Achaemenid
4 مقالات مصنّفة تحت هذه الكلمة.
Interpreting the Achaemenid Women’s Multifaceted Roles Through Seal Engravings
shalaw mustafa, Imad abdullah
The civilization and works of art of the growing state of Kurdistan is generally considered as the most majestic and impressive ancient civilizations in the world, specifically in the history of ancient Persian. We can summarize the whole range of administrative activities and artistic works that this civilization possessed, including sculpture, carving, writing, and architecture, within its administrative system. Although the artistic engravings on the walls of palaces, the engravings of graves within mountains, and the art of sculpture are among the prominent features of the Achaemenid state, however, the absence of direct depiction of women’s imagery in any of these places, including the palace walls, Jamshid state, Pasargadae, Shush, has unfortunately left a big artistic gap in the Achaemenid state. However, the artistic seals within that civilization, which are considered one of the important tools of administrative management within the Achaemenid State, have been able to fill that gap to some good extent, which has become a subject of question by researchers. In several seals whose history dates back to this state, some of which were discovered in the region of Jamshid and others in different regions of Achaemenid, various images of women in different times and places were engraved. From these images, we can gain a comprehensive understanding of women’s social, political, and religious roles in the Achaemenid state.
المجلد 13 · العدد 1 · مارس 2026Understanding The Comprehensive Status of Women in The Achaemenid Empire (559-331 B.C.), Before the Discoveries of Clay Tablets from Persepolis
Shalaw Mustafa Abdulrahman, Emad Abdulqadir Mohammed Saeed
much of the information came from the Greek historians. Besides the information about Achaemenid women, these reports included information about the early beginnings of Achaemenid women and how their roles later became more dispersed or scattered, also strange and peculiar information was found in the reports about Achaemenid women in their stories and plays. This view of Achaemenid women by the Greeks was based on two formulas, first, it was because the political tension and constant fighting between Greece and the Achaemenid Empire, and secondly, the big cultural differences between them, especially in how they viewed women. A more accurate understanding began to emerge with the study of primary sources, which is cuneiform texts. In fact, the deciphering of these texts brought a change to researchers’ views on Achaemenid women. This shift began in the late 19th century, following the discovery and translation of clay tablets dating back to the Neo-Babylonian period (626–539 B.C.). Later, from the 1920s onward, extensive archaeological excavations at Persepolis (Takht-e Jamshid) uncovered thousands of inscribed clay tablets and seals, which many of them directly referred to women. These discoveries opened an entirely new perspective on the roles and activities of women in the Achaemenid Empire. The inscriptions revealed that women participated commonly in economic, social, and political life, often working alongside men. They were not only employees but also landowners, factory owners, business managers, artists, and laborers. In this research paper, we have thoroughly examined some of these clay tablets to better understand the significant role women played within the Achaemenid Empire. To do so, we focused on explaining the impact of women from the royal family, those from the royal, and those from outside the palace, each on their own.
المجلد 11 · العدد 6 · ديسمبر 2024Muharram marriage in ancient Iranian society
Shalaw Mustafa Aabdalrahman, Shanaz Ibrahim Mahmud
Muharram marriage is one of the most common social and cultural issues in ancient Iranian history. It has been a subject of debate among researchers and has divided them into several groups. There is a difference in the definition of the concept of Muharram in the civilization cultures. In the religious texts of the Avesta and Pahlavi languages, this type of marriage is known as "blood and death". It was popular among the royal family for centuries after the advent of Christianity and the end of the Sassanid Empire and later Islam, but with the advent of these two religions, it completely faded and ended. It is worth mentioning that this process was carried out under the influence of mythical and religious thoughts، and was the reason for its spread. Each of the ancient states of Iran (Elamite, Achaemenid, Ashkanid, and Sassanid) gave it legitimacy and considered it as the reason for preserving the sacred blood and maintaining sovereignty within the royal family, their kings married their mothers، sisters and daughters. And then with the advent of the Zoroastrian religion, Moghan of the religion, they further sanctified it and marriage was defined as "holy marriage", although mythological texts had a special influence and role in continuing this issue, although it was found out in religious texts that Zoroaster as the prophet of the religion in a conversation with the god (Ahura Mazda) considered this type of marriage inappropriate and denied it. However, religious men and legends have left an influence in the continuation of this marriage until the end of the Sassanid Empire and can be seen in ancient Iranian civilizations. The research is entitled Muharram Marriage in Ancient Iranian Society from Ilam to the End of the Sassanid Empire. It is an analytical and historical study consisting three themes (Topic 1 / A view of Muharram marriage, in general and in the myths of ancient Iran in particular. Topic 2 / Muharram marriage in the ruling states of ancient Iran (Ilam, Achaemenid, Ashkani, Sassanid), Topic 3/ Muharram marriage according to Zoroastrian religious beliefs).
المجلد 11 · العدد 4 · أغسطس 2024Women's Political and Economic Role in The Empire of Achaemenid
Shalaw Mustafa Abdalrahman, Hassan Qadir Mahmood
Women played a significant role in the political and economic realms of the Achaemenid Empire. This role is due to the rights given to women by Zoroastrianism and later institutionalized into law within the empire's constitution. This allowed women to actively participate in political decision-making and engage in economic activities of their society. Within the royal palace, women wielded considerable power and influence, often serving as key figures in the ascension of kings to the throne. Therefore, when someone became king with the support of his mother or sister or queen, he could not disobey the queen or mother or sister during his reign. Moreover, women in the palace and among the Persian dynasties formed their own groups, safeguarding their economic interests and political positions. The groups have often been used to spy, kill and oppose those who have acted against the interests and orders of senior women Thus, any discussion of the political and economic field of the Achaemenid state would be incomplete without acknowledging the pivotal role and influence of women within these spheres.