A commemoration ceremony for Abdolmajid Arfaei, renowned researcher and expert in ancient languages, and the translator of the Achaemenid Cyrus Cylinder, was held on Thursday, Mehr 19, at the Ostad Naseri Hall in the Iranian Artists’ House. The event was organized by the Iranian Artists’ House in collaboration with Eshraghi Art Cultural Institute. Among the speakers were Reza Amirkhani, author of books like Qeydar and His Ego, Azadeh Ehsani, an expert in ancient languages and culture, and Hosamuddin Arfaei, a university professor.
Abdolmajid Arfaei, a distinguished researcher and specialist in ancient Akkadian and Elamite languages, is one of the few remaining Elamite cuneiform translators and a key figure in the study of inscriptions in Iran. He has also translated numerous clay tablets from Persepolis and is highly knowledgeable about the culture and history of ancient Mesopotamia.
Following the audience’s applause, Professor Arfaei gave a brief, humble speech, saying, “I do not consider myself worthy of this kindness. I see myself as smaller than all of you, one among the thousands who serve this country, and not a step above anyone.” He went on to explain that since he was unable to visit the cultural center, his daughter packed all his books for him. He requested his friend Dr. Badamchi to bring him a picture of an Akkadian poem from a French volume, which he read to the audience. The inscription, written in Old Babylonian and originating from Susa, dates back to around 1500–1600 BCE. Many similar texts from Susa, numbering around 500, remain untranslated, covering economic and commercial matters. This particular inscription is currently housed in the Louvre Museum.
Professor Arfaei then read and translated an ancient inscription in its original language. The text of the inscription is as follows:
“Glen Eden gives his wife all his belongings, which he offers as a gift with kindness and love, because she has worked hard alongside me throughout her life. For this reason, I am giving everything to her as a gift. If any of my children claim that this was not gifted to their mother, they will not have the right to enter the house, will receive no inheritance, and will be disowned. The brothers are required to give a proper sum of money to their sister as a gift. This will be made in the presence of the God of Judgment and the God of Shush, with 9 witnesses affirming it. I swear by the king and the priest.”
At the end of his speech, Professor Arfaei explained: “Since seals were not in use in the ancient world, the author left his thumbprint next to the inscription to confirm its authenticity. This demonstrates the respect and high-status women and mothers held in the Khuzestan region.”
He concluded by saying, “The collection of the Babylonian Talmud offers a new window into understanding the culture and customs of the Sasanian period.”
Azadeh Ehsani, a specialist in ancient languages and culture, remarked, “I don’t see myself as qualified to speak at this event. I can only say that Professor Arfaei is not only a full-fledged historian but also a patriot. My expertise lies in ancient culture and language, a relatively new field of study. Since it involves Iranian-Semitic languages, it may have some connection with the professor’s area of expertise.”
She added, “Middle Persian, or Pahlavi, texts emerged during the Sasanian period in Iran. These writings serve as a middle ground for understanding Iran’s history. Over the past 20 to 30 years, some researchers have compared these texts with writings from Jewish Iranians in Mesopotamia, leading to interesting findings. The collection of the Babylonian Talmud offers a fresh perspective on Sasanian culture and customs.”
Ehsani continued, “Iranian Jews lived in Iran for centuries. Despite their religious differences, they shared certain myths and cultural beliefs that connected them to Iran. The content of the Babylonian Talmud shows similarities with Persian culture. The Talmud, a collection of writings from the third to the sixth century, was compiled by Jewish scholars and is written in Aramaic and Hebrew.”
Ehsani added, “The content of these writings is religious and interpretive, consisting of hadiths, stories, and myths. What is particularly relevant to us is how these texts allow us to draw conclusions about Iranian culture during that era. Throughout the Sassanid period and until the later centuries, Mesopotamia was regarded as the heart of Iranshahr. In these writings, one can observe a wide range of topics, from everyday street and marketplace discussions to legal and jurisprudential issues.”
Following this, a video clip was shown of Professor Arfaei discussing his academic journey at the University of Pennsylvania, as well as how his books were printed and his efforts in translating ancient texts. He also explained that Cyrus the Great’s words begin from the 20th paragraph of the Cyrus Cylinder. According to the inscription, Cyrus entered the city of Babylon on the 7th of Aban without any bloodshed or war.
Reading Passages from the Writings of Cyrus the Achaemenid Cylinder
The next speaker at the meeting was Reza Amirkhani, who stated, “Although I did not have the privilege of being a student of Ustad Arfaei, I sought a suitable text to present today.” Amirkhani then read a poem and text he had prepared, which he divided into four parts for the ceremony. Following this, several paragraphs from Cyrus the Great’s Cylinder, translated by Master Arfaei, were read aloud.
Sharing Fond Memories of Professor Arfaei
Next, Engineer Azmayesh and Farhad Azad, classmates of Prof. Arfaie at Alborz high school, were invited to share some of their memories. He recollected interesting memories of Professor Abdolmajid Arfaei during his youth. Among other things, he noted that Professor Arfaei always demonstrated focus and diligence in his studies. Azad shared a particular memory when Arfaei was advised by a doctor not to read or write during a course in high school. Despite this challenge, he successfully completed the course and passed the test.
