An Introduction to Arsacid-Pahlavi (Parthian)

One of the two major Middle Iranian languages is Arsacid Pahlavi (also called Parthian and Northwest Pahlavi[1]). The term Pahlavi is a noun derived from the adjective Pahlav[2], which is the equivalent of the Old Persian word Parthava meaning ‘Parthian’[3].

Arsacid Pahlavi (Parthian) was the official language of the Arsacid dynastic empire (248BCE-224CE)[4] of Iran. It is also preserved in a large body of Manichean texts, which provide evidence for its continuation in Central Asia right up until the 10^th century[5].

While Arsacid Pahlavi is categorised as a dialect within the Northwestern subgroup of Iranian languages, it retains many archaic Eastern Iranian features – probably because the founders of the Arsacid dynasty, the Parni tribe, were originally speakers of a Northeastern Iranian language similar to Scythian[6].

Parthian has no known direct linguistic ancestor[7], but is closely related to the Sasanid Pahlavi, commonly known as Middle Persian.

Notes:

[1] Ronald G. Kent, Old Persian Grammar, Texts, Lexicon, 2nd rev. ed., American Oriental Society, New Haven, (1953). P. 6.

[2] Hermann Collitz, “World Languages”, Language, Vol. 2, No. 1. (Mar., 1926), p.6.

[3] See idem, Old Persian Grammar, Texts, Lexicon, 2nd rev. ed., American Oriental Society, New Haven, (1953). p.7.

[4] Hermann Collitz, “World Languages”, Language, Vol. 2, No. 1. (Mar., 1926), p.6.

[5] Gernot L. Windfuhr, “Persian”, The Oxford Encyclopaedia of Archaeology in the Near East, vol. 4., American Schools of Oriental Research, Oxford University Press (1997) p. 293.

[6] P. Lecoq, “Aparna”, Encyclopaedia Iranica Online, http://www.iranica.com/newsite/articles/v2f2/v2f2a023.html; retrieved June 21, 2007.

[7] See idem, “Persian”, The Oxford Encyclopaedia of Archaeology in the Near East, vol. 4., American Schools of Oriental Research, Oxford University Press (1997) p. 293.

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