In this article, we have discussed the common Persian people physical characteristics and stereotypes. Most cultures are stereotyped for one reason or the other. For example, there is a misconception that all Chinese people are short and the same goes for the French.
One of the world’s most powerful empires, the Persian Empire existed for centuries. The empire across vast land from the Persian Gulf to India and all the way to China. The Persian people can still be found in modern-day Iran and Afghanistan.
Persians are easily recognized by their physical characteristics, but what are the stereotypes tied to the Persian people? We will get to that in a moment, but first, let’s look at a little history of the Persian people.
Persians (The Aryans)
The Islamic Republic of Iran is a Western Asia nation that shares a border with Turkey, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Armenia. The word “Iran” means the land of the Aryans. Aryan is a word some of us are familiar with since the end of World War II.
The Nazis called themselves “the Aryans” and their aim during the war was to annihilate Non-Aryans. The Nazis were wrong calling themselves Aryans.
According to a piece of information obtained from Urban Dictionary, Iranians and Afghans are the closest people of Aryan descent. Iranian’s and Afghan physical features are different from those who fought in Europe during WWII. Throughout history, people have always migrated to different parts of the world.
Persia is a name derived from Parsa, which is the name of the Indo-European nomadic people who migrated centuries ago to Persia (modern-day Iran).
The Indo-Europeans settled in a place called Persis. The Parsa began expanding their political influence under the Achaemenian Dynasty. The Iranian plateau was called Persia by foreigners, especially by ancient Greek. The people living in that area were designated as Persians.
Persian People Characteristics and Stereotypes
There are various misconceptions about the Persian people. What you think you know about Iranians, may not be the true identity of the people.
1. Persian are Arabs
Although the Islamic Republic of Iran or Persia is located in the Middle East, the Persians are not Arabs. Yes, they look like Arabs and a few portion of the country’s population speak Arabic which does not make them Arabs.
According to Helpfulprofessor.com, Persians have traced their genetic ancestry back to the first Indo-Aryans who migrated to Iran centuries ago.
The Islamic Republic of Iran consists of a diverse ethnic group. The country shares its borders with Asian and European countries.
It’s a country with a diverse ethnic group. The largest ethnic group are the Persians with other ethnic minorities like the Kurds, Arabs, Azeris, Lors, and the Balochis.
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2. Persians Inhabit a Desert
The Sahara is the largest in the world, with the Middle East also having such terrain.
The geographical location of Iran is more of a desert just like other countries in the Middle East.
A larger portion of the country is covered by desert, but it doesn’t mean those living in the country stay in the desert. There are other parts of the country that is not covered in desert and that is where most Iranians choose to live.
3. Iran is a Dangerous Place
The Islamic Republic of Iran is often depicted on television as a dangerous place to visit. The number of people visiting Iran in recent times to explore the country’s rich heritage is not up to the number visiting other world tourist attractions.
Many nations across the globe advised against travelling to the Asian country. Perhaps it’s because these nations don’t have a diplomatic relationship with Iran, so they fear for the safety of their citizens to visit the country.
However, violent crimes against foreigners visiting Iran hardly occur. It’s a beautiful place to visit and explore one of the oldest civilizations in history.
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4. Iranians Speak Arabic
One of the most common Persian people stereotypes is to assume Iranians speak Arabic since Persian and Arabs have similar facial and physical characteristics.
You may be surprised to find out that the official language in Iran is not Arabic but Persian. The language is also called Farsi and it originated from the Indo-European family.
Iran is a country with several ethnic minorities and as would expect, a good of people speak other languages. Other languages spoken in Iran include Turkic, Semitic, and Caucasian languages.
5. Persian Hate Westerners
Another common stereotype tied to Iranians is the hate for Westerners. The politics will portray a negative image, policies made by politicians do not promote any sort of relationship between Iran and the West.
Many have seen beyond the sentiments of political agenda. Iranians do not hate the West and will welcome tourists visiting the country. There is a culture to explore in Iran, good music, food, and friendly locals who will appreciate your presence in the country.
6. Persians were Gentle
Ancient Greek writers referred to the Persian people as slavish by birth. This is because the people loved and enjoyed a peaceful life of agricultural farming. The Persians inhabited a fertile land according to ancient Greek writers. This report is not entirely accurate as some of the people were the best warriors ever seen in central Eurasia.
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7. A Hooked, Wavy and Curly Nose
Another Persian people physical characteristics and stereotypes is the curly nose. The wavy and curly nose is a common feature tied to ancient and modern Persian people. Persians people have a uniquely shaped noses which easily identifies them from other Asians. A beautiful feature that most Persian women are proud of.
8. Persians Ride Donkeys and Camels
Iran has faced several international sanctions over the years, yet it’s making huge progress in science and technology. The country is advancing in areas like nuclear science, aerospace science, stem cell technology, and medical development.
he locals may ride camels and donkeys as a form of transportation or use these animals on farms. The idea that Iranians ride donkeys and camels is laughable, especially for a country making such advancements in science and technology.
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9. A Mixture of Complexions
Another physical feature of the Persian people is having olive-skinned and dark-haired.
It’s very rare to see a Persian with a very light-skinned and fair-haired. Their hairs are usually dark, long and tangled. Most of the men you will come across have beards with the same colour as their hair. Their eye colour is usually blue, green, and grey are rarely common within minority groups.
10. Tall
If you have seen the movie “300 directed by Zack Snyder”, you will notice the actor who played the Persian ruler Xerxes was very tall. Perhaps that was the description of the Persian ruler. The average height of Persian men today is about 5 feet 9 inches. The ancient Persian men were taller than the average Greek or Roman. Ancient Romans and Greek according to reports stood at an average height of 5 feet 5 inches.
Conclusion
Persian are not Arabs and do not speak Arabic. They are the true decent of the Aryans who speak Farsi, an Indo-European language. Iranians are not violent neither do they hate Westerners.
There is more to explore in terms of culture, history, music, food, and science and technology. Most of the stereotypes about Iranians are not true.
We hope this article on Persian people physical characteristics and stereotypes was helpful.
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References
- UrbanDictionary: Persian
- Helpfulprofessor: 10 Persian People Physical Characteristics And Stereotypes
- The Culture Trip: 8 Stereotypes All Iranians Hate
- NPR: Challenging The Stereotypes Of Modern Iran
- JSTOR: The Negative Images of Blacks in Some Medieval Iranian Writings