He also mentioned that Professor Arfaei had translated and studied more than 38,000 tablets. Azad added, “Arfaei has remarkable patience. After the revolution, during difficult times, he remarked that the world had not ended. He waited for two years to maintain his aquarium until conditions were favorable again, allowing him to resume his work.”
The Return of the Tablets: The Unquestionable Efforts of Abdolmajid Arfaei
Ilia Mohammadinia, the secretary of the commemoration ceremony for Ustad Abdolmajid Arfaei, discussed the story of the Achaemenid tablets. He noted that from 1933 to 1936, after the discovery of Achaemenid inscriptions, a total of 30,750 tablets had been identified. At that time, it was suggested that, since there was no one in Iran able to decipher these tablets, they should be sent to America. Consequently, a contract was signed between Ali Asghar Hekmat and the Department of Oriental Studies at the University of Chicago, and the tablets were shipped to America in 1937.
From that point on, there was a push for these tablets to be read, deciphered, and then returned to Iran. Ultimately, in 1952, a portion of these artifacts was returned to Iran. Mohammadinia added, “At the time, it was believed that all these tablets had returned, but in reality, only more than 2,000 had been sent back.” After the revolution and the war, the matter faded from public consciousness. Recently, however, Dr Arfaie informed the authorities from the Cultural Heritage that not all the tablets had been returned. Initially, the authorities were reluctant to accept this claim. After 3 weeks of research, Dr Arfaie presented the corrected evidence to the then president of Cultural Heritage, who promised to follow up on the issue.
Mohammadinia continued, “This situation coincided with a legal case in 1997, when two American Jewish families sued Iran for compensation due to a bombing that resulted in the deaths of some of their members. In the initial ruling, the court condemned Iran to pay damages. Since the tablets were located in America, the court’s decision included selling these tablets to provide compensation to the families.”
He added, “Following this ruling, the protest would not come from Iran but from the University of Chicago. Ultimately, the matter reached the Supreme Court of the United States. Fortunately, at this stage, Dr. Arfaei represented Iran in these discussions. After hours of explanations, he successfully demonstrated that these tablets belong to Iranian culture, which convinced 8 out of 9 judges to rule in favor of Iran.”
Mohammadinia continued, “Finally, on March 2, 2016, these tablets were returned to Iran. Since then, every president who has attended events in New York has brought back some of these tablets. It is reported that 500 tablets are returned each year, leaving approximately 8,000 still in the U.S., which I believe is not enough. The successful return of these tablets is a testament to Dr. Arfaei’s exceptional efforts.”
Restoring Arfaei’s Legacy
Abdul Mahdi Mostakin, the Vice President of UNESCO in Iran, was the next speaker at the ceremony. After reading some verses in praise of Professor Arfaei, he remarked, “I am hereby addressing Dr Pezeshkian, the President. How many individuals like Professor Arfaei do we have in Iran who should be permanent members of the academy? If it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t comprehend what the Elamites, Babylonians, and Akkadians were saying. Without Arfaei, would our civilization retain its integrity? At one time, he was the gem of the Academy of Arts, and I sincerely hope that his name will be restored to its rightful place.”
Lessons Learned from My Brother
Husameddin Arfaei, the brother of Abdolmajid, began his speech by saying, “My message today is about love; anything else would be pointless. I would like to express my gratitude to the entire Arfaei family. From the moment I opened my eyes, I saw Majid. He has always been a kind brother, and I learned so much about love and affection from him. It was Majid who taught me how to read. His room was my refuge, and I remember picking up his books and diving into them. The first lesson I learned from him was the joy of reading.”
He continued, “Majid was an incredibly hard worker, starting his day at 4 in the morning. He instilled in me the value of diligence and the importance of reading. He was also a talented painter and created beautiful artwork. However, after the incident that affected his eyesight, my brother could no longer paint. I often wonder if that incident hadn’t occurred, he might have become a renowned painter by now.”
Husameddin added, “Majid was learning Pahlavi in high school, and I tried to imitate him, but I lacked the talent to master the language. Despite that, I would read and learn from him in his room. My interests lay in mathematics and physics, which I pursued as well. I must emphasize that Majid had a significant impact on our family; if he believed in something, he stood by it with all his strength. In addition to all this, my brother was also an avid climber and photographer.”
At the end of his speech, Husameddin Arfaei expressed his gratitude, saying, “Majid, thank you for all the services you have provided us. I have learned so much from you. I also remember our lost brothers, and I am certain they are proud of you. I want to extend my thanks to Majid’s wife, who has always been a source of support for him.”
From the beginning of the ceremony, a friendly and sincere atmosphere prevailed due to the warm reception from lovers of culture and intellectuals. A large number of acquaintances took the opportunity to capture souvenir photos with Master Arfaei, resulting in a 20-minute delay in the ceremony’s start. The secretary of the program mentioned that this event is not a commemoration for any particular institution or organization and acknowledged the challenges involved in organizing such a gathering.
An album featuring family photos of Ostad Arfaei was also distributed. A token of remembrance was presented to Dr Arfaie. A musical performance by Masoud Mosavi, accompanied by Soloist Mohsen Hosseini were other parts of the program.
