Derafsh Kaviani

Derafsh Kaviani

Construction sheet: Derafsh Kaviani
Construction sheet

Description

  • The Derafsh Kaviani (درفش کاویانی) was the legendary royal standard of the Sassanid Empire
  • According to the Shahnameh, Kaveh the Blacksmith raised his leather apron on a spear to rally
  • the people against the tyrant Zahhak. The banner was captured by Arab forces at the
  • Battle of al-Qadisiyyah in 636 CE
  • Construction: a leather or cloth banner (drafsh) featuring the Derafsh Kaviani — a legendary royal standard often depicted as a rectangular jewelled leather apron on a pole

Trivia

  • The Sassanid Empire (224–651) was the last Persian Empire before Islamic conquest
  • Represented one of history's great empires alongside Rome
  • Known for advanced administrative and military systems

Derafsh Kaviani

The Derafsh Kaviani was the legendary royal standard of the Sassanid Empire, used from approximately 224 to 636 CE. According to the Shahnameh, Kaveh the Blacksmith raised his leather apron on a spear to rally the people against the tyrant Zahhak, and this banner became the imperial standard.

The standard was said to be made of leather adorned with jewels and precious metals, giving it a purple or crimson appearance. It was captured by Arab forces at the Battle of al-Qadisiyyah in 636 CE, marking the end of the Sassanid Empire and one of the ancient world's most storied military symbols.

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  "name": "Sassanid Empire (Derafsh Kaviani)",
  "now": "iran",
  "years": "224–651",
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  "index": "c/iran:224",
  "title": "Derafsh Kaviani",
  "subtitle": "Legendary royal standard of Persia (Sassanid Empire)",
  "use": {
    "as": "imperial standard",
    "since": "~224",
    "until": "636"
  },
  "colors": [
    {
      "color": "purple/crimson",
      "note": "The standard was said to be made of leather adorned with jewels and precious metals."
    }
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  "desc": "- The Derafsh Kaviani (درفش کاویانی) was the legendary royal standard of the Sassanid Empire\n - According to the Shahnameh, Kaveh the Blacksmith raised his leather apron on a spear to rally\n - the people against the tyrant Zahhak. The banner was captured by Arab forces at the\n - Battle of al-Qadisiyyah in 636 CE\n - **Construction:** a leather or cloth banner (drafsh) featuring the Derafsh Kaviani — a legendary royal standard often depicted as a rectangular jewelled leather apron on a pole",
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  "trivia": "- The Sassanid Empire (224–651) was the last Persian Empire before Islamic conquest\n - Represented one of history's great empires alongside Rome\n - Known for advanced administrative and military systems",
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  "_namespace": "persia",
  "_namePart": "sassanid"
}
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