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].<ref>E. E. Herzfeld, ''Iran in the Ancient East'' New York (1988), p310-311., ISBN:0-87817-308-0 </ref>]]
The House of '''Suren-Pahlav''', is one of the oldest surviving ]s in the world, dates back to 111 BC, which once was one of members of the ].

==The Origin==
] Eastern Slope, known as Kuk-i Kohzadh]]
The greatest ruling clans (Vispuhrs) of ], at the time of the ] (248 BC - AD 224), were traditionally seven families, and the two most predominant of them were the Suren and Karen, of the Parthian (]) descent, and bore the surname of "-Pahlav" meaning “Parthian”.<ref>E. E. Herzfeld, "Sakastan", ''AMI, IV (1932), p70.</ref> Suren-Pahlav Clan was considered to be the second clan of Parthia after the ] themselves.<ref>James R. Russell, ''Zoroastrianism in Armenia'', Harvard University Press, (1987) p. 173, ISBN:0-674-96850-6.</ref>

Suren-Pahlavs were one of the noble members of ] branch of the ] (or better known as the ]) Stock, a member tribe of the ], (Dahae-Parno-Parthian) tribes (chose chiefs for war and princes for peace) from among the closest circle of the princely family. The Parnis were famous for their breeding of horses, for their combat cavalry, and for their fine archers. They have been a people who kept the traditions of patriarchal tribal organisation. The Suren-Pahlavs alongside the other members of the Parni, with Arsaces at their head, took the province of Parthovia (]) after having beaten the ] ] ] and soon, neighbouring ] was annexed and the ] reached. The first of the Parnis Ashk or Arakhsh (]) had himself crowned in the city of Asaak, and the tribe took the name of the Parthians, their close relatives, a name that meant "exiled." Their language was from ] (]) family, closely related to ] and ]. The dynasty these people produced never broke its links with the people, and rare was the Arsacid dynastic sovereign who did not turn to his people in time of danger.

The oldest record of Suren-Pahlav Clan was found in the ] archive, which several documents of the early Parthian period mention a member of Suren-Pahlav Clan was borne the title of the "commander-in-chief of the horse" (Cavalry)<ref>V. G. Lukonian, "The Seleucid, Parthian and Sasanian Periods", ''The Cambridge History of Iran'', vol. 3(2), p.704 - ISBN: 0-521-24693-8 </ref>.

The Suren-Pahlavs, who were dominated estates in ] and area around Nishapur, were first among Parthian nobility, that had the privilege to crown the Arsacid as well as ] dynastic kings.<ref>N. C. Debevoise, ''A Political History of Parthia'' (1938), p. xxxix, 161.</ref><ref>V. G. Lukonian, "The Selucid, Parthian and Sasanian Periods", ''The Cambridge History of Iran'', vol. 3(2), p.683 - ISBN: 0-521-24693-8 </ref>

==Foundation==
The founder of house of Suren-Pahlav was Kofasat Suren-Pahlav, one of the Vispuhrs (Sons of the Clans) and the companion of ]<ref>E. E. Herzfeld, ''Iran in the Ancient East'' New York (1988), p291., ISBN:0-87817-308-0 </ref>, who lived c. 111 BC. In an episode of Sistan origin he inserted into the ] and still localised today at the ruins of mount Ushidā also known as “]” in the “]” and the ruins on the southern slope, is still known as ''Kal-e i Rustam'' as well as ''Kuk-u Kohzadh'',<ref>E. E. Herzfeld, ''Iran in the Ancient East'' New York (1988), p291., ISBN:0-87817-308-0 </ref> (is known that, at ] there was his sculpture<ref>E. E. Herzfeld, ''Iran in the Ancient East'' New York (1988), p291., ISBN:0-87817-308-0 </ref> ) However, the two centuries following his time were the period in which the older ] myth became transformed into a chivalresque epic (similar to the relation of the ] to the ]) and in which many historical figures were introduced into the older form of the legend, among them the historical Kofasat as Kohzad.<ref>E. E. Herzfeld, ''Iran in the Ancient East'' New York (1988), p287., ISBN:0-87817-308-0</ref>,

