Alireza Shapour Shahbazi (; 4 September 1942 Shiraz - 15 July 2006 Walla Walla, Washington) was a prominent Persian archaeologist, Iranologist and a world expert on Achaemenid archaeology. Shahbazi got a BA degree in and an MA degree in East Asian archaeology from SOAS. Shahbazi had a doctorate degree in Achaemenid archaeology from University of London. Alireza Shapour Shahbazi was a lecturer in Achaemenid archaeology and Iranology at Harvard University. He was also a full professor of archaeology at Shiraz University and founded at Persepolis the Institute of Achaemenid Research in 1974. After the Islamic revolution, he moved to the US, firstly teaching at Columbia University and then later becoming a full professor of history in Eastern Oregon University.
While employed at Columbia, Shahbazi became involved with the formation of the Encyclopædia Iranica. Shahbazi, who also served as visiting associate editor until 2003, would also author 76 articles of varying topics covering the Achaemenids, Arsacids, and Sasanian periods of Iran.
Shahbazi wrote numerous classic books and articles on archaeology (Achaemenid, Sassanian and Islamic) in English, German, French, and the Persian language. He died on 15 July 2006 after a long battle with cancer.Dr. Ali Reza Shapur Shahbazi | 1942 - 2006 | Obituary He was transferred to Shiraz and buried in the memorials surrounding the Tomb of Hafez (Tomb of Hafez).
Academic career
1968–71 Instructor in Near Eastern history, Shiraz University (Also classes held for EXPERIENCE: American guest students from Pennsylvania and Kent State Universities) 1973–74 Curator, Archaeological Museum, Tehran; lecturer in history and Near Eastern civilization, University of Tehran 1974–79 Founding director of the Archaeological Institute at Persepolis; lecturer in Near Eastern history, Asia Institute, Shiraz 1979–80 Visiting scholar, Columbia University 1980–83 Post-doctoral research in historiography, Göttingen University, Germany 1983–84 Lecturer in Iranian civilization, University Extension, Harvard University; associate of the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University 1984–85 Lecturer in Persian, Columbia University; assistant editor Encyclopædia Iranica 1985– Associate professor (professor since 1990) of history, Eastern Oregon University 1990-2005 - Professor of history, Eastern Oregon University 1996- Consulting editor, The University Press of Iran 1998 Consulting editor, Journal of Archaeology and History 2002–2003 Associate editor Encyclopædia Iranica 2002- Consulting editor, The International Journal of Ancient Iranian Studies
Awards 1970 Book of the Year Prize (see Bibliography, #1) INCLUDE 1980-83 Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship, West Germany 1995 Outstanding Faculty Advisor, Phi Alpha Theta History Honour Society 2005 Distinguished Faculty, Eastern Oregon University 2005 Distinguished Career Achievement, the Middle East Study Association.
Works
Books I. Publications: A. Book (see also D. Translation)
1. Cyrus the Great: Founder of the Persian Empire (Shiraz University Publication, No. 19, Shiraz 1970; awarded Book of the Year Prize, 1970).
2. Darius the Great (Shiraz University Publication, No. 26, Shiraz 1971), second revised version is in preparation.
3. A Persian Prince: Cyrus the Younger (Shiraz University Publication, No. 29, Shiraz 1971).
4. Illustrated Description of Naqš-i Rustam, (Tehran, 1978). Second revised edition in the press.
5. The Irano-Lycian Monuments: The Antiquities of Xanthos and Its Region as Evidence for the Iranian Aspects of the Achaemenid Lycia (Institute of Achaemenid Research Publication, No. II, Tehran 1975) [1973 Doctoral Thesis for London University].
6. Persepolis Illustrated (Institute of Achaemenid Research Publication, No. IV, Tehran 1976), second edition, Tehran (1997); third revised edition due out in April 2003.
7. Sharh-e Mosawwar-e Takht-e Jamshid (Institute of Achaemenid Research Publication, No. VI), Tehran 1966; third revised edition in the press.
8. Persepolis Illustre (French tr. by A. Surrat, Institute of Achaemenid Research Publication, No. III, Tehran 1977).
9. Illustrierte Beschreibung von Persepolis (German tr. by E. Niewoehner, Institute of Achaemenid Research Publication, No. V, Tehran 1977).
