Aniran
Encyclopedia
Anīrān or Anērān is an ethno-linguistic term that signifies "non-Iranian
" or "non-Iran
." Thus, in a general sense, 'Aniran' signifies lands where Iranian languages
are not spoken. In a pejorative sense, it denotes "a political and religious enemy of Iran and Zoroastrianism
."
The term 'Aniran' derives from Middle Persian
anērān, Pahlavi ʼnyrʼn, an antonym of ērān
that in turn denoted either the people or the state of Sassanid Iran. However, "in Zoroastrian literature and possibly in Sasanian political thought as well, the term has also a markedly religious connotation. An anēr person is not merely non-Iranian, but specifically non-Zoroastrian; and anēr designates also worshipers of the dēws
("demons") or adherents of other religions." In these texts of the 9th-12th century, "Arabs and Turks [i.e. Turkmens
] are called anēr, as are Muslims generally, the latter in a veiled manner."
(r. 241-272), who styled himself the "king of kings of Ērān and Anērān." Shapur's claim to Anērān reflected the emperor's victories over Valerian and Philip
, and staked a claim against the Roman Empire
, the enemies of the Sassanid state. This is also reflected in Shapur's inscription on the wall of the Ka'ba-ye Zardosht, where the emperor includes Syria
, Cappadocia
, and Cilicia
- all three previously captured from the Romans - in his list of Anērān territories.
The proclamation as "king of kings of Ērān and Anērān" remained a stock epithet of subsequent Sassanid dynasts. Thirty years after Shapur, the Zoroastrian high-priest Kartir
included Armenia and the Caucasus in his list of Anērān territories. In this, Kartir's inscription (also at Ka'ba-ye Zardosht) contradicts Shapur's, which included the same two regions in his list of regions of Ērān.
as anairya where it denotes the "Turan
ians" (the identification of the Turan/Aniran with a particular place is a historically distinct development, see above and below). These "Turanians" of Aniran, apparently the traditional enemies of the Avestan-speaking peoples, appear in Zoroastrian cosmogony and cosmology as the noxious folk of the sixteen lands created by Angra Mainyu
(Vendidad 1.18). These lands lay beyond the world river that encircled the sixteen lands created by Ahura Mazda
, the first of which was Airyanem Vaejah
, where the Iranians lived.
In the 9th-12th century Zoroastrian texts, the legendary Turanian king and military commander Afrasiab
is (together with Dahag
and Alexander) the most hated among the beings that Ahriman (Avestan Angra Mainyu
) set against the Iranians (Zand-i Vahman Yasht 7.32; Menog-i Khrad 8.29)
In the Shahnameh
, the poet Ferdowsi
draws on Zoroastrian scripture (with due attribution) and retains the association of Aneran with the Turanians. The poet however specifically places them beyond the Oxus river and identifies the Turanians as "Turks" (the Turkmen
). From the point of view of Ferdowsi's home in Khorasan
, this identification coincides with the Avestan notion (e.g. Vd
7.2, 19.1) that the lands of Angra Mainyu (MP
: Ahriman) lay to the north. The two sources do however diverge with respect to details: In the Avesta, Sogdiana (Avestan Sughdha, present-day Sughd
& Samarqand
) is not Aniran - Sogdiana is one of the sixteen lands created by Mazda, not one of the lands of Angra Mainyu.
Nonetheless, for Ferdowsi the division between Iran and Aniran is just as rigid as it is in the Avesta: When the primordial king Fereydun
(Avestan Thraetaona) divides his kingdom - the whole world - among his three sons, he gives the Semitic lands in the west to the eldest, the lands of the north to his middle son Tur (Avestan Turya, hence the name "Turanian"), and Iran to his youngest (Shahnameh 1.189). In the story, this partition leads to a family feud in which an alliance of the two elder sons (who rule over the Aniranian lands) battle the forces of the youngest (the Iranians). The Iranians win.
