The Seven Great Houses of Iran, also known as the seven Parthian clans, were seven feudal aristocracies of Parthian origin, who were allied with the Sasanian court. The seven great houses of Iran had played an active role in Iranian politics since the days of the Arsacid Empire, which they continued to do under their successors, the Sasanians. Only two of the seven – the House of Suren and the House of Karen – however, are actually attested in sources date-able to the Parthian period. The seven houses claimed to have been confirmed as lords in Iran by the legendary Kayanian king Vishtaspa. 1. the House of Ispahbudhan, of Gurgan 2. The House of Varaz, of Eastern Khorasan 3. The House of Karen, of Nahavand 4. The House of Mihran, of Ray 5. The House of Spandiyadh, of Ray 6. The House of Zik, of Adurbadagan 7. The House of Suren, of Sakastan (Credit: Seven_Great_Houses_of_Iran, Wikipedia) [Image: 1. Clasp with an Eagle and its Prey found in Nahavand, believed by Ernst Herzfeld to originally belong to the House of Karen 2. 17th-century Shahnameh illustration of Mihransitad (from House of Mihran) selecting a bride for Khosrow I. 3. Parthian Cataphracts (Fully Armoured Parthian Cavalry)..Army of General Surena, The Hero of Carrhae,53 BC ]
Iranian Civilization
