Faravahar is probably the most famous symbol of the Persian Zoroastrian faith. This symbol consists of a winged disk, from which stands the figure of a man holding a ring in his hand. Although this symbol is well known, its meaning is much more complicated. Faravahar was adopted as a secular symbol representing the modern Iranian nation.

The word "Faravahar" comes from the Middle Persian language (also known as Pahlavi) and is said to be derived from the Avetsan word (Avesta language, Zoroastrian script) "fravarane", which means "I choose or choose". Alternatives suggest that the name of this symbol was associated with the Old Opera word "fravarti" or "fravashi", meaning "protect". The first meaning is the choice one makes to follow the teachings of Zoroastrianism, while the second means divine protection by the guardian angel. By the way, the name "Faravahar" was given to this symbol only in recent times, and it is not clear how the ancient Persians mentioned it.

The coat of arms of Faravahar carved in stone in Persepolis, the capital of the ceremonial city of the Achaemenid Empire, located in present-day Iran. (Napishtim / CC BY-SA 3.0)

Historic ancient beginnings of the Faravahar symbol

Although we do not know for sure what the ancient Persians called this symbol, we do know that it was important to them. This is evident from the fact that Faravahar appears in a number of different places. The symbol is depicted, for example, on the famous Behistun (also Bisotun) inscription. This stone relief depicts Faravahar hovering over the prisoners of Darius I the Great and giving his blessing to the king. Faravahar can also be seen in Persepolis, the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid dynasty.

meters on a cliff in the province of Kermanshah in western Iran. It depicts Faravahar above and below him Darius the Great and his prisoners.

In the form of a winged disk, the Faravahar symbol was used long before the Achaemenids came to power. It is probable that the Persians adopted this symbol from the Assyrians, who also used it extensively in their monumental art. Unlike the Zoroastrian Faravahar, the Assyrian symbol inside the disc has a human figure. The symbol and figure in the disc are supposed to represent Assura, the national god of the Assyrians. The Assyrian winged disk, like its Zoroastrian counterpart, is depicted as a symbol of the king's divine protection.

In addition to the Achaemenids and Assyrians, the winged disk was also used by other ancient powers in the Middle East. Perhaps most notably the ancient Egyptians, from whom the Assyrians may have adopted this symbol. Unlike Faravahar, the Egyptian winged disk has no human figure attached. The symbol is to be a solar disk and a representation of Horus, the god with a falcon's head. Faravahar, although in a slightly different form, was therefore used long before its adoption by the Zoroastrians and the Achaemenids.

Wadfradad I, king of the Persian region of Pars (present-day Fars, in southwestern Iran), standing in front of the shrine. Above the shrine is Faravahar, who blesses the king.

Wadfradad I

It seems that after the demise of the Achaemenids in the 4th century BC, Faravahar ceased to be used because it no longer appeared in the art of their successors. The only exception was the local couple (now Fars in southwestern Iran) King Wadfradad I, who lived in the 3rd century BC. Although the area was under Seleucid rule at the time, local kings were able to issue their own coins for a short time. The reverse of the silver coin, issued by Wadfrad I, depicts a king standing in front of a shrine. Above the shrine is Faravahar, who blesses the king.

In addition, some elements of Faravahar have been preserved in the successors of the Achaemenids. For example, the ring holding a figure on Faravahar can be seen in Sasanian art. In this context, the ring is intended to symbolize the royal tiara, which is given to the king during his investiture. For example, the relief of Shapur II in Taq-e Boston shows how the Sasanian king receives a royal tiara from Ahura Mazda, the supreme god of Zoroastrianism, during his investiture.

With these exceptions, Faravahar was not widely used until the 20th century AD, when it was revived as a national icon. Partly because this ancient symbol began to be used by the Pahlavi dynasty, founded by Reza Shah Pahlavi when he came to power in Iran in 1925. Even after the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Faravahar, although a Zoroastrian symbol, was tolerated by the new government and preserved as Iranian national symbol.

The meaning of Faravahar

In the recent past, various interpretations have been made regarding the exact meaning of Faravahar, and there is still no real consensus on what the symbol should mean. According to one popular interpretation, Faravahar is supposed to represent a fravashi, which is a kind of Zoroastrian guardian angel. However, Fravashi are considered female beings, which is contrary to the depiction of Faravahar, ie, a man emerging from the circle.

Another interpretation is that Faravahar is meant to symbolize Ahura Mazda. But this interpretation has also been refuted, because this god is abstract and transcendent in Zoroastrianism, and therefore he cannot be portrayed in any form. By the way, an exception to this rule can be seen in the illustrations of investitures from the Sasanian period. It was also said that Faravahar did not in fact have any religious significance and that it was to be a braggart or royal glory.

Faravahar can be interpreted through its six distinct aspects. (FineSilhouettes / Adobe Stock)

Another of the interpretations divides the symbol into six parts, each of which is to remind Zoroastrian of his / her meaning in life. The first part of Faravahar is an elderly man who is to represent the human soul. Because the man is depicted as an elder, he is also meant to symbolize the age-acquired wisdom. The man's hands then represent the second part of the symbol. One of the hands points upwards, which means that the only path in life leads forward. In his other hand he holds a ring that can represent fidelity and loyalty to Zoroaster's teachings. As a wedding ring, it expresses promise and fidelity, the foundations of Zoroaster's philosophy.

Circle

The third part of Faravahar is the circle from which the man emerges. This ring represents either the eternal nature of the universe or the immortality of the soul, because the circle has neither an end nor an beginning. An alternative suggestion of its significance is that it should remind us that all our actions have their implications. The two wings on either side of the circle form the fourth part of Faravahar and are considered a symbol of flight and progress. The feathers on the wings are said to represent good thoughts, good words and good deeds. By contrast, the feathers on the tail, the fifth part of Faravahar, represent bad thoughts, bad words, and bad deeds over which the Zoroastrians seek to rise. Finally, the two streamers coming out of the ring represent positive and negative forces. The man in the circle faces one of them and turns his back on the other, suggesting that one should choose good and avoid evil.

In conclusion, although no one knows the true meaning of Faravahar with certainty, it is still a really strong symbol. Whether it is meant to symbolize the Iranian nation or the way of life that the Zoroastrians strive to achieve, Faravahar is a powerful symbol that is of great importance to many people to this day.

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