For Ferdowsi, the Turanians/Aniranians (often used interchangeably) are unquestionably the villains of the piece. Their conflict with Iranians is the main theme of the Shahnameh and accounts for more than half of the text. The deaths of heroes and other admirable figures are frequently attributed to Turanians. So also Shahnameh 5.92, that has a Turanian raider named Tur-Baratur killing the 77-year-old Zoroaster
in Balkh
.
Iranian peoples
The Iranian peoples are an Indo-European ethnic-linguistic group, consisting of the speakers of Iranian languages, a major branch of the Indo-European language family, as such forming a branch of Indo-European-speaking peoples...
" or "non-Iran
Greater Iran
Greater Iran refers to the regions that have significant Iranian cultural influence. It roughly corresponds to the territory on the Iranian plateau and its bordering plains, stretching from Iraq, the Caucasus, and Turkey in the west to the Indus River in the east...
." Thus, in a general sense, 'Aniran' signifies lands where Iranian languages
Iranian languages
The Iranian languages form a subfamily of the Indo-Iranian languages which in turn is a subgroup of Indo-European language family. They have been and are spoken by Iranian peoples....
are not spoken. In a pejorative sense, it denotes "a political and religious enemy of Iran and Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of prophet Zoroaster and was formerly among the world's largest religions. It was probably founded some time before the 6th century BCE in Greater Iran.In Zoroastrianism, the Creator Ahura Mazda is all good, and no evil...
."
The term 'Aniran' derives from Middle Persian
Middle Persian
Middle Persian , indigenously known as "Pârsig" sometimes referred to as Pahlavi or Pehlevi, is the Middle Iranian language/ethnolect of Southwestern Iran that during Sassanid times became a prestige dialect and so came to be spoken in other regions as well. Middle Persian is classified as a...
anērān, Pahlavi ʼnyrʼn, an antonym of ērān
Etymology of Iran
The name of Iran derives immediately from Middle Persian Ērān, Pahlavi ʼyrʼn, first attested in this form in the inscription that accompanies the investiture relief of Ardashir I at Naqsh-e Rustam...
that in turn denoted either the people or the state of Sassanid Iran. However, "in Zoroastrian literature and possibly in Sasanian political thought as well, the term has also a markedly religious connotation. An anēr person is not merely non-Iranian, but specifically non-Zoroastrian; and anēr designates also worshipers of the dēws
Daeva
Daeva in Avestan language meaning "a being of shining light", is a term for a particular sort of supernatural entity with disagreeable characteristics. Equivalents in Iranian languages include Pashto dêw , Baluchi dêw , Persian dīv , Kurdish dêw...
("demons") or adherents of other religions." In these texts of the 9th-12th century, "Arabs and Turks [i.e. Turkmens
Turkmen people
The Turkmen are a Turkic people located primarily in the Central Asian states of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and northeastern Iran. They speak the Turkmen language, which is classified as a part of the Western Oghuz branch of the Turkic languages family together with Turkish, Azerbaijani, Qashqai,...
In inscriptions
In official usage, the term is first attested in inscriptions of Shapur IShapur I
Shapur I or also known as Shapur I the Great was the second Sassanid King of the Second Persian Empire. The dates of his reign are commonly given as 240/42 - 270/72, but it is likely that he also reigned as co-regent prior to his father's death in 242 .-Early years:Shapur was the son of Ardashir I...
(r. 241-272), who styled himself the "king of kings of Ērān and Anērān." Shapur's claim to Anērān reflected the emperor's victories over Valerian and Philip
Philip the Arab
Philip the Arab , also known as Philip or Philippus Arabs, was Roman Emperor from 244 to 249. He came from Syria, and rose to become a major figure in the Roman Empire. He achieved power after the death of Gordian III, quickly negotiating peace with the Sassanid Empire...
, and staked a claim against the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
, the enemies of the Sassanid state. This is also reflected in Shapur's inscription on the wall of the Ka'ba-ye Zardosht, where the emperor includes Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, Cappadocia
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a historical region in Central Anatolia, largely in Nevşehir Province.In the time of Herodotus, the Cappadocians were reported as occupying the whole region from Mount Taurus to the vicinity of the Euxine...
