Nationalistic Interpretation Lion and Sun

russo-persian war (1804-1813) - persian troops bearing lion , sun flag

during reign of second qajar shah, fat′h ali shah qajar, observe beginning of shift in political culture safavi concept of rule. islamic component of ruler de-emphasized, if not abounded. shift coincides first archaeological surveys of europeans in iran , re-introduction of past glorious pre-islamic history of iran iranians. fat h ali shah tried affiliate sovereignty glorious years of pre-islamic iran. literary evidence , documents time suggest sun in lion , sun motif symbol of king , metaphor of jamshid. referring rostam, mythical hero of iran in shahnameh, , fact lion symbol of rostam, lion received nationalistic interpretation. lion symbol of heroes of iran ready protect country against enemies. fat h ali shah addresses meanings of signs in 2 of poems:

also:

it during time had sun throne constructed, imperial throne of persia.

the imperial order of lion , sun

in 19th century, european visitors @ qajar court attributed lion , sun remote antiquity, prompted mohammad shah qajar give nationalistic interpretation. in decree published in 1846, stated each sovereign state emblem established, , august state of persia, too, order of lion , sun has been in use, ensign 3 thousand years old—indeed dating before age of zoroaster. , reason currency may have been follows. in religion of zoroaster, sun considered revealer of things , nourisher of universe [...], hence, venerated . followed astrological rationale having selecting selected sun in house of leo emblem of august state of persia. decree claims use of order of lion , sun had existed in pre-islamic zoroastrian iran until worship of sun abolished muslims. piemontese suggests in decree, native political considerations , anachronistic historical facts mixed curious astrological arguments @ time, lion , sun symbol stood state, monarchy, , nation of iran, associated pre-islamic history.