The fifth “Fravahar Medal” ceremony was held to honor scholars and researchers who have contributed to the study of Iran’s ancient languages and cultures.
The event began with a Gatha recitation by the youth group of the Zoroastrian Youth Organization (Faravahar). Mobed Pedram Soroushpour then welcomed the attendees, recalling the legacy of the renowned Iranian scholar, Ibrahim Pourdavoud, who first established Avesta studies at Tehran University nearly 80 years ago. Soroushpour emphasized the importance of preserving and promoting Iran’s rich cultural heritage.
He described the Faravahar Medal ceremony as a gesture of gratitude from the Zoroastrian community to those advancing the study of Iran’s ancient culture and languages. He thanked Zoroastrian associations for their support, mentioning the contributions of associations in Tehran, Yazd, Ahvaz, Shiraz, and others. He also acknowledged individuals like Parviz Varjavand and Parvin Oshidari for their support in the memory of the late Mobed Shahryar Neyrivsangi.
Research by Scholars: A Path to Understanding Iran’s History and Culture
Dr Farzaneh Goshtasb, secretary of the Fravahar medal ceremony, and Professor of Ancient Languages at the Research Institute of Humanities and Cultural Studies, expressed his joy in the successfully holding the 5th Fravahar Medal ceremony. She noted, “Founded in 1399 by Faravahar Publications, despite challenges like the pandemic, we’ve held this festival for four consecutive years. The Zoroastrian community is indebted to researchers studying Iran’s ancient history, culture, and languages. Your work benefits all Iranians, as it’s tied to their identity and reflects our past.”
She added, “Your research also helps the Zoroastrian community better understand its heritage. We are grateful to you, and we hope our heartfelt appreciation reaches you.”
Dr. Goshtasb described the Faravahar Medal as a way to honor those who have contributed to the study of ancient Iran through their theses and dissertations in fields such as archaeology, linguistics, and sociology. She praised the academic judges for their rigorous selection and highlighted a special section for books published by scholars each year as another way to express the community’s gratitude.
Dr. Goshtasb continued, “Looking at the books being recognized this year, it’s clear that Iranian researchers are engaging in unique and valuable research. Their work not only brings us pride but also shows that Iranians have a voice in the global academic community.”
She then mentioned the work of Dr. Mohammad Shakari Fomashi (one of the winners of the fifth Faravahar Medal), describing it as a unique study. She also praised the deep and scholarly research of Pejman Firoozbakhsh (another awardee) and called the book “Carpet Weaving” by Shirin Mazdapour and her team a valuable contribution to understanding Zoroastrian art. Dr. Goshtasb also fondly remembered the late Farshad Salamati, one of the authors of the book, stating, “I want to remember the late Farshad Salamati. We lost him recently, but I am certain he is watching us from afar today. I’m pleased that his and his colleagues’ work has been published.”
Concluding her speech, she emphasized, “Clearly, all this capability and effort to bring knowledge to fruition stems from research into Iran’s history and culture. Our land, proud to have such enlightened subjects, who work tirelessly for the growth and dissemination of knowledge in this land.”
Honoring the Efforts of Researchers
Before the scientific segment of the fifth Faravahar Medal ceremony, leaders of Zoroastrian organizations expressed their gratitude to the scholars and researchers whose academic contributions are being recognized. Mehrtash Mehrzyad, president of the Zoroastrian Youth Organization (Frohar), mentioned that hosting this event was an honor for the organization. He also acknowledged the various organizations involved in organizing the festival, including the board of Frohar, Purochista Rostami, Farzaneh Goshtasb, Parviz Ahuraei, and the Zoroastrian Youth Council.
Afshin Namiranian, president of the Zoroastrian Association of Tehran, thanked the researchers and awardees on behalf of Zoroastrian associations nationwide. He expressed pride in attending the event annually, saying, “We are always grateful!” He also praised the Frohar organization and its members for their hard work in organizing the event.
Beginning the Scientific Segment of the Fifth Faravahar Medal
In the scientific segment, scholars who have focused on the language and culture of ancient Iran were honored. First, Dr. Mohammad Shakari Fomashi, author of Manichaean Angels, was recognized. As a professor at the Faculty of Divinity, he was awarded the Faravahar Medal for his research on Manichaean texts, which provides a detailed analysis of angelology and related concepts in Manichaeism.
In his speech, Dr. Shakari Fomashi began by thanking the organizers and judges of the Faravahar Medal, expressing that the Zoroastrian community is a source of pride for all of Iran. He then shared insights from his book Manichaean Angels, saying, “There was no research on Manichaean angels before. When I decided to prepare a study guide for my students, I realized I had to start from scratch, as no resources were available in Persian, English, German, French, or any other language. Designing such a project was challenging. After six years of research, I completed the book, only to find I needed to redesign many sections. I also discovered that the word ‘angel’ in Middle Persian was not the same as the modern Persian term or the Arabic word ‘Malak.’ Over time, I realized that Manichaean theology had a unique interpretation of ‘angel.'”
He continued, “In my research, I found that Manichaeism redefined the Middle Persian word ‘Fristak’ and the Parthian ‘Frishtak,’ using these terms to refer to all figures considered divine or heavenly, including prophets, messengers, and saints, who, according to their belief, had not died but were still alive and present. Manichaeans also considered their prophets, teachers, and religious leaders to be angels.”
Dr. Shakari Fomashi explained that this extensive, interdisciplinary research was made possible by his knowledge of many languages and thorough analysis, something that could not have been achieved alone. He humbly added, “This book—Manichaean Angels—is the result of the collective work of my colleagues. I simply managed the project. Nearly 30 professors and researchers contributed, and their names are listed in the preface.”
