WOMAN AND DYNASTY IN THE EARLY SASANIAN PERIOD

Abstract

Sasanian government has based the legitimacy of the dynasty on spiritual and traditional grounds which cannot leave any room to discussion. Especially the ruling authority of the dynasty members processed through absolute principles. In this point of view, not only the kings who are accepted as the "descendants of gods" but also the women of the same family had the right to rule over the empire. In fact, it was not only the men who protected the strong bond between the empire and the dynasty in terms of the ideology of dynasty. The influential roles that the women of the Sasanian dynasty play and the references made to them designate the position that these women have in ruling over the empire. This article presents women who are mentioned in the earlier sources of Sasanians as well as in Sasanians inscriptions, seals, coins, and ornaments, and also the article discusses the dynasty's continuation motives thanks to women.