Ebrahim Pourdavoud | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | ابراهیم پورداوود (1885-02-09)9 February 1885 |
| Died | 17 November 1968(1968-11-17) (aged 83) |
| Resting place | Pourdavoud family mausoleum, Rasht, Iran |
| Occupation | |
| Language | |
| Nationality | Iranian |
| Alma mater | University of Paris |
| Period | Modern |
Ebrāhim Pourdāvoud[1] (Persian:ابراهیم پورداوود; 9 February 1885 – 17 November 1968) was an Iranologist and a professor of ancient Iranian culture and theAvestan language at theUniversity of Tehran. Born inRasht to a mother who was the daughter of a clergyman and a father who was a reputable merchant and landlord, Pourdavoud is considered one of the most formidable scholars of Iran during the 20th century. Renowned for translating theAvesta intoPersian in six volumes, Pourdavoud made numerous significant contributions to Iranian studies.
At the age of 20, Pourdavoud moved to Tehran to pursue studies in traditional medicine. However, he found the field unsuited to his interests and left the program. In 1908, at the age of 23, he relocated toBeirut, where he studied French literature for two and a half years. After a brief return to Iran to visit his family, he departed for France.
In France, he founded the periodicalIranshahr (the Land of Iran).[2] The first issue appeared in April 1914, with the fourth and final issue published in August 1914, coinciding with the outbreak ofWorld War I.
During the First World War, Pourdavoud settled inBaghdad, where he launched another publication titledRastakhiz (Resurrection).[3] The periodical ran for 25 issues before ceasing publication in March 1916. Following this, he moved toBerlin, where he remained until 1924. His time in Germany marked a turning point in his academic focus, as he developed a deep interest inZoroastrian teachings and the history of ancient Iran.
Upon his return to Iran in 1924, Pourdavoud founded theSchool of Ancient Languages, where he conducted extensive research on ancient Iranian history and languages, with a particular emphasis onAvestan. In 1945, he established theIranology Society and later theSchool of Iranology, institutions that significantly contributed to the development of Iranian studies in the 20th century.
Pourdavoud's scholarly work encompassed several key areas:
In addition to his native Persian, Pourdavoud was proficient inArabic,English,French,German, andTurkish, as well as ancient Iranian languages.
Pourdavoud received multiple international honours in recognition of his scholarly achievements. In 1955, he was awarded Germany's highest academic distinction by PresidentTheodor Heuss. He later received the Rabindranath Tagore Medal from India, awarded for outstanding contributions to literature. In 1965, he was honoured with the Order of Saint Sylvester by a representative ofPope Paul VI in Tehran.
Pourdavoud was married to a woman of German descent, and the couple had one daughter, Pourandokht. He died on the morning of 17 November 1968; he was found at his desk in his home study.
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