10. The Medes and The Persians, Tehran Open University text book, Tehran (1977).
11. A History of Iranian Historiography to A.D. 1000, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation sponsored study [publication ready].
12. Old Persian Inscriptions of Persepolis, I: Texts from the Platform Monuments [Corpus inscriptionum iranicarum I, 1. Portf. 1.], London (1985).
13. Persepolis IV: A comprehensive analysis of Persepolitan inscriptions and monument studied since E. F. Schmidt (in preparation).
14. Ferdows: A Critical Biography, Centre for Near Eastern Studies, Harvard University, (1991). Revised Persian version in preparation.
15. Passargadae. A Comprehensive and Illustrated Guide, Tehran 2000.
16. A Political History of the Sasanian Period, Persian Heritage Series, New York (forthcoming).
17. A Commentary on Tabari's History of the Sasanian Kings, The University Press of Iran, Tehran (due June 2003).
18. The Authoritative Guide to Persepolis, SAFIR Publication, Tehran, 2004
19. Rahnamaye Mostanade Takhte-Jamshid, Parsa-Pasargadae Research Foundation Publication, No. 1, Tehran, 2005.
Collaborations 20. Annotated ed. of P. J. Junge, Darieos I. König der Perser [Leipzig 1944], Institute of Achaemenid Research Publications, No. VIII. Shiraz (1978).
21. [Assistant Editor], Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. II, London 1987.
22. [With O. P. Skaervø], Festschrift for Professor Richard Nelson Frye = Bulletin of the Asia Institute 4, 1990).
23. [Collaborator with Dina Amin and M. Kasheff], Acta Iranica 30. Papers in Honor of Professor Ehsan Yarshater Leiden (1990).
24. The Splendour of Iran, Vol. I: Ancient Times, Booth-Clibborn Editions of London and The University Press of Iran, London 2001.
25. [Associate Editor], Encyclopædia Iranica, vols. X-XI, New York, 2002–2003
Articles
26. "Cyrus the Great and Croesus", Khirad va Kushish 2 (1969), 157–74.
27. "The Expedition of Cyrus the Younger", Khirad va Kushish, 3 (1970), 332–50.
28. "An Achaemenid Tomb: The Gur-i Dukhtar at Buzpar", Bastanshinasi va hunare Iran, IV (1971), 54–6, 92–99.
29. "The 'One Year' of Darius Re-examined", Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies [University of London] 30 (1972) 609–614.
30. "An Achaemenid Symbol. I: A Farewell to 'Fravahr' and 'Ahuramazda'", Archäologische Mitteilungen ans Iran NF. [Berlin] 7 (1974), 135–44.
31. "Some remarks on the Sh_hn_meh of Firdausi", Hunar va Mardum, Nos. 153-45 (1975), 118–120.
32. "The Persepolis 'Treasury Reliefs' once more", Archäologische Mitteilungen aus Iran NF. 9 (1976), 152–56.
33. 'The 'Traditional date of Zoroaster' explained", Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies [University of London] 34 (1977), 25–35.
34. "From Parsa to Takht-i Jamshed", Archäologische Mitteilungen ans Iran 10 (1977), 197–207.
35. "New aspects of Persepolitan studies", Gymnasium 85 (1978), 478–500.
36. "Archaeological, historical and onomastical notes" on the Persian tr. of Herodotus' Historiae by Gh. Vahid Mazandarani, Tehran (1979, pp. 522–74).
37. "An Achaemenid Symbol II. Farnah '(God given) Fortune' symbolised", Archäologische Mitteilungen ans Iran 13 (1980), 119–47.
38. "Firdaus's Date of Birth," Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft 134 (1984), 98–105.
39. "The Sixth International Congress of Iranian Arts and Archaeology", Rahnamaye Ketab, 15 (1351/1972), 692–702.
40. "Darius in Scythia and Scythians in Persepolis," Archäologische Mitteilungen ans Iran 15 (1982), 189–236.
41. "Studies in Sasanian Iconography I. Narse's Investiture at Naqš-i Rustam", Archäologische Mitteilungen ans Iran 16 (1983), 255–68.
42. "Vareγna, the royal falcon," Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft 134 (1984), 314–17.
