After the Persian Constitutional Revolution Lion and Sun

the entrance gate of iranian parliament in mid-20th century

najmabadi observes parallel symbolism on wall hangings produced between lion/sun , reza khan/motherland, after reza khan s successful coup. coy sun protected lion , rezakhan hero should protect motherland. under reza shah sun s female facial features removed , sun portrayed more realistically , merely rays. in military contexts pahlavi crown added motif.

the pahlavis adopted lion , sun emblem qajars, replaced qajar crown pahlavi crown. pahlavis reintroduced persian symbolism motif. discussed in persian traditions, lion had been symbol of kingship , symbol of rustam s heroism in shahnameh.

the many historical meanings of emblem, while provide solid ground power national emblem of iran, have provided rich ground competing symbols of iranian identity. 1 important campaign abolish emblem initiated mojtaba minuvi in 1929. in report prepared @ request of iranian embassy in london, insisted lion , sun turkic in origin. recommended government replaces derafsh-e-kaviani: 1 cannot attributed national historical story lion-and-sun emblem, has no connection ancient pre-islamic history, there no evidence iranians designed or created it.... might rid of remnant of turkish people , adopt flag symbolizes our mythical grandeur, derafsh-e-kaviani . suggestion ignored. symbol challenged during world war i, while hasan taqizadeh publishing derafsh-e-kaviani newspaper in berlin. in newspaper, argued lion , sun neither iranian in origin nor ancient people assume. insisted lion , sun should replaced more iranian symbol of derafsh-e-kaviani.