Investigating the reason why Marv was named Sāhīgān and the activity of its mint during the Sasanian period

Ahmadizadeh Shendi, Hakimeh; Shabani, Reza; Heravi, Javad

doi:10.30465/sehs.2024.47431.1959

Investigating the reason why Marv was named Sāhīgān and the activity of its mint during the Sasanian period

Document Type : .

Authors

Hakimeh Ahmadizadeh Shendi ¹

Reza Shabani ²

javad Heravi ³

¹ PhD candidate of in History if ancient Iran, Department of history of Iran, Islamic Azad University ,Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran

² Professor Department of history. Faculity of Literature and Humanities. Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.

³ Associate professor of History, Department of history of Iran, Islamic Azad University, Thran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.30465/sehs.2024.47431.1959

Abstract

Introduction
The article "Investigating the reason for naming Merv to Shahigan and the activity of its mint during the Sasanian period" examines a special and important title for the city of Merv during the Sasanian period, under the title of "Shahigan"This title, which appears in Islamic sources as "Shahijan", indicates the special importance of Merv during the Sasanian period. Interestingly, this title is not mentioned in any Sasanian inscriptions or coins, but in Manichaean and Pahlavi texts, Shahigan means the palace of the Shah. This probably refers to the existence of a luxurious palace in Merv that the Sasanian emperor used when he was in the eastern regions of the empire. Historical findings such as coins and seals also show that Merv was a very important city since the time of Ardashir Babakan, the founder of the Sassanid dynasty, and her successors. This importance was so great that Merv was the first city that its names was minted on the back of coins, although it was not customary to do so in the early Sasanian period. The present study specifically addresses the issue of why Merv received this special title but was not mentioned in any inscription, what factors made this city of special importance to the Sasanians, and what is the connection between this title and Sasanian coins. Despite extensive research by scholars such as Arthur Christian Sen and Theodor Noldeke on the Sasanian Empire, this issue has not yet been addressed comprehensively and accurately.
Materials and methods
In this article, examines of the numismatic evidence show that Merv minted both gold and silver coins from the very beginning, alongside Ctesiphon. Gobel misreads the Pahlavi name Merv, written as MLWY on the back of Shapur II's coins, as MLKY, which is Shahi. Gobel concludes that Merv must have been a royal city and had the title Shahigan because of its gold minting. In fact, it must be said that Gobel has only come a little close to the essence of the matter and has not reached the true truth of the matter (Altheim et al., 2012: 84). The approach of this historical and numismatic research and the method used are qualitative, descriptive and analytical, and to obtain the required data, Pahlavi texts, Islamic texts, as well as images and contents of books by researchers such as Gyselen (2004, 75), Schindel (2014), Alram (2013: 32), Mochiri (1977), and study of images of seals in Gyselenl's book (2002, 41), Manichaean texts in the Parthian language obtained from the Turfan papers (Boyce, 1975, 84) were used.
Discussion and results
Finally, this research answers key questions about the role of Merv in the Sasanian economy and financial system, as well as the city's connection to gold and silver mints. Examining the title "Shahigan" and its significance can lead us to a better understanding of the strategic and economic position of Merv during the Sasanian and Islamic periods. After examining a Manichaean text and some Islamic texts from the third and fourth centuries AH, it was concluded that the word šāhīgān means the palace of the Shah, which was the residence of the Shah of Iran. Therefore, the existence of a palace at the level of the capital, which was under a royal province, acted as the eastern capital. As Marquardt points out, Merv was the main seat of Iranian government and the seat of the Sassanid ruler. This is why Merv was known as Shahigan because of the presence of the Shahanshah's palace. It now becomes clear why Merv minted gold coins in the early Sassanid era. Merv served as a royal mint and a commercial crossroads, which even issued orders to set up other mints within Merv's borders in times of need, such as war, to provide for the stipends of the soldiers and the money needed. The existence of compound mints with the name Merv such as Merv-Winard and Merv-Rud confirms this.
Conclusion
An examination of the title "Shahigan" showed that this title symbolized the special importance of Merv in the political, economic, and financial structure of the Sasanian Empire. The existence of the Shah's Palace and the extensive activity of the mint identify this city as the eastern capital. Furthermore, Merv's strategic location at the crossroads of trade and its key role in minting gold and silver coins further added to its importance during the Sasanian and Islamic periods. A review of historical and numismatic evidence has clearly elucidated Merv's unique role in the financial and economic system of that period.

Keywords

Sassanian

Marv

Shahigan

Pahlavi texts

coins

Bibliography

Aghili, A. (1998). Dar al-zarb of Iran, Tehran: Moghofe Afshar. [in Persian].

Alram, M. (2013). The beginning of Sasanian coinage: The Sasanian Era, Vesta Sarkhosh Curtis, Sara Stewwart, A persian translted by K. firozmand, Tehran: Markaz. [in Persian].

