Persophilia and Iranophilia refer to the appreciation or interest in Iranian culture, people or history. One of the most prominent Persophiles was the British literary historian E. G. Browne who participated in the Iranian Constitutional Revolution in 1906.
Contents |
Greek leaders who gave themselves Persian titles or names were considered Persophiles,[1] as well as Sidonian kings because of their governmental policies which gave more rights to the Persians.[2] The earliest use of the word "persophile" may have been by the Royal Numismatic Society in 1838,[3] it was referring to a king of Marium which is in modern-day Cyprus . The opposite of Iranophilia is Anti-Iranianism.
Admiration of the Persians was especially high during the Achaemenid dynasty. For example, Cyrus the Great was the only Gentile to be considered a Messiah.[4]
|