===Rustaham===
]".]]
]'s Crest according to Iranian sources<ref>Chantal Fabrégues, ''The Indo-Parthian Beginnings of Gandhara Sculpture'', (); accessed March 07, 2007</ref>, as well as the ]<ref>E. E. Herzfeld, ''Iran in the Ancient East'' New York (1988), p310-311., ISBN:0-87817-308-0 </ref>.]]
Another member of Surens, which later had his name inserted into Shahnameh, was '']'' (Iran’s Commander of forces) ] (84BC to 31BC), who defeated ] at the ] in 53 BC.<ref>N. C. Debevoise, ''A Political History of Parthia'' (1938), p.70-95</ref> The name under which he appears in the western classical sources was apparently no more than his hereditary title, that of ], which continues to appear in the record of Iranian history far into Sasanian times.

His name is preserved amongst the throng, of epic heroes whose deeds are recalled in the ] section of the Shahnameh. The feat of arms performed by Suren was certainly the most celebrated of the whole Ashkanian era, was not vanished entirely. Thus in some ways the position of great Suren in the historical tradition is curiously parallel to that of ] the hero of the Shahnameh. His figure has been endowed with many features of a historical personality of the Rustam. The latter he was always represented as the mightiest of Iranian paladins, and the atmosphere of the episodes in which he features is strongly reminiscent of the Parthian period.

===Gondophares===
''See main article: ]''
], founder of the ].]]
]'s Crest.]]
Eran-Spahbodh Rustaham’s youngest son, Rustaham-Gondofarr Suren-Pahlav or simply ], the ruler of the eastern-greater Iran, who ruled between 10BC to AD17 on the ''vast empire of the ] at the time of Arsacid dynasty''<ref>E. E. Herzfeld, ''Iran in the Ancient East'' New York (1988), p291., ISBN:0-87817-308-0 </ref>, seems have been the founder of the ] and the king of India. In the ] he appears as ] or Kaspar/], ] ] among ], which was inserted in a ] story of their visit to ].

==House During the Sasanian Dynasty (224-651 AD)==
At the court of the King of Kings ] I the founder of ], the Arsacid families of Suren-Pahlav and ], along with the ] families of ] and ] held positions of great honour.<ref>V. G. Lukonian, "The Selucid, Parthian and Sasanian Periods", ''The Cambridge History of Iran'', vol. 3(2), p.705 - ISBN: 0-521-24693-8 </ref><ref>Richard N. Frye, ''Emperor Ardeshir & the cycle of History'', (); accessed March 06, 2007.</ref> Ardeshir’s successor King of Kings ] I, was used the Gondophar’s crest (a circle surrounded by crescent), that may indicate, his relationship through his mother to the House of Suren-Pahlav.<ref>E. E. Herzfeld, ''Iran in the Ancient East'' New York (1988), p311., ISBN:0-87817-308-0 </ref>, However, there is a complete analogy with the appearance, at the court of the King of Kings of ] and ] (non-Iranian = Uncivilised Lands, the term for non-Iranians) of the new dynasty, of the kings of ], Abarshahr, Carmania, ], ] and Adiabene, mentioned in the ranks of the nobles holding the positions of highest honour. After all, the extensive domains of the Surens, Karens and Varazes also have originally become part of the Sasanian state as semi-independent states: the Suren-Pahlavs maintained their rule over the Sakastan, and one of their branches ruled the area around ]<ref>V. G. Lukonian, "The Selucid, Parthian and Sasanian Periods", ''The Cambridge History of Iran'', vol. 3(2), p.705 - ISBN: 0-521-24693-8 </ref>.

In AD 363, after a combat with Iranians, the Roman emperor ] was mortally wounded, and after his death the new emperor, ], found his army in a disadvantageous position. A thirty years peace treaty was made between Iran and ], which Varnan Suren-Pahlav son of Kofasat & Shapurdokht , was the ambassador of King of Kings, ].

