Behbahan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Behbahan is a city in the Khuzestan province, Iran. Behbahan had an estimated population of 96,836 in 2005.[1]

To the north of the city lie the ruins of the ancient city Arrajan, built during the Sassanian period, where important remnants from the Elamite era can be found.

The people of Behbahan (Behbahanis) speak a Persian dialect distinct to their group, as well as Luri, and may still use words of Khuzi origin, the language of the original inhabitants of Khuzestan. Behbahanis claim various lines of descent: from the ancient peoples of Arrajan, the nobility, the Prophet Muhammad, or the Lurs. The inhabitants of the suburban districts are primarily of Lur background. The majority of Behbahanis are remains of Arrajan (Arjan) after the earthquake. People of Arrajan were originally Jewish, but they had to convert to Islam. The details of how they were forced to convert are unclear (see Encyclopedia Iranica, entry for Behbahan).

[edit] External links

• Behbahan Photo Gallery from the Khuzestan Governorship
• Behbahan entry in the Encyclopædia Iranica
• The Marafi (Behbehani) Family of Kuwait

Coordinates: 30°58′N 50°27′E