Behbahan
| Behbahan بهبهان | |
|---|---|
| city | |
  Behbahan | |
| Coordinates: 30°35′45″N 50°14′30″E / 30.59583°N 50.24167°ECoordinates: 30°35′45″N 50°14′30″E / 30.59583°N 50.24167°E | |
| Country |
 Iran |
| Province | Khuzestan |
| County | Behbahan |
| Bakhsh | Central |
| Population (2013) | |
| • Total | 210,000 |
| Time zone | IRST (UTC+3:30) |
| • Summer (DST) | IRDT (UTC+4:30) |
Behbahan (Persian: بهبهان, also Romanized as Behbahān and Behbehān)[1] is a city in and the capital of Behbahan County, Khuzestan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 190000.[2]
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 (Behbahanians=behbahanis) speak a Persian dialect distinct to their group, as well as Sassanid language Middle Persian, 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 Persians / nobility . The inhabitants of the suburban districts are primarily of Lur background. The majority of Behbahanis are remains of Arrajan (Arjan/Argan) after an earthquake destroyed a dam, which led to the flooding of the city. People of Arrajan were originally Zoroastrian during the elamite period, and later on converted to Islam. The details of how or when they converted are unclear. According to the elderly of the city and the oral history, the current population of Behbahan consists of a mixture of 60% zoroastrian background, and 40% others. They are mostly Muslims, even those who still observe sabbath to be the holy day of the week. However, a large Baha'i minority can be noticed.
Etymology
The name (Behbahan) was not mentioned in text books earlier than the 14th century. the land of what is currently known as Behbahan was part of Arya-gan (Arregan=Argan) city instead; back then, the land of the current Behbahan was not inhabited. Since Arya-gan (Argan) city was destroyed in a natural disaster, most probably because of massive earth quakes and floodings, all survivors were forced to leave the ruins. A Persian group who lived in tents were forced to leave to another part of the city across the Maroon river. There, they founded a city on a plain of land where they started building better homes, the "Good Tents". Those tents were never made of wool in their new place. Instead, they were made out of bricks and clay.
The name Behbahan is a result of the combination of two words, "Beh" and "Bahan". The first part, "beh" (Persian: به), simply means "Good". The second part, "bahan" (Persian / Ancient Khuzi Iranian: بهان), means "a tent" used by very old people. So, simply the name of Behbahan means the "Good Tent".[3]
Another research shows that the city did not come about as a result of a natural disaster destroying Arjan(aka Arjaan, Argan or Argun); but, by the 14th century the city overtook Arjan, which had fallen to decline.
Famous People
Marafi Behbahani, one of the first merchants to settle in Kuwait. Marafi settled in Kuwait in 1740 and his descendants are one of Kuwait's wealthiest businessmen.
Kazem Behbehani, a Kuwaiti immunologist and a representative of the World Health Organization.
Simin Behbahani, Taha Behbahani, Behbehanian Mahin MD, Dr.Khosrow Behbehani and Zohreh Behbehani.
Ahmad Behbahani, Iranian security expert, leader of Iran end of the Iran-contra organisation, who fled to Turkey when Ahmedinjad came to power, and was presumed to have been hanged in Evin prison. He had been head of the Iranian end of the Iran-contra operation and carried out the first stage of the bombing of Pan Am 103, which he undertook as the qesas revenge for the deliberate shooting down of IR665 by the USS Vincennes on 3 July 1988.
References
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