Mehrdad Bahar

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Mehrdad Bahar (1930 , Tehran – November 13, 1994 Tehran) (Persian: مهرداد بهار) was a prominent Iranist, linguist, mythologist and Persian historian. Mehrdad Bahar, the son of Persian poet Mohammad Taghi Bahar, held a PhD degree in Persian literature and Ancient Iranian languages from Tehran University. He received an MA degree in "Ancient and Medieval Persian history" from the University of London where he studied with Professor Mary Boyce at the School of Oriental and African Studies. He began his carrier as a linguist, focused on middle-Persian. Later on during his carrier he became interested on Persian Mythology. His theories on the ancient roots of many aspects of Persian culture are well accepted among the mythologists (some controversial yet).

His works on Persian mythology are mainly focused on major non-Aryan/Iranian influences, most of all: Mesopotamian mythologies.

Mehrdad Bahar most notable work is his thorough translation of the most famous middle-Persian text, Bondahesh(an). His other prominent work; A Research on Persian Mythology (two volumes) consists of a collection/compilation of different Zoroastrian middle-Persian texts and a systematic analysis of their roots. The second volume, however, was as an incomplete manuscripts when Bahar died in 1994. His closest colleague, Katayoun Mazdapour, completed the editing task next year.

Among his books are Bondahesh ( "بندهش"), Iranian Mythology ("اساطیر ایران"), A Research on Persian Mythology ( "پژوهشی در اساطیر ایران"), Treaties on Persian Culture ( "جستاری چند در فرهنگ ایران") and Notes on Shahnameh ("سخنی چند درباره شاهنامه").

[edit] Bibliography

  • Persepolis by Mehrdad Bahar, N. Kasraian (Photographer)
  • Bondahesh
  • Research on Persian Mythology
  • Persian Mythology

[edit] See also

Other notable Iranologists:

[edit] External links