Last week we featured Shahpur, son of Ardashir, and his new statue installed in Tehran. This week, we explore Ardashir himself – Founder of the Sasanian dynasty, who established Zoroastrianism as Iran’s State Religion in the third century.

In the third century AD, Iran experienced a significant revival and consolidation of the Zoroastrian faith. During this period, the Sasanian rulers formally adopted Zoroastrianism as the state religion and actively encouraged its rituals, theology and administration. Several Atash Bahrams (Fires of Victory) were established, and ancient religious texts were reorganised and preserved. The Sasanian Empire itself became a formidable Iranian dynasty, ruling from 224 AD to 651 AD.

After Alexander’s invasion and the fall of the Achaemenian Empire, Zoroastrianism had declined, as the Greeks attempted to Hellenize Iran and impose their culture and beliefs. While they succeeded in some regions, provinces like Pars resisted strongly. With the rise of the Parthians, the religion regained some footing. However, it was under Ardashir Babakan, founder of the Sasanian dynasty, and his son Shahpur that Zoroastrianism truly flourished and evolved into a strong, organised state religion.

The Karname-e Ardashir-e Babakan or the Book of the Deeds of Ardashir, Son of Babakan, is a legendary Middle Persian tale written during the Sasanian period. It recounts the extraordinary adventures of Ardashir, who not only laid the foundations of a great Persian empire, but also revived the Zoroastrian faith, restoring it from near ruin after Alexander’s invasion. The tale is a compelling blend of vision, courage and moral strength. Inspiring and captivating, it offers a powerful historical lesson on becoming the change we wish to see, celebrating the resilience of the human spirit and the unwavering determination of ancient Persians.

Sasanian Dynasty: Ardashir Babakan (224-241 AD), founder of the Sasanian dynasty, was the son of Sasan, a shepherd serving Babakan, the Governor of Pars and commissioner under Artabanus, the last Parthian king. Sasan was a descendant of Darab and his son Darius III, the final Achaemenian ruler. Following Alexander’s conquest and the Macedonian takeover, Darab’s lineage lived quietly and anonymously in remote regions of Iran until their legacy resurfaced through Ardashir.

Babakan’s dream: One night, Babakan dreamt of a radiant light, bright as the sun, shining from the head of his humble servant, Sasan. The following night, he saw Sasan seated upon a richly adorned white elephant, while the people of the kingdom bowed before him in respect. On the third night, he dreamt of the three ancient and sacred fires – Farnbagh, Gushnasp and Burzin-Meher – burning in Sasan’s home and illuminating the entire world.

Astonished, Babakan summoned priests and soothsayers to interpret the dreams. The interpreters declared that the dazzling light symbolised that Sasan or one of his descendants would ascend as a brilliant and illustrious ruler of Iran. The majestic white elephant represented strength, stability and the dawn of a new era of wisdom and prosperity. The sacred fires signified that Sasan or his lineage would revive and restore the ancient Zoroastrian faith to its original glory. Hearing this, Babakan summoned Sasan and questioned him about his true origins. Assured of Babakan’s goodwill, Sasan finally revealed that he belonged to the royal lineage of Darab.

Birth of Ardashir: Babakan, who had no son of his own, was overjoyed and gave his daughter Gohrafrid in marriage to Sasan. From this union, Ardashir was born. Babakan regarded the child as his own and raised him with exceptional affection. Though Babakan was Ardashir’s maternal grandfather, the future founder of the Sasanian dynasty became known as Ardashir Babakan, honouring the house that nurtured him. However, the dynasty he later established was named after his true father, Sasan.

Destined for Greatness: By age fifteen, Ardashir had already distinguished himself in learning, horsemanship and martial skill. His reputation soon reached the Parthian king, Artabanus, who invited the promising youth to the royal court at Rae, near present-day Tehran. Babakan sent Ardashir with ten attendants and rich gifts, and Artabanus, impressed by his abilities, ordered that he accompany the princes, especially on hunts and polo outings.