Iran obtained most of the former Roman possessions east of the ] as well as the cities of ], Singara and others. ] was also abandoned by the Romans and was temporarily conquered by Iranian forces led by Varnan’s eldest son, Eran-Spahbodh Goudarz Suren-Pahlav, the General of Shapur, seized Armenia.

Afterwards, Shapur sought to come to an agreement over Armenia with the emperor ], but this was not possible until the invasion of the ] in the ] near ] distracted the Romans. Then in AD 382, the Iranians once again, under the command of Goudarz Suren-Pahlav, the new Shapur’s appointed governor, took the lion's share of Armenia, while the Romans had to be content with a small area mainly around ]. Armenia, however, continued to remain a bone of contention between the two empires in coming centuries. Goudarz Suren-Pahlav, was the first member of Suren-Pahlav who appointed as Sasanian governor of Armenia.

Later in 2331 (AD 564), Soren-Nersi Suren-pahlav, the Sasanian governor of Armenia, who had been appointed by the King of Kings Khosrow Parviz, introduced Armenian to Zoroastrian religion, and built a fire temple at ]<ref>Richard Frye
, ''Reforms of Chosroes Anushirvan (The Immortal Soul)'', (); accessed March 06, 2007.</ref> an important town near modern ].<ref>James R. Russell, ''Zoroastrianism in Armenia'', Harvard University Press, (1987) p. 489, ISBN:0-674-96850-6.</ref> Armenian uprising against Iranian rule in AD ]<ref>''Ibid., p.489.''</ref> ended with massacre of Marzban Soren-Nersi and most of his family members along with his Iranian bodyguards.<ref>Richard Frye
, ''Reforms of Chosroes Anushirvan (The Immortal Soul)'', (); accessed March 06, 2007.</ref> Only surviving members of his family was Shapur Suren-Pahlav the governor of ], and Mehrdad Suren-Pahlav the governor of Sistan.

The grandson of Soren-Nersi Suren-Pahlav, ] who was the commander of the northern Iranian forces marched through ] to ], opposite the ] capital, and continued his conquests of various towns in Anatolia. In the spring of AD 618 Iranian troops under his and ] able commands, entered ] and besieged ], which soon fell.

==House after Arab invasion of Iran & Islamic era==
After the invasion of Iran by ] in 7th century, many members of the Suren-Pahlav family along with other Parthian as well as Sasanian nobles have fled from mainland Iran to ], ] and even to ]. They contributed to the spread of the Persian language in such cities as ] and ] in place of ].<ref>Richard Nelson Frye, "The Selucid, Parthian and Sasanian Periods", ''The Cambridge History of Iran'', vol. 3(1), p.176 - ISBN: 0-521-24699-7 </ref> A ] or ]-Chinese bilingual inscription on a grave-stone has been found near the town of ] in ] of western China, records the death of a princess of the Suren-Pahlav family from the year ] or ].<ref>''Ibid''.</ref> According to historical accounts she was daughter of a military commander of Suren-Pahlav Clan in Northern China.<ref>V. G. Lukonian, "The Selucid, Parthian and Sasanian Periods", ''The Cambridge History of Iran'', vol. 3(2), p.683 - ISBN: 0-521-24693-8 </ref>

According to some historians, ], the ruler of ] was one of the Suren-Pahlavs who pretended that he had become a Muslim and led an uprising against the Shia government of ] in ]. He conquered ] and ], and crowned himself as the ] King of Iran in pre-Islamic Iranian traditions. Among his army were many Zoroastrians. After his defeat by Nader Qoli (later ]) in ], the Safavid king ] ordered the massacre of Zoroastrians, in which 1.3 million Zoroastrians lost their lives<ref>Rashid Shahmardan, ''Tārīkh-e Zartoshtiān pas az Sāsāniān'' Tehran SH/1360, p.466</ref>.

After the uprising many Suren-Pahlavs lost their lives, among them were two their warriors by the names of Ashkzad and Sepahzad who were skinned alive. Their skins were filled with grass and were hanged from both sites of the main gate of the city of Zabol, as a warning.

