. (trans. 1929) 1903. An historical geography of Iran. Translated into Persian by Sardadvar, H.. Tehran: Tahouri Library Press.Google Scholar
Bosworth, C.E. 1983. Iran and the Arabs before Islam, in Yarshater, E. (ed.) The Cambridge history of Iran. Volume 3: The Seleucid Parthian and Sasanian periods: 593–613. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brunner, Ch. 1983. Geographical and administrative division, in Yarshater, E. (ed.) The Cambridge history of Iran. Volume 3: The Seleucid Parthian and Sasanian periods 747–778. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Christensen, A. 1944. L'Iran sous les Sassanides. Second edition. Translated into Persian by Varjavand, P.. Tehran: Payam Press.Google Scholar
Christensen, A. (trans. 1991). Mardom va Hokoomat Dar Asr-e Sasanian [The position of people and government in the Sassanid period]. Translated into Persian by Minuvi, M.. Tehran: Investigation Centre of Human SciencesGoogle Scholar
Curtis, J. 2000. Ancient Persia. Second edition. London: British Museum Press.Google Scholar
Diakonov, I.M. 1967. [History of ancient Iran]. Translated into Persian by Arbab, R.. Tehran: Institute of Book Publishing Press.Google Scholar
Dieulafoy, M.A. 1884. L'Art antique de la Perse: Achéménides, Parthes, Sassanides. Volume 5: Monuments parthes et sassanides. Paris: Librairie centrale d'architecture. Translated into Persian by Farahvashi, B.. Tehran: Tehran University Press.Google Scholar
Dinawari, A.H. 1965. Al-Akhbar al-Tiwal. Translated into Persian by Damghani, . Tehran: Ney Press.Google Scholar
Frye, R.N. (trans. 1976). [The middle Persian inscription at Sar Mashhad]. Translated into Persian. Shiraz: Asia Institute of Pahlavi University.Google Scholar
Ghirshman, R. 1962. Persian art: the Parthian and Sassanian dynasties, 249 BC–AD 651. New York: Golden Press.Google Scholar
Ghirshman, R. with Ghirshman, T., & Hardy, A., (trans. 1999) 1971. Bichâpour. Volumes 1 & 2 (Musée du Louvre, Département des Antiquités orientales, Série archéologique 6). Translated into Farsi by Karimi, A.. Tehran: Iranian Cultural Heritage Organisation.Google Scholar
Ghirshman, R. (trans. 2007). Iran from the earliest times to the Islamic conquest. Translated into Farsi by Moeein, M.. Tehran: Negah PressGoogle Scholar
Gignoux, Ph. 1984. Les quatre régions administratives de l'Iran sasanide et la symboliques des nombres trois et quatre. Annali dell'Istituto Universitario Orientale di Napoli 44: 555–572.Google Scholar
Gnoli, G. 1985. The quadripartition of the Sassnian Empire. East and West 35: 265–270.Google Scholar
Herzfeld, E. 1941. Iran in the ancient East. London; New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Hidayat, S. 1963. Karnamak-i Artaxshir-i Pabakan [The Deed Book of Ardashir I]. Tehran: Amir Kabir Co. Press.Google Scholar
Huff, D. 1986. Shahrhay Sasani [Sasanian cities], in Kiani, M.Y. (ed.) A general study on urbanisation and urban planning in Iran: 176–200. Tehran: Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Iran.Google Scholar
Huff, D. 1987. Firuzabad, in Kiani, M.Y. (ed.) Iranian cities: 75–117. Translated into Persian by Afsar, K.O.. Tehran: Ministry of Islamic Guidance of Iran.Google Scholar
Istakhri, I. 1961. Kitab al-Masalik va-l-Mamalik. Edited from an original manuscript by Gharbal, H.. Tehran: Ministry of Guidance.Google Scholar
W, Ivanow., 1979. [Ancient Iran]. Translated into Persian by Eizadi, & Tahvili, . Tehran: Donyay Ketab Press.Google Scholar
