How a language of the Sasanian Empire became the ancestor of modern Persian

Countries & Cities · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Middle Persian, or Pahlavi, served as the official language of the Sasanian Empire from 224 to 651 CE. Evolving from Old Persian, it bridged the gap between ancient traditions and modern languages like Dari and Farsi, leaving behind a rich legacy of Zoroastrian and Manichaean religious texts.

Spoken from approximately 200 BCE to 1000 CE, Middle Persian represents a crucial middle stage in the development of Iranian languages. During the Sasanian period, it was referred to as Ērānīg, a term reflecting the Sasanian effort to define a cohesive political and cultural identity centered on the concept of Ērānšahr, or the Land of Iran. This linguistic identity was solidified through state inscriptions, most notably those of Shapur I, which utilized parallel versions in Parthian and Greek to project imperial authority.

The language’s writing system has a complex history rooted in the administrative practices of the Achaemenid Empire. Government scribes had long used Imperial Aramaic, a practice that persisted even as Iranian languages began to replace Aramaic elements. Under the Parthian Arsacids, this Aramaic-derived script became associated with the Parthians, leading to the term Pahlavi—derived from Pahlawig—being applied to the writing system. Eventually, this label became synonymous with Middle Persian itself, particularly as it was used by the Zoroastrian priestly elite to record sacred scriptures like the Denkard.

Following the Islamic conquest in the 7th century, Middle Persian faced significant pressure as Arabic influence grew and the language evolved into New Persian. While the spoken language shifted, the literate Zoroastrian elite resisted these changes, continuing to use the older script and language as a form of cultural preservation. Today, Middle Persian is recognized as the linguistic ancestor of modern Iranian languages, including Tajik, Dari, and the official language of Iran, Farsi. Its survival through religious texts ensures that it remains a vital link to the pre-Islamic history of the region.

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