Al-Thalibi, Abou mansour. (1989). Histoire des rois des perses, 1, translated by Fazayli. M., Tehran: noghreh. [in Persian].

Altheim, F., Still. R. , Gobl, R. (2012). Ein asiatischer Staat؛ feudalismus unter den Sassaniden und Ihren Nachbarn. A Persian translated by H. Sadeghi, 2nd edition, Tehran: elmifarhangi. [in Persian].

Altounji, M. ( 2003). Dictionary A Persian – Arabic Dictionary, 3rd edition, Tehran: Hirmand. [in Persian].

AL- Moqaddasi, M.(1982). Descriptio imperii Moslemici, Volume 2, A Persian translated by Mnzavi, Tehran: Kavian. [in Persian].

Amoozgar, J. Tafazzoli, A. (2003). Pahlavi language literature, Grammatical sketch, Texts andGlossary, 4th , edition Tehran: moin. [in Persian].

Asana, J. (1992). Handarz I husraw I kawadan, Pahlavi texts Transcription, Translation, A Persian translated by S. Oryan. Tehran: National Library of Iran. [in Persian].

Bahar, Mehrdad. (2007). From myth to history, 5th , edition , Tehran: Cheshmeh. [in Persian].

Bahar, M, Abulqasempour, E, ( 2015). Manichaean Literature, Tehran: Karnameh. [in Persian].

Boyce, Mary (1975),”aword-list of manichaen middle Persian and Parthian”, in: acta iranica, London; Editon biblotheque Pahlavi Tehranliege.

Boyce, M. 2019. Zoraastrians, Their Religious Beliefs and Practices, translated by Bahrami. A., Tehran: qoqnoos. [in Persian].

Colledge, M. (1976). The Parthihans, Thmes and Hudson, A Persian translated by Rajab Nia. M, 4th edition, Tehran: nedaydanesh. [In Persian].

Daryaee, T. (2013), Iranian kingship, the Arab conquest and Zoroastrian apocalypse: the history of Fars and beyond in late antiquity, A Persian translation Jalilian, Sh., Tehran: toos. [in Persian].

Dehkhoda, A. A. (1998). Dehkhoda dictionarym,Volume13. 2nd edition Dehkhoda Dictionary Institute, Tehran: University of Tehran. [in Persian].

Dezfoulian, Kazem. (2008). Geographical Terms in Persianlitrary Texts: the end of the eight Century, Tehran: Publications of Shahid Beheshti University. [in Persian].

Dinawari, A., (1985). Al-AKhbar al Tiwal, A Persian translation Damghani, M, Tehran: ney. [in Persian].

De Morgan, Jacques de (1913), “Contribution à l'étude des ateliers monétaires sous la dynastie des rois Sassanides de Perse”, in: Paris, Chezc, Rue df Louvois.

Estakhrī, A. I. (1961). al-Masālek wa’l-mamālek. A Persian Translation by Testari, Correction by Iraj Afshar, Tehran, Publication Moghofe Afshar. [in Persian].

Ferdowsi, A. (2014). Shah name, Editor by Khaleghi Motlag, Volume1, Tehran: Sokhan. [in Persian].

Fry, R. N. (1983). The golden age of Iranian culture, A Persian translated by M. Rajab Nia. Suspensions, 2nd edition. Tehran, Soroush. [in Persian].

Fry, R. N. (2015). Political History of Iran in the Seleucid Period: Cambridge History of Iran, by effort E. Yashere, Volume 3. A Persian translated by H. Anousheh, Tehran, Amir Kabir. [in Persian].

Gardizi, A, (1984). History of Gardizi, edited by Habibi, A, Tehran: donyaye ketab. [In Persian].

Gyselen‚ Rika.(2002). “Nouveaux Matériaux pour la Géographie Historique de lʼEmpire Sassanide”, Sceaux Administratifes de la Collection Ahmad Saeedi‚ Paris, in: Assoclation pour Lʼavancement des Études Iraniennes.

Gyselen, Rika (2004). “New Evidence For Sasanian Numismatics”, the Collection of Ahmad Saeedi, Extract from (des) “Res Orientales XVI – contributions à l’histoire et la géographie historique de l’empire Sassanide, in: Groupe pour l’Etude de la Civilisation du Moyen-Orient, Paris, Bures-Sur-Yvette.

Ghirshman, R (1991). L’art del Iran parthes et Sassanides, A Persian translated by B. Fareh, 2nd edition, Tehran: Almi va Farhangi. [In Persian].

Gorgani, F.,(1998). Vis va ramin, Corrected by Roshan, M. Tehran: sedayemoaser. [In Persian].

Hamawi, Y. (1977). Mojam Alboldan, vol 5, Beyriuth: Dar sader.

