Symbols and Flags of Iran

Symbols and Flags of Iran from Antiquity to the 21st Century slides and commentary by Michael Craig Hillmann March 2015

The frst version of Symbols and Flags of Iran was a class project in the Persian Art Past and Present Course Project in the Spring 2013 Semester at The University of Texas at Austin, co-designed by Nesa Mohebpour and with contributions by Dounya Alami-Nassif, Nicholas Barreiro, Christine Garner, Derrick Mitchell, Ariam Del Roble Macias, Mona Mostof, Niles Pfeifer, and Kevan Wilson.

Symbols of Iran Mt. Damavand

Symbols of Iran

Bas Relief Achaemenid Emperor Cyrus the Great (ruled 559–530 BCE)

Symbols of Iran

Cyrus the Great’s Peace Cylinder

(1) Marduk, king of the whole of heaven and earth, (12) seeking for the upright king of his choice…took the hand of Cyrus, king of the city of Anshan, and called him by his name, proclaiming him aloud for the kingship over all of everything. (13) He made the land of Guti and all the Median troops prostrate themselves at his feet, while he shepherded in justice and righteousness the black-headed people (14) whom he had put under his care. Marduk, the great lord, who nurtures his people, saw with pleasure his fine deeds and true heart, (15) and ordered that he should go to Babylon. (18) All the people of…all Sumer and Akkad, nobles and governors, bowed down before him and kissed his feet, rejoicing over his kingship and their faces shone. (19) The lord through whose help all were rescued from death and who saved them all from distress and hardship, they blessed him sweetly and praised his name. (20) I am Cyrus, king of the universe, the great king, the powerful king, king of Babylon, king of Sumer and Akkad, king of the four quarters of the world. (22) When I went as harbinger of peace into Babylon, (23) I founded my sovereign residence within the palace amid celebration and rejoicing. Marduk, the great lord, bestowed on me as my destiny the great magnanimity of one who loves Babylon, and I every day sought him out in awe. (24) My vast troops were marching peaceably in Babylon, and the whole of Sumer and Akkad had nothing to fear. (25) I sought the safety of the city of Babylon and all its sanctuaries. As for the population of Babylon…, who as if without divine intention had endured a yoke not decreed for them, (26) I soothed their 5

weariness; I freed them from their bonds. Marduk, the great lord, rejoiced at my good deeds, (27) and he pronounced a sweet blessing over me, Cyrus, the king who fears him, (28) that we might live happily in his presence, in well-being. At his exalted command, all kings who sit on thrones, (29) from every quarter (30) brought their weighty tribute into Shuanna, and kissed my feet. From Shuanna I sent back to their places, (31) as far as the border of the land of Guti–the sanctuaries across the river Tigris–whose shrines had earlier become dilapidated, (32) the gods who lived therein, and made permanent sanctuaries for them. I collected together all of their people and returned them to their settlements, (33) and the gods of the land of Sumer and Akkad which Nabonidus…had brought into Shuanna, at the command of Marduk, the great lord, (34) I returned them unharmed to their cells, in the sanctuaries that make them happy. May all the gods that I returned to their sanctuaries, (35) every day before Bel and Nabu, ask for a long life for me, and mention my good deeds, and say to Marduk, my lord, this: “Cyrus, the king who fears you, and Cambyses his son, (36) may they be the provisioners of our shrines until distant days, and the population of Babylon call blessings on my kingship. I have enabled all the lands to live in peace.” (44) May Marduk, the great lord, present to me as a gift a long life and the fullness of age, (45) a secure throne and an enduring reign. Excerpted from Irving Finkel’s translation www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/articles/c/cyrus_cylinder__translation.aspx

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Symbols of Iran

Tomb of Cyrus the Great at Pasargad

Symbols of Iran Farvahar ( Zoroastrian Guardian Angel) at Persepolis

Symbols of Iran

Darius the Great Seal

Faravahar overhead, an Iranian archer king hunts a worthy adversary, the king of beasts.

Symbols of Iran

Images of Persepolis, 518- BCE

Symbols of Iran

Persepolis Lions

Symbols of Iran

Persepolis and Susa Sphinxes

Symbols of Iran

Achamenid (559–30 BCE) Lion Images and a Susa Lion

Symbols of Iran

Pre-Islamic Sun God Mithra Stone Reliefs The sun can symbolize the king and the Iranian homeland.

Babylonian Sun God Relief, 865-860 BCE

• The lion-and-sun motif relates to astrology , which the Babylonians systematized in the 2nd millennium BCE. Much later, astrology became a significant field of study in Islam on the Iranian plateau Omar Khayyâm (1047-1131), for example, was a mathematician, astronomer and astrologer As for the lion-and-sun image, it is an astrological sign of the sun in the domicile of Leo, the 5th sign of the Zodiac. From the mid-15th century CE onwward, the-lion-and-sun image has figured significantly in Iranian culture.

