Flags of Imperial Iran

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[edit] Imperial Iranian Flags

Flags, standards and banners have always been important national and imperial symbols for Iranians, both in war and peace. Xenophon tells us that Cyrus the Great's standard was a golden eagle with spread wings mounted on a long shaft. In this use of the eagle motif as a national symbol probably lies the origin of the eagle symbols of such countries as Prussia, Russia, Austria, Poland, France and America in modern times^{[citation needed]}, for the Seleucids, Romans and Crusaders all adopted Iranian heraldic motifs.

The best-known symbol of Iran in recent centuries, however, has been the lion and sun motif, which is probably a graphic expression of the astrological configuration of the sun in the sign of Leo, although both celestial and animal figures independently have a long history in Iranian heraldry.

The lion and sun emblem is very ancient, and the Persian epic poet Ferdowsi writes in Shahnameh that it was used by Rostam, the legendary Iranian national hero. Late in the nineteenth century an earlier scimitar motif was combined with the lion and sun and superimposed on a tricolour of green, white and red, and, with minor modifications, this remained the official flag until the revolution of 1979.

[edit] Pahlavi Dynasty

The Imperial Standard consists of a pale-blue field with the official flag in the top corner next to the mast and the Pahlavi coat of arms in the centre. At the top of the coat of arms is the Pahlavi crown, created for the Coronation of Reza Shah the Great in 1926. Beneath is the Imperial Motto:

"Marā dād farmud, va Khod Dāvar Ast" ("Justice he bids me do, As he will judge me")

[edit] See also

• Iran
• The Lion and Sun
• Coat of arms of Iran

National flags	National coats of arms
Flags of sovereign states	Coats of arms of sovereign states
Flags of dependent territories	Coats of arms of dependent territories
Flags of unrecognized states	Coats of arms of unrecognized states
Flags of micronations	Coats of arms of micronations
Flags of formerly independent states