, and Cilicia
Cilicia
In antiquity, Cilicia was the south coastal region of Asia Minor, south of the central Anatolian plateau. It existed as a political entity from Hittite times into the Byzantine empire...
- all three previously captured from the Romans - in his list of Anērān territories.
The proclamation as "king of kings of Ērān and Anērān" remained a stock epithet of subsequent Sassanid dynasts. Thirty years after Shapur, the Zoroastrian high-priest Kartir
Kartir
Kartir Hangirpe was a highly influential Zoroastrian high-priest of the late 3rd century CE and served as advisor to at least three Sassanid emperors....
included Armenia and the Caucasus in his list of Anērān territories. In this, Kartir's inscription (also at Ka'ba-ye Zardosht) contradicts Shapur's, which included the same two regions in his list of regions of Ērān.
In scripture and folklore
Although first attested in a Sassanid-era proclamation, anērān - like ērān - is conceptually several centuries older, appearing in the Younger AvestaAvesta
The Avesta is the primary collection of sacred texts of Zoroastrianism, composed in the Avestan language.-Early transmission:The texts of the Avesta — which are all in the Avestan language — were composed over the course of several hundred years. The most important portion, the Gathas,...
as anairya where it denotes the "Turan
Turan
Tūrān is the Persian name for Central Asia, literally meaning "the land of the Tur". As described below, the original Turanians are an Iranian tribe of the Avestan age. As a people the "Turanian" are one of the two Iranian peoples both descending from the Persian Fereydun but with different...
ians" (the identification of the Turan/Aniran with a particular place is a historically distinct development, see above and below). These "Turanians" of Aniran, apparently the traditional enemies of the Avestan-speaking peoples, appear in Zoroastrian cosmogony and cosmology as the noxious folk of the sixteen lands created by Angra Mainyu
Angra Mainyu
Angra Mainyu is the Avestan-language name of Zoroastrianism's hypostasis of the "destructive spirit". The Middle Persian equivalent is Ahriman.-In Zoroaster's revelation:...
(Vendidad 1.18). These lands lay beyond the world river that encircled the sixteen lands created by Ahura Mazda
Ahura Mazda
Ahura Mazdā is the Avestan name for a divinity of the Old Iranian religion who was proclaimed the uncreated God by Zoroaster, the founder of Zoroastrianism...
, the first of which was Airyanem Vaejah
Airyanem Vaejah
Airyanəm Vaējah, which approximately means "expanse of the Aryans, i.e. Iranians" is the "mythical homeland" of early Iranians and a reference in the Zoroastrian Avesta Airyanəm Vaējah, which approximately means "expanse of the Aryans, i.e. Iranians" is the "mythical homeland" of early Iranians and...
, where the Iranians lived.
In the 9th-12th century Zoroastrian texts, the legendary Turanian king and military commander Afrasiab
Afrasiab
Afrasiab is the name of the mythical king and hero of Turan.-The Mythical King and Hero:According to the Shahnameh , by the Persian epic poet Ferdowsi, Afrasiab was the king and hero of Turan and an archenemy of Iran...
is (together with Dahag
Zahhak
Zahhāk or Zohhāk is an evil figure in Iranian mythology, evident in ancient Iranian folklore as Aži Dahāka, the name by which he also appears in the texts of the Avesta...
and Alexander) the most hated among the beings that Ahriman (Avestan Angra Mainyu
Angra Mainyu
Angra Mainyu is the Avestan-language name of Zoroastrianism's hypostasis of the "destructive spirit". The Middle Persian equivalent is Ahriman.-In Zoroaster's revelation:...
) set against the Iranians (Zand-i Vahman Yasht 7.32; Menog-i Khrad 8.29)
In the Shahnameh
Shahnameh
The Shahnameh or Shah-nama is a long epic poem written by the Persian poet Ferdowsi between c.977 and 1010 AD and is the national epic of Iran and related societies...