Two of the Surens known to became Muslims and had established themselves in the city of ] in the edge of desert, after the defeat of Malik Mahmud and their escape from Nishapur.<ref>Lotfali Ibn Aqa-Khan Azar Beigdali, Atashkadeh Azar, SH/1332, p. 77.</ref> "Ashk" changed his name to "Ashj`a", which become the ancestor of Ashjazadeh family and the other was called "Mobed" who changed his name to "Mo'men" built a mosque and ] and named after himself. He also restored the Ardestan ancient congregational mosque (formerly a Zorastrian fire Temple<ref>''Ibid''., p.12.</ref>) and the city Aqueduct. Two families of Jenab-Mahabadi and Mahabadi-Mahabad in that region are his descendants.<ref>Rafii Mehrabadi, Atashkadeh Ardestan, Tehran SH/1382, p.38-39.</ref>

==Clan's Structure==
The clan prior to Arab invasion of Iran in 7th century CE was based on ] lineage system, consisting of all the descendants of the apical ancestor through both the male and female lines, but since then it had become ], meaning its members are related through the male line only. Also as the result of the invasion they become ], meaning that its members cannot marry outsiders.

Most of today Suren-Pahlavs residing in ] and ] provinces, and though, some of the clan members are scattered around the world, but on 22nd December every year, all the members are gathering in a village near the city of ] for reunion and updating the clan’s ]. Currently the ] or Vazrag.suren (the Grand Suren) of the clan is 74 years-old retired medical doctor by the name of Ashkzad-Suren Suren-Pahlav.

Although, Suren-Pahlavs are the local ] and own many of the villages and lands surrounding the city of Zabol and ], but they managed to keep their presence unnoticed to outsiders watchful eyes, and therefore unaffected by current political turmoil in today ]. This is as the result of an ingenious policy of integration and understanding without marriage with local populations. This has given them the edge and protection from gheyrmehremān (outsiders - called by locals) that they need to continue their historical presence. The local designation for Suren-Pahlav clan is '''Pahlavan''' (the mighty and Hero - possibly it is referring to those who came from Parthia).

==Coat of Arms and Crest==
]
The House of Suren-Pahlav’ official ] is a standing male-lion depicted on a gilded-bronze ] known as the “Suren Shield”, which belonged to the Great General ]. It is believed that he had this shield with himself during the ] with the Romans <ref>A. Taheri, M.A. Thesis, ''Surenha", Tahqiq-e Tarikhi va Nedzadi'', Zabol University, SH/1373.</ref>.

The standing roaring-Lion, holds a sword in one hand, and a bow in the other—one of its’ legs is also resting on the lower section of the bow. The Lion is depicted as wearing a crown similar to those found on the ], with an ] on the top.<ref>E. E. Herzfeld, ''Iran in the Ancient East'' New York (1988), p311., ISBN:0-87817-308-0 </ref>, The crest is composition of a crescent moon in the bottom and sun in the middle—this is considered to be their “crest”. However, though the "crescent moon" is generally identified as the iconographic symbol of '']'' (Moon God)<ref>''Ibid''. p. 263, 296, 319</ref><ref>Mary Boyce, ''A History of Zoroastrianism'', Vol. I., Leiden (1996), p.69; ISBN:90-04-10747</ref> and "sun", as the God ]<ref>''Ibid''.</ref>, but the iconographical representation of the symbolic crest combined together as a unit is unknown.

This symbolic crest was later adopted by ] ] ], and continued to be in use in latter dates by his successors, until the ] in 7th century. Adopting the crest by Shapur I probably points out to his ] with the house of Suren-Pahlav, through his mother<ref>E. E. Herzfeld, ''Iran in the Ancient East'' New York (1988), p311., ISBN:0-87817-308-0</ref>, Lady Myrôd<ref>Shapur Shahbazi, ''Shapur I, the Great'', (); accessed March 07, 2007.</ref>.

In later dates the ] and latter Arab ]s have adopted the crest and in recent centuries, many of modern and newly formed Islamic states such as ] and ] have also adopted the sign. In general it is currently being associated with Muslims and Islamic faith, with a difference—the ] ({{unicode|☪}}).

