From all those groups, the Hittites and the Medes
formed the first Aryan country. Iran’s written history started with the
Medes. Hegel, the founder of Historical Philosophy, named
Iran the world’s first history making country. The Medes established
their country in 708 B.C. Cyrus the Great, conquered the Medes in 550
B.C., consolidating the local Medes kingdom into the Achaemenid Empire.
Preceding Cyrus, the Medes ruled as local Anzan (Ilamit) kingdom and
paid tribute to the rulers of the Assyrian Empire.
Even though later Muslim Arabs ruled
over Iran for almost two centuries, it cannot be said that Iranians became
Arabs. Only under duress did Iranians convert to Islam but did not change
their culture, which obviously could not have done.
From the view point of history,
every nation has a starting point in time. Based on this framework,
Mohammad’s flight from Mecca to Medina became the beginning of Arab
calendar, at the start of which a desert wondering scattered people became a
consolidated nation acquiring governance.
According to the Old Testament, the
Semitic people are the descendants of Noah’s oldest son “Shem”, wherefore
they are called “Semitic”. Some historians believe that the Semitic people
came into being in the fourth millennium B.C.E. in East Africa and then
moved to north. Others believe that they came into being in the Arabian
Peninsula, a theory that seems more plausible.
Where Mohammad’s Hegira from Mecca
to Medina was chosen as the beginning of the Arab calendar, Iranians owe
their unity to the Achaemenid dynasty, especially to Cyrus the Great. The
Iranian calendar therefore deserves to be based on the beginning of the
Achaemenid dynasty. The date of Cyrus the Great’s famous proclamation, which
is recognized as the first Bill of Human Rights, is the best possible date
for this purpose; for it is a reminder of the greatest historical glory
bestowed upon the Iranian people.
History is unalterable; at no time
for any reason can it be sacrificed to the changing politics of the day;
otherwise, history cannot exist.
It is necessary to reiterate that on
the occasion of the same Bill of Human Rights, in the Jewish and Christian’
Holy Book “The Bible”, Cyrus the Great is heralded as a Messiah of God and
diffuser of freedom on Earth. Therefore, among billions of the world’s
Christians and Jews who consider the Book as Holy Testament, Cyrus has found
an exceptional status. Perhaps tens or hundreds of thousand names “Cyrus”
they have given to the individuals, has a significant meaning.
Cyrus’ internationally acclaimed
proclamation (found on a cylinder in Babylon and is now housed in the
British Museum in London) is one of the most incomparable documents that
humankind has ever seen.
This decree, along with a
philosophic poem by our great Iranian poet “Saadi”, became the motto of the
United Nations. It is the pride of the world and of Iranians in particular.
In consideration of all encompassing
international importance of the
Declaration, the date of Cyrus the Great’s
declaration should be the beginning date of the Iranian calendar. In other
words, such internationally recognized declaration should be every Iranian’s
pride to recognize the year 538 B.C., as the start of Iranian calendar 2544;
(2006 + 538 = 2544).
It is suggested that the said date
be put in use starting this Now-rooz of 2545, instead of using none-Iranian
base for the calendar. Every Iranian must insist on using 2545 anywhere.
The proposed date has no religious
or political (Monarchy) roots, but has its unique historic and
internationally acknowledged base.
Note:
This article has been written in
consultation with several history books, such as Chronological History of
Iran by Dr. Pasargad, The History of Iran by Habibollah Shamloui, together
with exchange of ideas with knowledgeable friends and in consultation with
Dr. Shojaeddin Shafa whose enthusiastic input completed this research.
Dr. Shafa’s handwritten and oral
advice: “The date fixed during the reign of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi was
based on the history of Declaration of Cyrus the Great at the time; but due
to some logically understandable political reasons, it did not meet the
final approval. Today those political obstacles have vanished and the date
of the Declaration of Human Rights by Cyrus the Great becomes the best
choice.
HC