Karimian, H. 2003. Intentionality and meaning in the similar layout of Sasanian cities. Paper presented to the 10th Iranian Researcher's Seminar in Europe (IRSE), 28 June 2003, University of Central England (UCE), Birmingham, UK.Google Scholar
Karimian, H. 2008. Iranian society in the Sasanian period, in Kennet, D., & Luft, P., (ed.) Current research in Sasanian archaeology, art and history (British Archaeological Reports International Series 1810): 99–107. Oxford: Archaeopress.Google Scholar
Kiani, M.Y. 1986. Parthian cities, in Kiani, M.Y. (ed.) A general study on urbanisation and urban planning in Iran: 105–125. Tehran: Iranian Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.Google Scholar
Kiani, M.Y. 1995. A general survey of Iranian capitals before the Islamic period, in Kiani, M.Y. (ed.) Iranian capitals: 22–45. Tehran: Iranian Cultural Heritage Organisation.Google Scholar
Khwarazmi, A.A. 1993. Mafatih al-ulum. Translated into Persian by Jam, Khadive. Tehran: Elmi Farhangi Co. Press.Google Scholar
Le Strange, G. (trans. 1958) 1905. The lands of the eastern Caliphate: Mesopotamia, Persia and central Asia from the Moslem conquest to the time of Timur. Translated into Persian by Irfan, M.. Tehran: Scientific & Cultural Publication Company.Google Scholar
Lukonin, V.G. (trans. 1993) 1969. [Sasanid civilisation]. Translated into Persian by Reza, E.. Teheran: Elmi Farhangi Co. Press.Google Scholar
Mas'udi, A.I.H. 1970. Kitab al-Tanbih va-l-Ashraf. Translated into Persian by Payandeh, A.. Tehran: Bongahe Tarjome va Nashre Ketab.Google Scholar
Mehryar, M. 1999. A background of investigations and archaeological excavations in Bishapur, in [The history of Iranian architecture and urbanism 2] (a collection of papers presented in the Second Congress of History of Iranian Architecture and Urbanism, 3-7 March 1999): 11–71. Tehran: Cultural Heritage Organisation of Iran.Google Scholar
Minuvi, M. 1977. [Tansar's letter]. Tehran: Khwarazmi Co. Press.Google Scholar
Minuvi, M. (ed.) 1975. Nameye Tansar [The letter of Tansar]. Tehran: Farhang Foundation Press.Google Scholar
Mosaheb, M. 1995. Persian encyclopaedia of Iran, Volume 3. Tehran.Google Scholar
Mustawfi, H.-A. 1957. Nuzhat al-Qulub. Edited from an original manuscript by Le Strange, G.. Translated into Persian & published in 1915 by Armaghan Co. Second edition by Dabirsaghi, M.. Tehran: Tahouri Library Press.Google Scholar
Nafisi, S. 1988. [History of Iranian civilisation in the Sasanid age]. Tehran: Tehran University.Google Scholar
Pigulevskaia, N.V. (trans. 1988) 1958. [History of Iran from ancient times until the end of 18th CE.] Translated into Persian by Keshavarz, . Tehran: Payam Press.Google Scholar
Pigulevskaia, N.V. (trans. 1993). [Iranian cities in the Parthian and Sasanid age]. Translated into Persian by Rida, Inayat ullah, Tehran: Scientific and Cultural Publication Company.Google Scholar
Pope, A.U. & Ackerman, P., (ed.) 1938. A survey of Persian art from prehistoric times to the present, Volume 1: pre-Achaemenid, Achaemenid, Parthian and Sasanian periods period. London; New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Pour Davoud, I. 1979. [Yasns: second part]. Tehran: Iran Shenasi Press.Google Scholar
Sami, A. 1963. Sasanid civilisation, Volume 1. Shiraz: Mousavi Press.Google Scholar
Sami, A. 1975. The ruins of the historical city of Istakhr. Journal of Honar va Mardom [Art and People] 158: 1–12.Google Scholar
Sami, A. 1976a. Iranian architecture in the Sasanid period. Journal of Honar Va Mardom [Art and People] 74:24–42Google Scholar