In al-Mamālek al-Sistān (the Lands of Sistan), a 15th century ] written by Muhammab ibn-Fakhroldin-e Sistani, reports: “…they claim that they ruled this land from the time of Daqyānūs ; they wear a strange and long headgear, and say that the Prophet ] had given them to one of their ancestors. On the headgear there is a sign showing the crescent moon and the sun-like circle in the middle; they even ] the sign on their left chest, where the heart is, or their left-arms, to be a reminder that they are faithful follower of Prophet Abraham. It is said that in old times they have claimed that the “sun” in the daytimes and “moon” in the nights are the only things above them, and no one else.”

==Rituals and Customs==
Few outsiders are ever allowed to attend the clan’s annual-ritual-ceremonies; -therefore our full knowledge about their traditions and rituals remains in ambiguity. Also due to oppositions from the clan’s ] and elders, no research has ever been permitted to be carried out.

Nevertheless, this limited information tells us that every-year during their annual ceremony the “Grand Suren”, clad in full Parthian outfit, presents the clan with five articles: a piece of leather, which is believed to have belonged to Kohzad, the legendry founder of the clan – a bloodstained-purple-shirt made of silk, believed to belonged to the General ], which he wore at the time of his execution by the order of the ] – along with his shield and sword when he defeated ], the Roman ] in 53 BC, at the battle of Carrhae; and finally a ], believed to belonged to ] the grand-daughter of Surena, who was a renowned warrior according to them. It is well possible, that her name is also preserved amongst the throng, of epic heroes whose deeds are recorded in ], as she became the symbol of courage, gallantry and wisdom for ] in the epic work.

The surname of "Suren-Pahlav" is permitted to be adopted only by those who have a direct lineage with the Grand Suren, who is himself has a direct and full-blood lineage to the Kohzad. Usually whoever, carries this surname is next in line to become the clan’s future chieftain. Those who are not permitted to adopt the surname of Suren-Pahlav (despite their lineage), have double-barrel first name starting with Ashk-, Ashkan- or Ashkzad- for male members; and for female members Ashkdokht. Only the eldest child permitted to have the name of Ashkan-Suren (male members) and Ashkdokht-Gordafarid (female members). Those who their fathers carry the surname of Suren-Pahlav and are not in line of succession, they have to assume a new surname for themselves <ref>Hossein Yadegari, Mardomshenasi Sistan va Blochistan, Tehran SH/1360.</ref>.

==Language==
According to renowned Persian linguists, Professor Frahvashi, the clan has its’ own language/dialect known as Lashkari/Pahlavani, which is mixture of ] and ] Pahlavi, as well as Sistani and ]. It is said that they currently hold the most extensive Parthian and Sasanian texts in the world, which unfortunately only two scholars have ever gained a limited access to examine them in 1977, and their library could open the gates for retrieving the lost Partho-Sasanian literatures<ref>Hossein Yadegari, Mardomshenasi Sistan va Blochistan, Tehran SH/1360 </ref>.

==Religion==
The cult of Mithra was the reliogn of Parthians,<ref>Edward C. D. Hopkins, ''The Religion of Parthia'', (); accessed March 08, 2007</ref> including the Suren-Pahlavs,<ref>M. Moghdam ''Mithra'', The Second International congress of Mithraic Studies, Tehran 1975 ();accessed March 05, 2007.</ref>, but around AD ] Goudarz son of Verazdad, the head of Suren-Pahlavs at that time, encouraged them to follow the ] religion, and built the fire temple at ] in ].

Although, Suren-Pahlavs are ] ("''vehdēn''", a derivative of ] '''Daênâ Vañuhi''' ''the good religion''<ref>Jafari, A., ''The Good Religion and Zoroastrianism'', (); accessed March 08, 2007.</ref>), but in some cases their approach to the religion differs from other Zoroastrian communities. Some claim number of their ritualistic and ] elements are still contains the Parthian cult of ].<ref>Hossein Yadegari, ''Mardomšenāsi Sistān va Blochestān'', Tehran SH/1360, p. 125.</ref> Their priest “Veh-Din Meleng” could be either male or female, and are of the members of the clan. According to Professor Frahvashi, Surens do not subscribe to any texts written after the fall of Parthian dynasty, since Sasanian dynasty considered to be a ] regime and Anti-Zoroastrian. As the result, they believe all the Zoroastrian texts that were compiled or written by Sasanians to be false, and is being regarded as politically motivated religious propaganda to oppress their subjects.

