Name Iranian peoples

the bistun inscription of darius great describes have been composed in arya [language or script].

in iranian languages, gentilic attested self-identifier included in ancient inscriptions , literature of avesta. earliest epigraphically attested reference word arya- occurs in bistun inscription of 6th century bc. inscription of bistun (or behistun; old persian: bagastana) describes have been composed in arya [language or script]. case other old iranian language usage, arya of inscription not signify iranian.

in royal old persian inscriptions, term arya- appears in 3 different contexts:

as name of language of old persian version of inscription of darius in bistun inscription.
as ethnic background of darius great in inscriptions @ rustam relief , susa (dna, dse) , ethnic background of xerxes in inscription persepolis (xph).
as definition of god of iranians, ohrmazd, in elamite version of bistun inscription.

in dna , dse, darius , xerxes describe achaemenid, persian, son of persian, , aryan, of aryan stock . although darius great called language arya- ( iranian ), modern scholars refer old persian because ancestor of modern persian language.

the trilingual inscription erected command of shapur gives more clear description. languages used parthian, middle persian, , greek. in greek inscription says ego ... tou arianon ethnous despotes eimi , translates king of kingdom (nation) of iranians . in middle persian, shapur says ērānšahr xwadāy hēm , in parthian says aryānšahr xwadāy ahēm .

the avesta uses airiia- ethnic name (videvdat 1; yasht 13.143–44, etc.), appears in expressions such airyāfi daiŋˊhāvō ( iranian lands ), airyō šayanəm ( land inhabited iranians ), , airyanəm vaējō vaŋhuyāfi dāityayāfi ( iranian stretch of dāityā ). in late part of avesta (videvdat 1), 1 of mentioned homelands referred airyan əm vaējah approximately means expanse of iranians . homeland varied in geographic range, area around herat (pliny s view) , entire expanse of iranian plateau (strabo s designation).

the old persian , avestan evidence confirmed greek sources. herodotus, in histories, remarks iranian medes medes called anciently people arians (7.62). in armenian sources, parthians, medes , persians collectively referred iranians. eudemus of rhodes (dubitationes et solutiones de primis principiis, in platonis parmenidem) refers magi , of iranian (áreion) lineage . diodorus siculus (1.94.2) considers zoroaster (zathraustēs) 1 of arianoi.

strabo, in geographica, mentions unity of medes, persians, bactrians , sogdians:

the name of ariana further extended part of persia , of media, bactrians , sogdians on north; these speak approximately same language, slight variations.

the bactrian (a middle iranian language) inscription of kanishka (the founder of kushan empire) @ rabatak, discovered in 1993 in unexcavated site in afghan province of baghlan, refers eastern iranian language arya.

all evidence shows name arya collective definition, denoting peoples aware of belonging 1 ethnic stock, speaking common language, , having religious tradition centered on cult of ohrmazd.

the academic usage of term iranian distinct state of iran , various citizens (who iranian nationality), in same way term germanic peoples distinct germans. inhabitants of iran not ethnic iranians virtue of not being speakers of iranian languages.

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