Bas Relief of the Investiture of Sasanid Emperor Ardeshir (ruled 224-241 CE) by Ahuramazda

Bas Relief of Sasanid Emperor Shapur (r. 224-42 CE) and the captured Roman Emperor Valerian

Symbols of Iran

Parthian Prince Statue (circa 50 BCE -150 AD)

Symbols of Iran

Shrine to Imâm Rezâ (d. 818) in Mashhad

Symbols of Iran

Tomb of Ferdowsi (940-1020)at Tus, completed in 1934 and later restored

Symbols of Iran

Mausoleum of the Poet Hâfez (c. 1320 -c.1390) in Shirâz, completed in 1935

Symbols of Iran

Ardabil Shrine Carpet, Iran’s most famous Persian carpet, woven in 1539/40

Symbols of Iran The Royal Square, Esfahân early 17th century

Symbols of Iran

Âzâdi/Freedom Tower in Tehran, completed in 1971

Horses

Pazyryk Carpet Borders (Crafted circa 500

BCE)

Sasanid Emperor Ardeshir and Ahuramazda on horseback

Sasanid Emperor Shapur on horseback and his captive the Roman Emperor Valerian

Shâhnâmeh hero Rostam capturing Rakhsh

Rostam and Sohrâb and their horses

Muhammad led by angels and astride his human-faced horse Burâq on his fabled journey to Jerusalem and Heaven called Mi’râj. Fazlur Rahman calls the event “historical fiction,” perhaps a dream that Mohammad later described for his fellow Muslims. Mohammad’s face is veiled out of reverence and respect.

Boston Hunting Carpet A Safavid king on horseback capturing a lion with his bare hands

A Horse painted by Habibollâh Sâveh early 17th. century

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A dying Rakhsh and Rostam, just before his own death, slaying his stepbrother

Nâder Shâh Monument, Mashhad, 1959

Nâder Shâh Afshâr (1688 or 16981747), who deposed the last members of the Safavid royal family in 1736, briefy ruled over the last Iranian empire until his assassination in 1747.

Flags of Iran

Modern Images of the so-called Kaveh Banner, 850 BCE–559 BCE

Flags of Iran

Kaveh Banner Paintings 850 BCE–559 BCE

Pazyryk Carpet Quatrefoil Motif, sometimes assumed as a Kaveh Banner design

Pazyryk Carpet (woven c. 500

BCE)

Achaemenid State Banner and Battle Standard 559 BCE – 330 BCE

Flags of Iran

Standard of the Parthians, ruled 247 BCE -224 CE

Flags of Iran

Qâjâr Postage Stamp Image of a Lion-with-sword and Sun Flag "In memory of Iran's efforts for victory [in WWI]”

Symbols of Iran

Medieval Lion Images

Symbols of Iran Lion-and Sun Images from 800–1979 CE

Lion-and-Sun Image in Zodiac Signs Islamic Era, undated

Symbols of Iran Lion and Sun, Fârs Nameh [history/geography of Fârs] (before 1116)

by Ibn Balkhi

Lion and Sun Tile, Islamic Art, The Louvre

Symbol Lion and Sun Tiles Nishapur, 13th c. CE

Lion and Sun Coin, Seljuq 1240-1241

lion and bull combat, miniature painting and a Persepolis bas-relief

15th century painting

Mughal Imperial Flag, 1526-1857

Coin of Mughal Emperor Jahângir (ruled 1605-1627)

Safavid Shah Esma’il (ruled 1501-1524) and His Flag

Safavid Shâh Tahmâsp (ruled 1524–1576) and His Flag

Shah Abbas the Great (ruled 1587-1629), Chehel Sotun

Boston Hunting Carpet Detail: a Safavid monarch capturing a lion with his bare hands

Safavid Lion and Sun Flag in a Drawing from Versailles, 1751

Samarqand Lion and Sun tile work, Shirdar 1627

Erevan Khanate flag, lion-with-sword and sun, mid 17th century to 1828

Portrait of Nâder Shâh (ruled 1736-1747) Nâder Shâh’s Lion-and-Sun Seal

Zand Era Flag (ruled 1747-1779)

Karim Khân Zand

Portrait Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar (ruled 1736-1747) Aghâ Mohammad Khân Coin Design “O Mohammad, O ‘Ali”

Fath ‘Ali Shâh Qâjâr (ruled 1797-1834)

Fath ‘Ali Shâh “War” Flag

Fath ‘Ali Shâh “Peace” Flag

Mohammad Shâh Qâjâr (ruled 1834-1848)

Qâjâr Banner, 1838 Arabic :"Victory comes from God and victory is near” (al-qarib should read qarib)

Islamic Republic 1982 Stamp with Banner: “Victory comes from Allâh and victory is near” (the correct fathon qarib appears instead of the incorrect Qâjâr fathun al-qarib)