He described his approach to the book as linguistic and emphasized several new concepts that had not been previously explored. He also highlighted the figure of Fereydun, the Persian king, who is referred to as “Afridun” in Manichaean texts, as one of the most intriguing angels in Manichaean belief.
Finally, he stated, “The book Manichaean Angels is also a response to Western scholars who study Manichaeism but fail to acknowledge its Iranian origins or intentionally minimize it.”
Other recipients of the Fravahar medal were Peyman Firoozbakhsh, a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Hamburg, recognized for his book Fahlaviyat: A Study of Poems from the Common Literary Language of Iraq-e-Ajam and Azerbaijan. The book explores the linguistic features of a language that left traces in Middle Iranian history. Since Firoozbakhsh could not attend the ceremony, Dr. Farzaneh Goshtasp read his message.
In his message, Firoozbakhsh expressed his honor in being part of the celebration despite his absence due to living abroad. He briefly explained the subject of his book, stating that Fahlaviyat refers to poems written in the Fahlavi language, spoken in regions like Dinvar, Nahavand, Hamadan, and parts of Azerbaijan. The first mentions of Fahlaviyat appear in works by Ibn Nadim, Masoudi, and Rashid al-Din.
Firoozbakhsh noted that scholars traditionally saw Fahlavi as a shared literary language across these regions, though it was not the spoken language after the 5th century. In his book, he presents evidence that most surviving Fahlavi poems were written in this literary language, influenced by local dialects but distinct from the everyday speech of the time.
He concluded by stating that Fahlaviyat was popular during the Sassanid period and that it likely existed alongside Persian as the language of epic tales and poetry in the region, possibly even part of Parthian literature.
Weaving fabrics: another selected work
The book Karbafi (weaving fabrics): Research on Zoroastrian Traditional Clothing and Fabrics in Iran by Shirin Mazdapour and collaborators Azarmidokht Mazdapour, Farshad Salamati, and Dr. Katayoun Mazdapour, has been honored in the 5th edition of the Faravahar Medal.
Shirin Mazdapour began by recalling the tradition of fabric weaving in rural areas like Rahmatabad near Yazd, where women once wove fabrics at home. She noted that this craft has gradually faded, with only a few examples remaining today. “Traditional weaving is just one of many disappearing practices, like Zoroastrian embroidery,” she said.
She emphasized the importance of distinguishing between traditional hand weaving and factory-made textiles, suggesting the term “traditional weaving craftsmanship” for the former. As factories emerged in Yazd, traditional hand weaving declined, eventually fading from the market and household use over half a century.
Mazdapour also highlighted the significance of traditional weaving in Zoroastrian homes in Yazd, where remnants of the craft are still found. She concluded by stressing the need to preserve and revive this art, encouraging efforts to introduce traditional Zoroastrian weaving to the modern world, inspired by the legacy of the late Farangis Yeganeh.
The closing segment of the 5th Faravahar Medal ceremony involved awarding the Faravahar Medal to distinguished individuals. In the book category, Dr. Mohammad Shokri Fomashi, Pejman Firoozbakhsh, and Shirin Mazdapour (on behalf of her research collaborators) were honored. In the doctoral dissertation category, Vaziri Manbari received the medal for his work on the prosopography of the Achaemenids, and Hesar Poladi was recognized for his dissertation on the Zang of Gahan. Honorable mentions were given to Amirhossein Moqaddas for his thesis on the representation of Persians in ancient Greek texts and Milad Mohsenzadeh Karimi for his study of columns in Sassanid architecture. Additionally, master’s theses were recognized, including those by Ali Mazari on the Sistani dialect, Saeed Aboutalebi on identity representation in Persian plays, Maryam Khalasi on semi-Gahani pieces of the Avesta, and Aydin Golrooh on the reflection of Bahrām-Yasht in ancient texts.
In addition to speeches and the presentation of the Faravahar Medal to distinguished scholars, the ceremony featured other programs. One such event was a poetic recital by Surena Saidi, a young individual who had reimagined the ancient text “Yadgare-Zariran” in a modern, melodic style. Before reciting his poem, he shared, “It’s important to keep alive the treasure of wisdom and culture passed down by our ancestors and not let it die, as Iranians have always done by passing down their heritage.” His heartfelt poem began with the lines: “In the name of the God who created life, who created the history of our Iran; Zariran speaks, this legacy that tells of the good and bad of the outcome of work.” Afterward, Mobed Pedram Soroushpour praised Surena Saidi’s work, saying, “I thought long about what to say after hearing this poem, filled with so many thoughts and emotions. All I can say is that it is the hope that keeps nations alive, and Surena’s poem has brought a light of hope to all of us, showing that Iran’s future is much better with young people like him.” Another part of the ceremony included a visit to the Tehran Fire Temple (Adrian). It should be noted that the young Gatha singers of the Faravahar Youth Organization were Rademehr Sheydaei, Danesh Namiraniyan, Farbod Farahifar, Faraz Farahifar, Ramtin Jamshidi, Mitra Sistani, and Ramesh Sheydaei. The final ceremony of the 5th Faravahar Medal took place on the evening of Thursday, 16 Esfand 1403, at the Iraj Hall, attended by many cultural enthusiasts of Iran. The Faravahar Publications, affiliated with the Zoroastrian Youth Organization (Faravahar), organized the event, which began with the national anthem of Iran and the song “Yatāhō.” The Faravahar Medal presentation ceremony is an annual event that honors outstanding authors and researchers in the fields of ancient Iranian history, culture, and languages.
