A Middle Persian Inscription from Persepolis

Abstract

This article deciphers and analyzes a previously unknown Sassanian mint location represented by the inscription <em>WLČ</em>., based on the analysis of a Middle Persian inscription found in Persepolis, and on the linguistic changes that occurred during the transition to modern Persian. Evidence is presented to show that this previously unknown Sassanian mint designation corresponds to the modern-day city of Borazjan in southwestern Iran. This is one of only a few cases in which the Sassanian recording of known towns is confirmed through archaeological evidence. Previous efforts to identify mint locations through abbreviated inscriptions and mint marks, have achieved good results. The linguistic analysis of official seals and inscriptions, in which the name of a city is either in the center (in abbreviated form) or along the rim (written in full), allows the identification of some mints.. This article presents a linguistic analysis of a previously unknown mint location designated <em>WLČ</em>. Based on a Middle Persian inscription found in Persepolis, and the linguistic changes that occurred during the transition to modern Persian, evidence indicates that <em>WLČ</em> designates the modern city of Borazjan. <br /> <br />