Lion and Sun
| Lion and Sun شیر و خورشید Šir o Xoršid | |
|---|---|
Simplified modern version; not officially used during the Pahlavi era, Seen on 2500 Years Celebration Coat of Arms Plates | |
| Versions | |
Another modern reconstruction; not officially used during the Pahlavi era | |
Official simplified version used by the Imperial State of Iran during the 1970s | |
Alternative recent standardisation based on the 1970s version. | |
Older version officially used by the Imperial State of Iran from the 1940s to 1950s | |
| Other elements | The sun and the lion holding a shamshir (a long, curved sword) |
| Use | Former emblem of Iran, former flag of Iran (before the 1979 revolution) |
The Lion and Sun is one of the main emblems of Iran (historically Persia) and was a central element in Iran's national flag until the 1979 Islamic revolution. It remains widely used by Iranian nationalists and opposition groups to the Islamic Republic government.
A version of the Lion and Sun that features a sun half-hidden behind a lion appears for the first time in the Book of Nativities written by Albumasar, with illustrations by the Persian artist Qanbar ʿAli Shirazi in the 14th century. However, the Lion and Sun symbol was used in pre-Islamic times, prior to the Achaemenid dynasty, while the sun was used on the standards, flags, and banners of pre-Achaemenid times. The secular origins of the Lion and Sun trace back to pre-Islamic Persian astronomy and astrology, symbolising the sun in the Leo constellation. The Lion and Sun motif gained widespread popularity following the advent of Islam, appearing frequently on coins, metalwork, tiles, and miniature paintings throughout Iran, Central Asia, and India.