The Idea of Iran: An Essay on Its Origin

according Achaemenian actual Ahuramazdā airya Airyana already amongst ancient appears Arabs arguments Ariana Arsacid arya Aryan authority Avesta awareness belonged Benveniste Boyce called centre century certainly clear concept concerned connected considered contrary countries cultural Darius defined dynasty eastern empire ethnic evidence existed expression fact Fars followed Frye further geography Gershevitch give given Gnoli Greek hand Henning Herodotus Herzfeld hypothesis idea of Iran important inscriptions interesting interpretation Iran Iranian King known lands language latter less Manichaean meaning Medes mention Old Persian opinion origin Pahlavi Parthian particular passage period Persepolis Persian political possible precisely present probably problem proposed reason recent reconstruction refer reflected regard region religion religious remarks Sassanian seems significant Sistan social society sources Studies term texts thesis tion trace tradition true western whole Yarshater Zoroastrian