Sami, A. 1976b. The ancient city of Gour. Journal of Honar Va Mardom [Art and People]. 169–170: 1–11Google Scholar
Sarfaraz, A.A. 1978. [Guide book for ancient monuments of Bishapur]. Shiraz: Mostafavi Press.Google Scholar
Sarfaraz, A.A. 1987. Bishapur, in Kiani, M.Y. (ed.) [Iranian cities]: 22–75. Tehran: Ministry of Islamic Guidance of Iran.Google Scholar
Sarfaraz, A.A. 1993. [Monograph of the archaeological congress of Bishapur]. Tehran: University of Tehran.Google Scholar
Sarfaraz, A.A. 1995. The temple of Anahita, in The history of Iranian architecture and urbanism (a collection of papers presented in the First Congress of History of Iranian Architecture and Urbanism, February 1994): 23–33. Tehran: Cultural Heritage Organisation of Iran.Google Scholar
Sellwood, D. 1983. Minor states in southern Iran, in Yarshater, E. (ed.) The Cambridge history of Iran. Volume 3: The Seleucid Parthian and Sasanian periods: 299–322. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shahzadi, R. 1949. [One thousand articles of law from Sasanid civil law]. Tehran: Faravahar Press.Google Scholar
Shepherd, D. 1983. Sasanian art, in Yarshater, E., (ed.) The Cambridge history of Iran. Volume 3: The Seleucid Parthian and Sasanian periods: 1055–1113. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Simpson, St.J 2008. Suburb or slum? Excavation at Marv (Turkistan) and observations on stratigraphy, refuse and material culture in a Sasanian city, in Kennet, D., & Luft, P. (ed.) Current research in Sasanian archaeology, art and history. Proceedings of a conference held at Durham University 3-4 November 2001 (British Archaeological Reports International Series 1810): 65–78. Oxford: Archaeopress.Google Scholar
Sprengling, M. 1953. Third century Iran, Sapor and Kartir. Chicago (IL): Oriental Institute, University of Chicago.Google Scholar
Tabari, M.J. 1983a. Tarikh al-Rusul va-l-Muluk [History of the prophets and governors], Volume 2. Translated into Persian by Payandeh, . Tehran: Iranian Culture Foundation.Google Scholar
Tabari, M.J. 1983b. Tarikh al-Rusul va-l-Muluk [History of the prophets and governors], Volume 5. Translated into Persian by Payandeh, . Tehran: Iranian Culture Foundation.Google Scholar
Tafazzoli, A. 1975. Minooy-e Kherad. Translated from the Pahlavi manuscript into contemporary Persian. Tehran: Bongah Farhang Press.Google Scholar
Tafazzoli, A. 1987. [Iranian cities: a translation from a Pahlavi manuscript relating to the Sasanid period], in Kiani, M.Y. (ed.) [Iranian cities]: 332–350. Tehran: Iranian Ministry of Islamic Guidance.Google Scholar
Tafazzoli, A. 1992. Dabir in pre-Islamic Iran. Encyclopaedia Iranica 6: 535–538Google Scholar
Tajvidi, A.A. 1976. [New knowledge about art and archaeology of the Achaemenid era based on five years excavations in Persepolis]. Tehran: Iranian Ministry of Culture & Art.Google Scholar
Uryan, S. 1982. Shahrhaye Iran [Iranian cities]. (A translation from a manuscript of Sasanid booklet 5). Tehran: Chista Press.Google Scholar
Varjavand, P. 1987. Urbanism and urbanity in Iran, in Kiani, M.Y. (ed.) Iranian cities: 1–43. Tehran: Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance.Google Scholar
Yarshater, E. 1983. Iranian national history, in Yarshater, E., (ed.) The Cambridge history of Iran. Volume 3: The Seleucid Parthian and Sasanian periods: 359–481. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zarrinkub, A.H. 1992. [The history of the Iranian people, Volume 1]. Tehran: Amir Kabir Co. Press.Google Scholar