As the result the only texts that they accept as true Zoroastrian divine texts are, firstly is ], which is hymns of Prophet ] composed around 18th century BC, some parts of “]” and parts of “Khorda Avesta”, which were claimed to had been compiled during the Parthian dynasty (248 BC -224 AD) after the destruction of religious establishment by ].

==Funerary Practice==
According to Hossein Yadegari (an Iranian ] from Sistan, and one of the few experts who carried out some limited research), Suren-Pahlavs bury their dead, contrary to the past and present ], and it seems that this ] has been observed by their ancestors during the Parthians times, which has been continued to this date.

They first dig the ground quite deep, well over 3 meters; its width is slightly larger than the coffin size and about two meters long, which the surface and walls will be covered with a coat of gypsum. After placing the coffin in the grave, they cover it with slabs and afterwards apply another coat of gypsum on the top and than filled with earth.

The glazed "slipper-coffin" has number of holes in a circle shape, believed to prevent cracks in the coffin. This is as the result of the gases generated from decomposed body. They also place a number of objects in the coffin, including, a bottle filed with water and properly sealed; two jars (tightly sealed to prevent any contamination from the decomposed body), one containing soil (from Hamun lake) and the other filled with salt; -a piece of small silver coin-like disk placed under the diseased tongue; -a key placed in the right hand and (ironically to this date) an iron-arrowhead in the palm of the left hand. All the graves are the North-West – South-East direction.


==Notes==
{{reflist}}


==Bibliography==
*A. D. H. Bivar, "The Political History of Iran Under the Arsacids" in Ehsan Yarshater (ed.) Cambridge History of Iran, Vol. III, Part I. CUP, 1983.
*P. S. R. Payne, ''The Splendor of Persia'' 1957.
*E. E. Herzfeld, ''Iran in the Ancient East'' New York (1988
*N. C. Debevoise, ''A Political History of Parthia'' 1938.
*R. Girshman et al., ''Persia, the Immortal Kingdom'' 1971.
*'A. Reza`i, ''Tarikh-e Dah-Hezar Saleh Iran'', Vol. 1. SH/1376.
*G. J. P. MacEwan, "A Parthian campaign against Elymais in 77 BC.” ''Iran'' 24, 1986.
*Fred B. Shore, ''Parthian Coins and History: Ten Dragons Against Rome'', Quarryville, PA: CNG, 1993.
*P. B. Lozinski, ''The Original Homeland of the Parthians'' 1959.
* G. M. Cohen, "The Seleucid Colonies", ''Historia Einzelschriften 30'', Wiesbaden: Steiner, 1978.
*J. Wolski, ''L’Empire des Arsacides'', Peeters, Gent, 1993.
*Sh. Suren-Pahlav, ''General Surena, the Hero of Carrhae'' ()
*M. A. R. Colledge, ''The Parthians'' (1967).
*M. J. Mashkur and M. Rajab-Nia, ''Tarikh-e Siyasi va 'Ejtema'i Ashkanian'', SH/1374.
*E. Herzfeld, ''Archaeological History of Persia'', 1935.
*A. T. Olmstead, ''History of the Persian Empire'', 2d ed. 1969.
*G. G. Cameron, ''History of Early Iran'' 1936, repr. 1969
*V. S. Curtis, "Parthian culture and costume", in J. Curtis (ed.), ''Mesopotamia and Iran in the Parthian and Sasanian periods'', London, 2000
*Lotfali Ibn Aqa-Khan Azar Beigdali, ''Atashkadeh Azar'', SH/1332.
*Rafii Mehrabadi, ''Atashkadeh Ardestan'', Tehran SH/1382


== See also ==
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]




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Latest revision as of 17:19, 17 December 2014

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