Ebrahim Poordavood
Encyclopedia
Ebrāhim Pourdāvoud (Persian
: ابراهیم پورداوود), was born in Rasht
, Iran
, to a mother who was the daughter of a clergyman and a father who was a reputable merchant and landlord. He is one of the most formidable scholars of Iran during the 20th century. Pourdavoud translated Avesta
into Persian
in six volumes. He made in addition many other significant contributions to the Iranian studies.
At 20 Pourdavoud moved to Tehran
to study traditional medicine
, but medicine proved not to be to his liking. In 1908, at the age of 23, he went to Beirut
where he studied French literature
for two and a half years. He then returned to Iran to visit his family but before long left for France
. Here he published the periodical Iranshahr (the Land of Iran), with the first issue appearing in April 1914 and the fourth and the last issue on the day the World War I
erupted. During the War he established himself in Baghdad
where he published the periodical Rastakhiz (Resurrection); in total 25 issues of this periodical were published, publication lasting until March 1916. He left Baghdad for Berlin
where he stayed until 1924. His studies in Germany
led him to Zoroastrian history and teachings.
After his return to Iran, in 1924 Pourdavoud founded the School of Ancient Languages where he initiated extensive research work concerning ancient history and ancient Iranian languages
, especially the Avestan language. In 1945 he founded the Iranology Society and very soon afterwards the School of Iranology.
Pourdavoud’s many and varied contributions fall into the following categories:
Pourdavoud was well-versed in Arabic
, English
, French
, German
, and Turkish
, in addition to his mother tongue and ancient Persian languages.
Pourdavoud was awarded Germany's
highest academic honour by the German President Theodor Heuss
in 1955. Soon hereafter he received the Rabindranath Tagore
Medal, which is conferred in recognition of outstanding contributions to literature, from India
. In 1965 he received from the representative of Pope Paul VI
in Tehran the order of Chevalier Saint Sylvester Pope (Knight of Saint Sylvester Pope).
He was married to a woman of German origin; they had one daughter named Pourandokht. In the morning of November 17, 1968, his family found him dead behind his desk in his study at home.
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
: ابراهیم پورداوود), was born in Rasht
Rasht
Rasht is a city in and the capital of Gilan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 551,161, in 159,983 families.Rasht is the largest city on Iran's Caspian Sea coast. It is a major trade center between Caucasia, Russia and Iran using the port of Bandar-e Anzali...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, to a mother who was the daughter of a clergyman and a father who was a reputable merchant and landlord. He is one of the most formidable scholars of Iran during the 20th century. Pourdavoud translated Avesta
Avesta
The Avesta is the primary collection of sacred texts of Zoroastrianism, composed in the Avestan language.-Early transmission:The texts of the Avesta — which are all in the Avestan language — were composed over the course of several hundred years. The most important portion, the Gathas,...
into Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
in six volumes. He made in addition many other significant contributions to the Iranian studies.
At 20 Pourdavoud moved to Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
to study traditional medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
, but medicine proved not to be to his liking. In 1908, at the age of 23, he went to Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
where he studied French literature
French literature
French literature is, generally speaking, literature written in the French language, particularly by citizens of France; it may also refer to literature written by people living in France who speak traditional languages of France other than French. Literature written in French language, by citizens...
for two and a half years. He then returned to Iran to visit his family but before long left for France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Here he published the periodical Iranshahr (the Land of Iran), with the first issue appearing in April 1914 and the fourth and the last issue on the day the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
erupted. During the War he established himself in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
where he published the periodical Rastakhiz (Resurrection); in total 25 issues of this periodical were published, publication lasting until March 1916. He left Baghdad for Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
where he stayed until 1924. His studies in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
led him to Zoroastrian history and teachings.
After his return to Iran, in 1924 Pourdavoud founded the School of Ancient Languages where he initiated extensive research work concerning ancient history and ancient Iranian languages
Iranian languages
The Iranian languages form a subfamily of the Indo-Iranian languages which in turn is a subgroup of Indo-European language family. They have been and are spoken by Iranian peoples....
, especially the Avestan language. In 1945 he founded the Iranology Society and very soon afterwards the School of Iranology.
Pourdavoud’s many and varied contributions fall into the following categories:
- - translation of Avesta,
- - investigations into ancient Persian languages, especially the Avestan language,
- - interpretation of the contents of Avesta, including elucidation of signs and symbols, as well as terms and expressions used herein,
- - studies concerning peoples, animals, plants, and
- - research into the history of IranHistory of IranThe history of Iran has been intertwined with the history of a larger historical region, comprising the area from the Danube River in the west to the Indus River and Jaxartes in the east and from the Caucasus, Caspian Sea, and Aral Sea in the north to the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman and Egypt...
, giving especial attention to the weapons used by ancient Persians and the methods with which these were used.
Pourdavoud was well-versed in Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, and Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
, in addition to his mother tongue and ancient Persian languages.
Pourdavoud was awarded Germany's
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
highest academic honour by the German President Theodor Heuss
Theodor Heuss
Theodor Heuss was a liberal German politician who served as the first President of the Federal Republic of Germany after World War II from 1949 to 1959...
in 1955. Soon hereafter he received the Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore , sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali polymath who reshaped his region's literature and music. Author of Gitanjali and its "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse", he became the first non-European Nobel laureate by earning the 1913 Prize in Literature...
Medal, which is conferred in recognition of outstanding contributions to literature, from India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. In 1965 he received from the representative of Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
in Tehran the order of Chevalier Saint Sylvester Pope (Knight of Saint Sylvester Pope).
He was married to a woman of German origin; they had one daughter named Pourandokht. In the morning of November 17, 1968, his family found him dead behind his desk in his study at home.
External links
- K. Movaghar, Editor-in-Chief, Ebrahim Pourdavoud, Events.
- Bouzarjomehr Parkhideh, Professor Ibrahim Pourdavoud, Author of a Report on Avesta, 2004, Iran Chamber Society.
- A video documentary about Ebrahim Pourdavood, with his daughter, Ms Pourandokht Pourdavood, relating some family history, in Persian, bebin.tv (6 min 11 sec).
- Ebrahim Pourdavoud - Article in Swedish