Ahmad Tafazzoli
Encyclopedia
Dr. Ahmad Tafazzoli was a prominent Persian Iranist and master of ancient Iranian literature and culture. Professor Tafazzoli was a faculty member of Tehran University.
One of his most important books and his latest masterpiece is "Pre-Islamic Persian Literature". Professor Jaleh Amouzegar contributed in editing it.
In January 1997, Professor Ahmad Tafazzoli was found dead in Punak
, a suburb northwest of Tehran. He was known to have contacts with many Iranian academics working abroad, and many of his colleagues believed that the authorities were behind his death, as part of the chain murders of Iran
. While the precise circumstances remained unclear, Tafazzoli's death created a climate of fear at the university and discouraged criticism of the government.
Other notable Iranologists:
One of his most important books and his latest masterpiece is "Pre-Islamic Persian Literature". Professor Jaleh Amouzegar contributed in editing it.
In January 1997, Professor Ahmad Tafazzoli was found dead in Punak
Punak
Punak is a neighbourhood in north-west Tehran, the capital city of Iran....
, a suburb northwest of Tehran. He was known to have contacts with many Iranian academics working abroad, and many of his colleagues believed that the authorities were behind his death, as part of the chain murders of Iran
Chain murders of Iran
The Chain Murders of Iran , or Serial Murders, were a series of murders and disappearances from 1988-1998 by Iranian government operatives of Iranian dissident intellectuals who had been critical of the Islamic Republic system in some way.The victims included more than 80 writers, translators,...
. While the precise circumstances remained unclear, Tafazzoli's death created a climate of fear at the university and discouraged criticism of the government.
See also
- Persian literaturePersian literaturePersian literature spans two-and-a-half millennia, though much of the pre-Islamic material has been lost. Its sources have been within historical Persia including present-day Iran as well as regions of Central Asia where the Persian language has historically been the national language...
- Iranistics
Other notable Iranologists:
- Abdolhossein Zarrinkoub
- Alireza Shapour ShahbaziAlireza Shapour ShahbaziAlireza Shapour Shahbazi was a prominent Persian archeologist, Iranologist and a world expert on Achaemenid archeology. Alireza Shahbazi got a BA degree in and an MA degree in East Asian archeology from SOAS. Shahbazi had a doctorate degree in Achaemenid archeology from University of London...
- Richard Nelson FryeRichard Nelson FryeRichard Nelson Frye is an American scholar of Iranic and Central Asian Studies, and Aga Khan Professor Emeritus of Iranian Studies at Harvard University...
- Ehsan YarshaterEhsan YarshaterEhsan Yarshater is the founder and director of The Center for Iranian Studies, and Hagop Kevorkian Professor Emeritus of Iranian Studies at Columbia University. He was the first full-time professor of Persian at a U.S. university since World War II....
- Mehrdad BaharMehrdad BaharMehrdād Bahār was a prominent Iranist, linguist, mythologist and Persian historian.Mehrdad Bahar, was the youngest son of Persian poet Mohammad Taghi Bahar. He held a PhD degree in Persian literature and Ancient Iranian languages from Tehran University...
Further reading
- The Spirit of Wisdom: Menog I Xrad : Essays in Memory of Ahmad Tafazzoli ISBN 1-56859-146-2