Hassani, M. M. (2023). A Sasanian Clay seal of the Ostandar of Marvrud in Grearer Khorasan, Tehran: Historcal Sciences, vol. 15, No 3, Serrial, Serial No 35, 23-50. . [in Persian].

Heravi, J. (2009). The History of Samanids, 3rd edition, Tehran: Amirkabir. [in Persian].

Ibn e Hawqal, M. A. (1987). Surat ol-Ard, Historical geographie of Iran in 4th edition. Centry, A Persian translated by J. Shear, Tehran: Amir Kabir. [in Persian].

Ibn e Khurdadbah, A. O.. (1992). Al-masālek wa’l-mamālek, A Persian translated by S. Khakrand, Tehran: Miraseh Melal va Moaseseh Farhangi. [in Persian].

Karnamag-i-Ardaxshir-I Babkan. (2018). A Persian translated by B. Fareh. Vashi. Tehran: University of Tehran. [In Persian].

Mackenzie, D.N. (1994). A small culture of the Pahlavi language A Persian, translated by M. Fakhri, Tehran: Research Institute of Humanities and Cultural Studies. [in Persian].

Lukonin, V. 2014. Persian civilization under The Sassanians, A Persian translated by Reza. E .,5th edition, Tehran: elmifarhangi. [in Persian].

Malek, Mehdi (2013), “The Numismatic chronicle offprint”, Landan, in: The royal numismatic society.

Marquart, Josef. (1994). Eransahr mach der Geographie des ps. Moses Xorenaci, A Persian translated by M. Ahmadi, Tehran: Etelaate. [in Persian].

Mashkour, M.J. (1992). Historical geography of ancient Iran, Tehran: donyaye ketab. [in Persian].

Masoudi, A. Al-H. (1995). Moruj al-Dhahab and Al-Jawhar mines, Volume 1. A Persian translated by A. Payandeh. 7th edition, Tehran: Almi va Farhangi. [in Persian].

Mollie, G. (2019). Ancient Persian language guide, Tehran: Avaieh Khavar. [in Persian].

Mollie, G. (2020). Ancient Persian language guide, Tehran: Avaieh Khavar. [in Persian].

Mojtabaei, F. (1973). Plato Ideal city and the Ideal kingship in Ancient Iran , Tehran: anjman farhngh Iran bastan. [in Persian].

Mochiri, Malek iradj (1977), “Etude de Numismatque Iraniene sous les sassanides et arabe-sassande”, ll, in: Afinistère de la Culture et des Arts Téhéran.

Nyberg, S. (1964), “A Manualof Pahlavi”, Asatir Tehran, Germany: Otto Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden.

Oryan, S. (2013). Manual of Middle Iranian Inscriptions (Parthian – Pahlavi) , Tehran: elmi. [in Persian].

Olbrycht, Marek (2016), ”dynastic, connections the Arsasid Empire and the origins of the House of sasan The Parthan and Early Sasanian And Expansion”, Michael Alram and Touraj Daryaee, British, in: Published by British Institute of Persian Studies.

Pakgohar, I. Heidari, M. (2016). The manichaean middle Persian and parthian texts, kerman: kerman khdmat. [in Persian].

Paruck, D.j (1976), “Sasanian Coins”, New Dehli, in: Indological book corporatin.

Qazvini, Z. (1994). Asar Al- Bilad and Akhbar Al- Abad, A Persian translated by Mirza Qajar, J. Tehran: Amirkabir. [In Persian].

Reichelt, hans (1968), “Avesta reader”, Germanny, in:Walter de Gruyter.

Rezai Baghdadi, Hassan. (2014). The Islamic Coins of Iran from the Beginning to the Rise of the Seljuqs, 1st edition, Tehran: Samt. [in Persian].

Schindel, N. (2014), “Sylloge Nummorum Sasanidarum” The Schaaf Collection. Wien, in: Australian Academy of sciences press.

Tabrizi, M. ( 1963). Borhan – e Qate, par Moin, M., vol 4, 2nd edition, Tehran: Ebn-e-sina. [in Persian].

Tabari, M. J. (1983). History of Tabari, Volume 2. A Persian translated by A. Payandeh. 2nd edition. Tehran: mythology. [in Persian].

Tabari, M. J. (2004). History of Tabari, Volume5. A Persian translated by A. Payandeh. 6th , edition. Tehran: mythology. [in Persian].

Tansar’s Letter to goshnasp, (1975). Prepared by Minovi, M., and Rezwani, M.E, 2nd edition, Tehran: university tehran. [in Persian].

Weisehofer, J. (2014). Ancient Persia, A Persian translated by M. Saghebfar, 12th , edition Tehran: qoqnoos. [in Persian].

Yarshater, E.(2015). Iranian commin beliefs and world-view : Cambridge History of Iran, by effort Yashere, E., Volume 3. A Persian translated by H. Anousheh, Tehran: Amir Kabir. [in Persian].