44. "Studies in S_s_nian Prosopography II. The relief of Ardašir II at Taq-i Bustan", Archäologische Mitteilungen ans Iran 18 (1985), 181–85.
45. "Darius' Haft-Kišvar", Archäologische Mitteilungen ans Iran. Erg_nzungsband 10 [Kunst, Kultur und Geschichte der Achämenidenzeit und ihr Nachleben, eds. H. M. Koch-D. N. Makenzie], Berlin (1983), 239–46.
46. "Iranian Notes 1-6", Acta Iranica 25 [=Papers in Honour of Professor Mary Boyce], Leiden (1985), 497–510.
47. "Iranian Notes 7-13", Archäologische Mitteilungen ans Iran 19 (1986), 163–170.
48. "Zadroz-e Firdausi" Ayanda: A Journal of Iranian Studies, 12 (1365/1986), 42–7.
49. "Babr-e Bayan", Ayanda 13 (1367/1988) 54–8.
50. "Guzidaha-ye Iranšinenasi", Ayanda 13 (1367/1988), 354–61.
51. "The Three Faces of Tigranes", American Journal of Ancient History Vol. 10, No. 2 (1985 ), 124-36 (Harvard University).
52. "On the Xwaday-namag", Acta Iranica 30 [=Papers in Honor of Professor Ehsan Yarshater], Leiden (1990) 208–29.
53–58. "Huns"; "Isfahan"; "Panjikant"; "Pasargadae"; "Persepolis"; "Xerxes" in R. C. Bulliet ed., Encyclopaedia of Asian Studies (Middle East), New York (1988).
59. "Amazons" in E. Yarshater ed. Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. I (London 1985), 929.
60. "Amorges", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. I, 986–87.
61. "Apama" Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. II (London 1987), 150.
62. "Ardašir II", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. II, 380–81.
63. "Ardašir III", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. II, 381–82.
64. "Ardašir Sakanšah", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. II, 383–84.
65. "Ariaeos", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. II, 405–406.
66. "Ariaramaeia", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. II, 407–408.
67. "Ariobarzanes #2", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. II, 407–408.
68. "Ariyaramnes",. Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. II, 410–411.
69. "Army in Ancient Iran", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. II, 489–99.
70. "Arnavaz", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. II, 517.
71. "Arsacid Origins", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. II, 525.
72. "Arsacid Era", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. II, 451–52.
73. "Arsacid Chronology in Traditional History", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. II, 542–43.
74."Aršama", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. II, 46.
75. "Arsites", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. II, 548.
76. "Artachaias", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. II, 651.
77. "Artyphios", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. II, 655.
78. "Asb (Horse) in Ancient Iran", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. II, 724–30.
79. "Aspacana", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. II, 786–87.
80. "Aspastes", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. II, 88.
81. "Astodan", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. II, 851–53.
82. "Bab-e Homayon", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. III (London 1989), 284–85.
83. "Bahram I", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. III, 515–16.
84. "Bahram II", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. III ibid., 516–17.
85. "Bahram-e Cobina", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. III, 519–22.
86. "Bestam o Bendoy", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. IV (London 1990), 180–82.
87. "Byzantine-Iranian Relations", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. IV, 588–599.
88. "Capital Cities", in E. Yarshater ed., Encyclopædia Iranica IV, 768–70.
89. "Cambadene", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. III, 724.
90. "Carrhae, Battle of", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. V (1991), 9–13.
91. "Characene in Rhagae", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. V, 365–66.
92. "Clothes: Iranian Costumes in the Median and Achaemenid Periods"; Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. V, 722–737.
93. "Coronation: in Pre-Islamic Iran", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. V, 277–79.
94. "Croesus", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. V, 401–2.
95. "Crowns: iv - of Persian rulers from the Islamic conquest to the Qajar period", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. V, 421–25.
96. "Cunaxa:: battle of", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. VI, (1993), 455–56.
97. "Cyrus I of Anshan", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. VI, 516.
98. "Dance in Pre-Islamic Iran", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol. VI, 640–41.
99. "Darius the Great", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol.VII/1 (1994), 41–50.
100. "Dat-al-Salasel, Battle of", Encyclopædia Iranica, Vol.VII, 98.