Understanding Pahlavi: A Former Language of Iran

Pahlavi (also known as Pahlevi) is a form of the Persian language that was used in Iran from the 3rd to the 10th centuries. It was the official language of the Sassanid Empire, and it continued to be used as a literary language until the Arab conquest of Iran in the 7th century.

Pahlavi is divided into three main branches: Book Pahlavi, which was used for religious texts; Inscriptional Pahlavi, which was used for royal inscriptions; and Literary Pahlavi, which was used for literature and other written works.

Pahlavi is written from right to left, using the Persian alphabet, which is a modified form of the ancient Aramaic alphabet. It is still used today in some religious contexts, such as in the Zoroastrian religion, and it has also influenced the development of modern Iranian languages such as Dari and Tajik.