Early Sasanian Imperial Ideology: From Anāhītā Fire in Pārs to Ādur Gušnasp Fire Temple in Ādurbādagān - In book Research Trends in History 2026 Vol - II

Created: 31 August, 2026

by Mahir Khalifa-zadeh*

Posted from:

Khalifa-zadeh M., "Early Sasanian Imperial Ideology: From Anāhītā Fire in Pārs to Ādur Gušnasp Fire Temple in Ādurbādagān", Chapter 1, In: Research Trends in History, Ed: Arun Kumar, Helmand Books, New Delhi, 2026, p. 01-18, Paperback ISBN: 978-93-7410-963-2; E-Book ISBN: 978-93-7410-402-6 available at: https://www.helmandbooks.com/book-details/1788158682-research-trends-in-history-volume-2

Research Trends in History, Helmand Books, New Delhi, 2026, Vol-II pp.139 
https://www.helmandbooks.com/book-details/1788158682-research-trends-in-history-volume-2

ABSTRACT

The  chapter  examines  the  ideology’s  development  of  the  early Sasanians.  The  author  provides  a  brief  overview  of  Ardaxšīr  I’s  rise  to power,  highlighting  his  political  ambitions  that  formed  the  ground  for Sasanian imperial policy and ideology. The Sasanians came to power with political aspirations to restore the Truth and Persian Glory and eliminate the remnants  of  Hellenism  that  survived  the  Parthian  period.  The  author discusses political and ideological reasons that motivated the early Sasanians to declare the fire temple of Ādur Gušnasp in  Ādurbādagān as the empire’s most  sacred  fire.  This  development  and  Shāpūr  I’s  official  declaration  of Zoroastrianism  as  the  state  religion  transformed  Azerbaijan  (Pahlavi: Ādurbādagān)  into  the  empire’s  most  sacrosanct  land,  increasing  the province’s  imperial  and  strategic  value  as  the  center  of  ideology  and propaganda. Finally, it is shown that the Sassanids’ granting the “cathedral” rank  to  the  Ādur  Gušnasp  fire  temple  and  attaching  themselves  to  this officially proclaimed the empire’s most sacred victorious warrior class fire of the highest grade was a significant shift in early Sasanian imperial ideology.

* Khalifa-zadeh M., Research Professor, Ph.D, Canadian Historical Association, 130 Albert Street, Suite 1912, Ottawa, ON, K1P5G4, Canada

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https://www.researchgate.net/publication/413803330_Early_Sasanian_Imperial_Ideology_From_Anahita_Fire_in_Pars_to_Adur_Gusnasp_Fire_Temple_in_Adurbadagan_in_book_Research_Trends_in_History_2026_Vol-II

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