During one such hunt, Ardashir and the king’s eldest son pursued an elk across the desert. As they closed in, Ardashir released an arrow with such precision and force that it pierced the animal completely, killing it instantly. When Artabanus arrived, he asked who had performed this remarkable feat. The king’s son attempted to claim the honour for himself. Angered by this falsehood, Ardashir rebuked him, saying it was unjust and dishonourable to seize another’s achievement through falsehood and tyranny. Artabanus, offended by Ardashir’s boldness, punished him by barring him from riding and excluding him from future hunts. He demoted Ardashir to a servant’s duties in the royal stables.

When Ardashir wrote to Babakan about the incident, Babakan advised him to reflect, saying: “You acted unwisely in disputing publicly with those in power. Often a man brings upon himself the harm that even an enemy could not inflict.”

Changing Stars: Meanwhile, at Artabanus’ court, the chief astrologer observed that Capricorn had descended and Jupiter had returned to its highest point, separated from Mars and Venus. This alignment signified the rise of a new ruler who would unite the world under one sovereign. Another astrologer predicted that if any male servant fled the king within three days, he would overthrow Artabanus and become the next monarch.

Fate unfolded accordingly. Ardashir resolved to flee Rae and return to his homeland, Pars in southern Iran. When Artabanus learned of this, he assembled an army of four thousand men and set out in pursuit. Legend says the Kayanian Khvarnah – Divine Glory – followed Ardashir in the form of an eagle.

During Ardashir’s flight to Pars, a warrior named Banak (Bohak), dissatisfied with Artabanus, approached him with his six sons and a band of soldiers. Ardashir initially feared Banak might capture him and hand him over to the king. Once assured of Banak’s loyalty, he rejoiced and ordered a town to be built at the very spot where this allegiance was secured, naming it Ramishn-i-Artakhshir (Joy of Ardashir). Leaving Banak there with a cavalry unit, Ardashir continued toward the seacoast. On reaching the ocean, he offered thanks to Ahura Mazda and named the place Bukht Ardashir, establishing an Atash Behram nearby. He then returned to Banak, assembled an army, and prayed before the sacred Fire Farnbagh for blessings.

Ardashir gathered soldiers from Kerman, Mokristan, Spahan and the districts of Pars, while Artabanus assembled forces from Rae, Demavand, Delman and Patash-khvargar. After a fierce forty-day battle fought in 226 AD, Ardashir defeated Artabanus, ending the Parthian Empire. He assumed the title ‘Shahan Shah-e-Iran’ (King of Kings of Iran), married Artabanus’s daughter and returned to Pars. To honour his victory, he founded the city of Khvarrah-Artakhshir (Glory of Ardashir), known today as Firuzabad.

Revival of Zoroastrianism: Ardashir, with his High Priest and Grand Wazir Tansar, worked tirelessly to restore the ancient glory of his forefathers. The scattered fragments of the Avesta were gathered and recompiled, and Ardashir assumed the role of Defender of the Faith, uniting Church and State under a single authority.

However, the growth of the Zoroastrian Church in the early Sasanian era is more closely associated with Kartir (or Kerdir), who emerged as a key architect of Zoroastrian orthodoxy and played a central role in curbing the influence of proselytizing religions such as Buddhism and Christianity. Kartir ordered the execution of Mani, the heretic, in 242 AD, and he suppressed Zoroastrian apostates as well. Historians view Sasanians as less tolerant than Achaemenians, who never faced such aggressively expanding faiths.

Sasanian architecture: Sasanian architecture, known for its brickwork and pioneering domes, differed greatly from the columned style of the Achaemenians. Sasanian kings were among the first to develop dome structures in the third century A.D. The ruins of Ardashir’s palace at Firuzabad still reflect this early innovation, later perfected with elaborate mosaics and tiles in Islamic architecture.

At Taq-e-Bostan in Kermanshah stands the famous bas-relief of Ardashir Babakan and his son Shapur I triumphing over the defeated Parthian king Artabanus. A fourth figure, often mistaken for Zarathushtra, is more likely the High Priest Tansar, the visionary Arda-Viraf, or possibly Mitra (Meher Yazata).