Persophilia

Persophilia refers to the appreciation and love of Iranian culture, people or history. One of the most prominent Persophiles was the British literary historian, E. G. Browne, who participated in the Iranian Constitutional Revolution in 1906.

Origins

Greek leaders who gave themselves Persian titles or names were considered Persophiles. Sidonian kings whose governmental policies gave special rights to the Persians may also be referred to as persophiles. The earliest use of the word "persophile" may have been by the Royal Numismatic Society in 1838; it referred to a king of Marium which is in modern-day Cyprus. The opposite of Persophilia is anti-Iranianism.

Admiration of the Persians was especially high during the Achaemenid dynasty. For example, Cyrus the Great was the only Gentile to be considered a Messiah.

Notable Persophiles

• Peter Avery
• Edward Granville Browne
• Richard Nelson Frye
• John Limbert
• Arthur Upham Pope
• Howard Baskerville
• Coleman Barks

References

• An Iranophile's view on Modern Iran