, the poet Ferdowsi
Ferdowsi
Ferdowsi was a highly revered Persian poet. He was the author of the Shahnameh, the national epic of Iran and related societies.The Shahnameh was originally composed by Ferdowsi for the princes of the Samanid dynasty, who were responsible for a revival of Persian cultural traditions after the...
draws on Zoroastrian scripture (with due attribution) and retains the association of Aneran with the Turanians. The poet however specifically places them beyond the Oxus river and identifies the Turanians as "Turks" (the Turkmen
Turkmen people
The Turkmen are a Turkic people located primarily in the Central Asian states of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and northeastern Iran. They speak the Turkmen language, which is classified as a part of the Western Oghuz branch of the Turkic languages family together with Turkish, Azerbaijani, Qashqai,...
). From the point of view of Ferdowsi's home in Khorasan
Greater Khorasan
Greater Khorasan or Ancient Khorasan is a historical region of Greater Iran mentioned in sources from Sassanid and Islamic eras which "frequently" had a denotation wider than current three provinces of Khorasan in Iran...
, this identification coincides with the Avestan notion (e.g. Vd
Vendidad
The Vendidad or Videvdat is a collection of texts within the greater compendium of the Avesta. However, unlike the other texts of the Avesta, the Vendidad is an ecclesiastical code, not a liturgical manual.-Name:...
7.2, 19.1) that the lands of Angra Mainyu (MP
Middle Persian
Middle Persian , indigenously known as "Pârsig" sometimes referred to as Pahlavi or Pehlevi, is the Middle Iranian language/ethnolect of Southwestern Iran that during Sassanid times became a prestige dialect and so came to be spoken in other regions as well. Middle Persian is classified as a...
: Ahriman) lay to the north. The two sources do however diverge with respect to details: In the Avesta, Sogdiana (Avestan Sughdha, present-day Sughd
Sughd
Sughd Province is one of the four administrative divisions and one of the three provinces that make up Tajikistan. Centered in the historical Sogdiana, it is located in the northwest of the country, with an area of some 25,400 square kilometers and a population of 2,132,100 , up from 1,870,000...
& Samarqand
Samarqand Province
Samarqand Province is a viloyat of Uzbekistan located in the center of the country in the basin of Zarafshan River. It borders with Tajikstan, Navoiy Province, Jizzakh Province and Qashqadaryo Province. It covers an area of 16,400 km²...
) is not Aniran - Sogdiana is one of the sixteen lands created by Mazda, not one of the lands of Angra Mainyu.
Nonetheless, for Ferdowsi the division between Iran and Aniran is just as rigid as it is in the Avesta: When the primordial king Fereydun
Fereydun
Fereydūn also pronounced Farīdūn or Afrīdūn , also called Apam Napat, "Son of the Waters", is the name of an Iranian mythical king and hero who is an emblem of victory, justice and generosity in the Persian literature.-Etymology:All of the forms of...
(Avestan Thraetaona) divides his kingdom - the whole world - among his three sons, he gives the Semitic lands in the west to the eldest, the lands of the north to his middle son Tur (Avestan Turya, hence the name "Turanian"), and Iran to his youngest (Shahnameh 1.189). In the story, this partition leads to a family feud in which an alliance of the two elder sons (who rule over the Aniranian lands) battle the forces of the youngest (the Iranians). The Iranians win.
For Ferdowsi, the Turanians/Aniranians (often used interchangeably) are unquestionably the villains of the piece. Their conflict with Iranians is the main theme of the Shahnameh and accounts for more than half of the text. The deaths of heroes and other admirable figures are frequently attributed to Turanians. So also Shahnameh 5.92, that has a Turanian raider named Tur-Baratur killing the 77-year-old Zoroaster
Zoroaster
Zoroaster , also known as Zarathustra , was a prophet and the founder of Zoroastrianism who was either born in North Western or Eastern Iran. He is credited with the authorship of the Yasna Haptanghaiti as well as the Gathas, hymns which are at the liturgical core of Zoroastrianism...
in Balkh
Balkh
Balkh , was an ancient city and centre of Zoroastrianism in what is now northern Afghanistan. Today it is a small town in the province of Balkh, about 20 kilometers northwest of the provincial capital, Mazar-e Sharif, and some south of the Amu Darya. It was one of the major cities of Khorasan...
.