Nâseroddin Shâh Qâjâr (ruled 1848-1896) Wearing Order of ‘Ali Decoration

Instituted by Nâseroddin Shâh Qâjâr Lion/Sun Order for Kings, Ministers, et al., (1861)

Âftâb [Sun] Order for Women, 1873

‘Ali "Asadollah” [lion of Allâh], Agha Khan Museum Arabic Text: “Invoke 'Ali (and) you shall surely fnd him helpful in your troubles.” The Muslim Prophet Muhammad gave his son-in-law 'Ali the titl

Persian miniature painting depicting the angel Gabriel speaking the praises of Shi’ite Imam ‘Ali (with his split-bladed sword Zulfiqâr)

Qâjâr Era "Lion of God” [= ‘Ali] Images

Arabic: “

Qâjâr Coffee House Painting of ‘Ali

Drawing of ‘Ali’s sword called Zulfeqâr [= split-bladed. Arabic above the sword: “Ali, saint/holy man/guardian of God.” Arabic on sword’s blade: “No … except for ‘Ali, no … except for Zulfiqâr.”

Shi’ite ‘Imam Ali Qâjâr Coffee House Painting Zulfiqâr [split-bladed], ‘Ali’s Sword

Qajar Lion/Sun/Sword/Crown Talisman Brass Plate

Lion-with-sword and Sun Newspaper Masthead, 1851 Arabic: “O lion of Allâh [asadollâh = ‘Ali] the Victor(ious)….”

Qâjâr Order of ‘Ali Medallion 1852

Qâjâr Passport Image,

Qâjâr 19th-century Lion and Sun Flags

Mo’âvenolmolk Building, 1902

Lion-and-Sun Glazed Ceramic Tile Qâjâr Era

LionllL

“Lion and Sun” (1967), a painting symbolizing Emâm ‘Ali,

by Hussein Zenderoudi (b. 1937)

Lion Rug from Fars Qashqâ'i/Khamseh and lion rug with sun over lion

Mozaffaroddin Shâh Qâjâr (ruled 1896-1907)

Mozafaroddin Shâh’s Lion-and-Sun Order of Valor Medallion

Mohammad 'Ali Shâh Qâjâr (ruled 1907-1909)

The Iranian fag during the reign of Mohammad ‘Ali Shah (1872-1925), starting with whom Iran’s fnal four kings died in exile.

Pahlavi-Era Lion and Sun images National Flag Variations

Reza Shâh Pahlavi (ruled 1921-1941) Qâjar royal lion-and-sun medallion established during reign of Fath’ali Shâh (ruled 17971834)

Red Lion and Sun Organization Stamps (local Red Cross) 1920s

Mohammad Rezâ Pahlavi (ruled 1941–1979) Qâjâr royal lion-and-sun medallion

100th Anniversary of Iranian Postage, 1967

1967 postage stamp commemorating the 100th anniversary of the issuance of Iranian postage stamps

2,500th Anniversary of Iranian Monarchy Celebration Postage Stamp

National Flags Featuring Lion Images

Pahlavi Iran’s Lion-with-Sword and Sun with Crown Flag

Ethiopian Flag and Patch

Sri Lankan Flag

Scottish Flag

Bavarian Flag

Spain Flag

Uzbekistan currency

Lions and France: Lascaux Cave in Pre-History, Lotti Hotel Paris, Peugeot Emblem 1925 abd 2013

Lion Symbol of Lyon and Stone Lions in Paris

Flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1979–

Ruhollâh Khomeini (1903-1989), leader in-exile of the Iranian Revolution of 1977-1979 and “Supreme Leader” of the Islamic Republic of Iran from 1979 until his death in June 1989.

The Arabic and Persian word “Allâh” appears in the middle of the white register together with a suggestion of the first half of Arabic profession of Muslim faith: “There is no god except for the [al] God [lâh].” Across the bottom of the green register and the top of the read appear the Arabic statement: Allâh is great(er than anything else).”

National Green-White-Red Tricolor Flags Other than Iran’s

Tajikistan

Italy

Hungary

Mexico

Iran’s Tricolor Flag without the Pahlavi Sun-and-Lion or the Islamic Republic’s “Allâh”

Some Irans abhor the lion-and-sun image because it symbolizes monarchy, and other Iranians find anything symbolic of the Islamic Republic of Iran abhorrent.

Mount Damavand Flag

Cyrus’s Cylinder Flag

Cyrus' Tomb Flag

Flag with Farvahar Symbol

‫پففارچم بففا فففوروهر‬

Persepolis Flag

Ferdowsi Tomb

Tricolor Flag with Ferdowsi's Tomb

Hafez's Mausoleum Flag

‘Âli Qâpu Flag

Âzâdi Tower Flag