Iraj first appears in the Avesta under the nameAiriia𐬀𐬌𐬭𐬌𐬌𐬀. He may be mentioned in the Persepolis Elamite tablets asHarriyazza, which would be the Elamite rendering of a hypotheticalOld Persian*Airya-ča.[3] In theMiddle Persian literature, he appears asĒrič and inModern Persian asIraj (Persian:ایرج,romanized: ʾīraj. The name is universially agreed to the meanIranian pointing to his role as thelegendary progenitor of the Iranians.[4]
The oldest mention ofIraj is found in theAvesta, where he appears asAiriia. In theFravardin Yasht (Yt. 13.131), he is mentioned as the father ofManuchehr, although in later tradition he is his grandfather.[5] Elements of his story were reportedly also provided in theChihrdad nask. This book was one of the volumes of theSasanian Avesta, but is nolonger extant.[6] Its content is, however, summarized in the laterDenkard, according to which, it contained the division of the world between him and his bothers.[7]
Iraj is also mentioned in a number ofMiddle Persian sources, where he appears asĒrič.[8] Next to theDenkard, which retells parts of theChihrdad nask, he is also mentioned in theBundahishn, which tells how his death at the hands of his brothers was eventually avenged byManuchehr.[9] In theAyādgār ī Jāmāspīg, we also find the story of the division of the world, but withSalm now becoming the ruler ofRome.[10]
The definite account ofIraj is provided in theShahnameh byFerdowsi. The story therein contains all the elements known from the earlier Avestan and Middle Persian sources, like the division of the world between him and his brothers, his later murder and the eventual revenge by his grandsonManuchehr. Being thenational epic ofGreater Iran, the story in theShahnameh has been praised for its "eloquence and picturesque language".[11] A modernized prose version of the story as given in the Shahnameh is presented byYarshater.[12]
^Yarshater 2004, "Iraj, the eponymous ancestor of the Iranians".
^Shahbazi 2004, "The oldest trace of the story of Iraj and his brothers is found in the Fravardin Yašt, where the fravaši of Manu-ščiθra (> Manučehr) son of Airiya (> Iraj) is venerated".
^Shahbazi 2004, "The Bundahišn [...] refers to the story of the three brothers and to Manuščihr’s avenging of the murder of Ērič by Sarm and Turč".
^Shahbazi 2004, "According to the Ayādgār ī Jāmāspīg[,] Salm, who desired great riches, received the [wealthy] land of Rum".
^Shahbazi 2004, "The most developed form of the story of Iraj is given by Ferdowsi (Šāh-nāma, ed. Khaleghi, I, pp. 92-157) in an episode remarkable for its eloquence and picturesque language".
Cereti, Carlo (2002). "On Zoroaster's Genealogy".Iran: Questions et connaissances. I. La période ancienne. Cahiers de Studia Iranica Series. Vol. 25. Paris: Association pour l'avancement des études iraniennes.ISBN978-2910640101.
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