History Lion and Sun

1 history

1.1 persian , turkic dynasties
1.2 safavid dynasty
1.3 afsharids , zand dynasties
1.4 qajar , pahlavi dynasties

1.4.1 islamic-iranian interpretation
1.4.2 nationalistic interpretation
1.4.3 order of lion , sun
1.4.4 substantial changes in motif
1.4.5 after persian constitutional revolution


1.5 after 1979 revolution

history

one of earliest example of banner bearing lion , sun motif(826 ah/1423 ad).


persian , turkic dynasties

ahmad kasravi, mojtaba minovi , saeed nafisi s vast amount of literary , archaeological evidence show ancient zodiacal sign of sun in house of leo become popular emblematic figure in 12th century. (cf. zodiacal origin, above) fuat köprülü suggests lion , sun on turkic , mongolic flags , coins of these times merely astrological signs , not exemplify royalty.

the lion , sun symbol first appears in 12th century, notably on coinage of kaykhusraw ii, sultan of seljuk sultanate of rûm 1237 1246. these exemplify ruler s power. notion sun [of symbol] symbolized georgian wife of king, myth, on 1 issue sun rests on of 2 lions rampant tails interlaced [...] , on issues sun appears male bust. other chief occurrences of 12th- 14th-century usage include: 13th-century luster tile in louvre; c. 1330 mamluk steel mirror syria or egypt; on ruined 12th- 14th-century arkhunid bridge near baghdad; on ilkhanid coins; , on 12th- or 13th-century bronze ewer in golestan palace museum. in latter, rayed nimbus enclosing 3 female faces rests on lion tail ends in winged monster.

the use of lion , sun symbol in flag first attested in miniature painting illustrating copy of shahnameh shams al-din kashani, epic on mongol conquest, dated 1423. painting depicts several (mongul?) horsemen approaching walled city of nishapur. 1 of horsemen carries banner bears lion passant rising sun on back. pole tipped crescent moon. time of safavids (1501–1722), , subsequent unification of iran single state, lion , sun had become familiar sign, appearing on copper coins, on banners, , on works of art. lion , sun motif used on banners of mughals of india, notably of shah jahan.

safavid dynasty

flag of iran carried persian delegation during mohammad-reza beg s entrance in versailles, august 1715

in safavid times, lion , sun stood 2 pillars of society, state , religion. clear that, although various alams , banners employed safavids during rule, earlier safavid kings. time of shah abbas, lion , sun symbol had become 1 of popular emblems of persia.

according najmabadi, safavid interpretation of symbol based on combination of mytho-histories , tales such shahnameh, stories of prophets, , other islamic sources. safavids, shah had 2 roles: king , holy man. double meaning associated genealogy of iranian kings. 2 males key people in paternity: jamshid (mythical founder of ancient persian kingdom), , ali (shi te first imam). jamshid affiliated sun , ali affiliated lion (zul-faqar).

shahbazi suggest association may have been based on learned interpretation of shahnameh s references sun of iran , moon of turanians. (cf: roman —i.e., byzantine—king moon of west in iranian beckground section). since ottoman sultans, new sovereigns of rûm , had adopted moon crescent dynastic , national emblem, safavids of persia, needed have own dynastic , national emblem. therefore, safavids chose lion , sun motif. besides, jamshid, sun had 2 other important meanings safavids. sense of time organized around solar system distinct arab-islamic lunar system. astrological meaning , sense of cosmos mediated through that. through zodiac sun linked leo auspicious house of sun. therefore, safavids, sign of lion , sun condensed double meaning of shah—king , holy man (jamshid , ali)—through auspicious zodiac sign of sun in house of leo , brought cosmic-earthy pair (king , imam) together.

in seeking safavi interpretation of lion , sun motif, shahbazi suggests safavids had reinterpreted lion symbolizing imam ʿalī , sun typifying glory of religion , substitute ancient farr-e dīn. reintroduced ancient concept of god-given glory (farr), reinterpreted light in islamic iran, , prophet , ali had been credited possession of divine light of lights (nūr al-anwār) of leadership, represented blazing halo. attributed such qualities ali , sought king s genealogy through shia fourth imam s mother royal sassanian house.

afsharids , zand dynasties

the royal seal of nadir shah in 1746 lion , sun motif. in seal, sun bears word al-molkollah (arabic: earth of god). 2 swords of karim khan zand have gold-inlaid inscriptions refer the: ... celestial lion ... pointing astrological relationship zodiac sign of leo ... record of motif lion , sun symbol on tombstone of zand soldier.

qajar , pahlavi dynasties
islamic-iranian interpretation

the earliest known qajar lion , sun symbol on coinage of aqa mohammad shah qajar, minted in 1796 on occasion of shah s coronation. coin bears name of new king underneath sun , ali (the first shi ite imam) underneath lion s belly. both names invoked , coin suggest motif still stands king (sun) , religion (lion), iranization , imamification of sovereignty . in qajar period emblem can found on jewish marriage certificates (ketubas) , shi ite mourning of muharram banners.

nationalistic interpretation

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.

order of lion , sun

the imperial order of lion , sun instituted fat’h ali shah of qajar dynasty in 1808 honour foreign officials (later extended persians) had rendered distinguished services persia.

substantial changes in motif

another change under second , third qajar king africanization of motif. @ time, lion african lion had longer mane , bigger body compared persian lion. yahya zoka suggests modification influenced contact europeans.

according shahbazi. zu l-faqar , lion decorated iranian flags @ time. seems towards end of fath ali shah’s reign 2 logos combined , lion representing ali given ali s saber, zu l-faqar.

according najmabadi, come across lion , sun sword in lion s paw , crown during period. mohammad shah s decree in 1836 states lion must erectly stand, bear saber ( make explicitly stands military prowess of state ). crown added symbol of royalty rather particular qajar monarch. decree states emblem @ once national, royal, , state emblem of iran. in period lion depicted more masculine , sun female. before time sun male or female , lion represented swordless, friendly , subdued seated animal.

the crown on lion , sun configuration consolidated association of symbol monarchy. sun lost importance icon of kingship , kiani crown became primary symbol of qajar monarchy. under nasir al-din shah, logos varied seated, swordless lions standing , sword-bearing lions. in february 1873, decree order of aftab (nishan-i afab) issued nasi-al din shah.

after persian constitutional revolution

in fifth amendment constitution of 1906, lion , sun motif in flag of iran described passant lion holds saber in paw , sun in background. decree dated september 4, 1910 specified exact details of logo, including lion s tail ( italic s ), position , size of lion, paw, sword, , 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.

after 1979 revolution

iranian diaspora use lion , sun emblem on iranian flags

the lion , sun remained official emblem of iran until after 1979 revolution, when lion , sun symbol was—by decree—removed public spaces , government organizations , replaced present-day coat of arms of iran. islamic revolution, lion , sun symbol allegedly resembled oppressive westernizing monarchy had replaced, despite fact symbol had old shi meanings , lion associated ali. in present day, lion , sun emblem still used segment of iranian community in exile symbol of opposition islamic republic. several exiled opposition groups, including monarchists, , people s of mojahedin continue use lion , sun emblem. in los angeles , cities large iranian communities lion , sun emblem largely used on mugs, iranian flags, , souvenirs extent far surpasses display during years of monarchy in homeland.