Document Type : Original Article
Author
Visiting Professor, Department of Theology, Mahshahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mahshahr, Iran
Abstract
Introduction
Khuzestan Province, known as the cradle of ancient Iranian civilization, has long been a center for the flourishing of human settlements and civilizations. Cities such as Susa, Madaktu along the Karkheh River, Aran, and Ahvaz along the Karun River, are among the earliest global centers of human habitation and civilization. The ancient city of Susa, the long-standing capital of the Elamites, continues to shine as a jewel in Iran's historical crown. Although the Elamites left numerous relics across this fertile province, many of their structures, often built with perishable materials, have undergone changes over the centuries. Yet, traces of their presence remain evident. Historical accounts indicate that the Emirate of Elimaid, considered the successor to Elamite civilization, relocated from northern Khuzestan to more southern areas following foreign invasions and the destruction of Susa, establishing its capital along the Jarrahi River (known as the Hedifon by the Romans).
In addition to the capital of Elimaid, other settlements and villages emerged along the Jarrahi River, some of which persist to this day. The region of Rāmshir (or ancient Khalfābād), based on archaeological findings such as artifacts from Tepe Rizvan and uncovered coins, was a thriving area within the Elimaid province during the Seleucid and Parthian eras and continued to host active cities and settlements in subsequent periods. Throughout history, this region has been known by various names, including "Ḥawmat al-Zuṭṭ," "Khābarān," "Khalfābād," and "Rāmshir."
One of the primary questions for travelers and newcomers to Khuzestan Province revolves around understanding the names and historical backgrounds of its cities, particularly those with historical and identity-rich names. At times, a single city has borne multiple names over time, each reflecting a part of the collective memory and local history. The city of "Rāmshir," which replaced the older name "Khalfābād" in the 1960s, is a prominent example of this phenomenon.
Despite the importance of tracing the origins and reasoning behind the naming of Rāmshir in studies of Khuzestan's cultural history and geography, the topic has either been addressed superficially or remained based on scattered assumptions. This ambiguity is further highlighted by the phonetic similarity between "Rāmshir" and "Rām Ardashīr"-a city attributed to Ardashir Babakan, founder of the Sasanian Empire—alongside the name "Ramhormoz." Some have sought to link this name to the Khalfābād region within the framework of the Pahlavi era's archeological policies.
In this context, the main research question is: What is the origin of the name "Rāmshir," and what was the reason for naming this region as such?
To address this question, the guiding hypothesis of the research is as follows: Despite uncertainties regarding the exact location of the ancient city of "Rām Ardashīr" in Iran's geography, it appears that the name "Rāmshir" was applied to the Khalfābād region due to its phonetic similarity to the aforementioned name and as part of efforts to revive Sasanian-era names during the Pahlavi period, replacing the previous name.
This study aims to analyze the etymological roots, examine historical texts, and evaluate urban naming policies over the past century to provide a well-documented and analytical answer to this question, filling a gap in comprehensive research on this topic.
The primary objective of this study is to scientifically and documentarily trace the origins of the name "Rāmshir" and explain the historical process of its naming. The necessity of this research lies in addressing the existing gap in scholarly resources regarding the history of this city's name and providing a comprehensive analysis of the connection between ancient names and the historical identity of the region
Research Method
This research employs a comprehensive historical-analytical methodology combining archival research, textual analysis, and comparative toponymic study. Primary sources include medieval geographical works (9th-14th centuries CE), Pahlavi-era government documents, and local historical records. Secondary sources comprise modern scholarly analyses of Sasanian history and onomastic studies. The methodological approach involves: 1) Critical examination of classical Islamic geographical texts mentioning "Rām Ardashir"; 2) Analysis of Pahlavi administrative documents regarding the renaming process; 3) Comparative study of similar toponymic changes in twentieth-century Iran; 4) Evaluation of archaeological evidence from the region. The research followed a systematic process of source verification, cross-referencing multiple accounts, and contextual historical analysis to ensure academic rigor.
Discussion
The investigation reveals complex historical layers behind the name "Rāmshir." Medieval sources, particularly Hamza al-Isfahani's *Tārīkh sinī mulūk al-arḍ* (10th century CE), acknowledge the existence of "Rām Ardashir" among cities founded by Ardashir I but explicitly state uncertainty about its location. Subsequent geographical works, including those by Ibn Khordadbeh and Yāqūt al-Hamawī, demonstrate ongoing confusion among medieval scholars regarding the city's precise location, with suggestions ranging from Fars to Khuzestan regions.
The Pahlavi-era renaming in 1964 must be understood within the context of twentieth-century Iranian state-building and cultural nationalism. The government's extensive toponymic reform program, which affected numerous geographical names across Iran, sought to emphasize pre-Islamic heritage while reducing non-Persian linguistic influences. In the specific case of Khalfābād's transformation to Rāmshir, several factors appear influential: 1) Phonetic similarity to both "Rām Ardashir" and the nearby city of Ramhormoz; 2) Administrative considerations following the area's incorporation into Ramhormoz county; 3) The prevailing academic theories of the time, particularly those promoted by Ahmad Eqtedāri; 4) The broader cultural policy of reviving Sasanian-era names as part of national identity reconstruction.
The research identifies significant evidentiary gaps in connecting modern Rāmshir with ancient Rām Ardashir. While classical sources confirm the historical existence of Rām Ardashir, its precise location remains archaeologically unverified and historically contested. The naming decision appears primarily motivated by cultural-political considerations rather than definitive historical evidence.
Conclusion
Today, the study of the origins and meanings of city names constitutes an important branch of historical and geographical research-a subject that holds particular significance for the city of Rāmshir due to its renaming in the 1960s. This new name has remained unfamiliar to locals while arousing curiosity and questions among travelers and newcomers. The most common response to the question, "What does Rāmshir mean?" is that it is an abbreviation of "Rām Ardashīr," a city attributed to Ardashīr Bābakān or Ardashīr I of the Sasanian Empire. However, an examination of historical and geographical sources reveals that such an interpretation is overly simplistic, and more complex dimensions must be considered.
Available evidence indicates that "Rām Ardashīr" appears in many sources merely as a name in the list of cities attributed to Ardashīr, and one cannot even confidently speak of its physical existence. Even if we accept that such a city was built by the Sasanian Ardashīr and continued to exist for some time, early and later writers and geographers were never able to identify its exact location. In contrast, an analysis of the historical context of renaming Khalfābād to Rāmshir shows that this action was less rooted in archaeological or geographical evidence and more tied to administrative decisions to upgrade the "district" (qasabeh) of Khalfābād to a "county" (bakhsh) and annex it to Ramhormoz County. This nominal association with Ramhormoz, along with speculations linking it to "Rām Ardashīr" and the naming and de-naming policies of the Pahlavi era, paved the way for this change.
Accordingly, it becomes clear that in tracing the origins of city names, one cannot rely solely on conjectures, subjective assumptions, or lexical connections; rather, it must be grounded in solid historical data and geographical evidence. Any name creation or fabrication, if divorced from the actual context of a region's history and culture, can lead to a rupture in the cultural continuity between past and present-a rupture that will be difficult to mend in the future.
Keywords
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