Shahin Dezh

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For the administrative subdivision, see Shahin Dezh County.
Shahin Dezh
شاهين‌دژ
City
نمای کلی مجموعه صخره ای بی بی کند.jpg
Shahin Dezh is located in Iran
Shahin Dezh
Shahin Dezh
Coordinates: 36°40′45″N 46°34′01″E / 36.67917°N 46.56694°E / 36.67917; 46.56694Coordinates: 36°40′45″N 46°34′01″E / 36.67917°N 46.56694°E / 36.67917; 46.56694
Country Iran
ProvinceWest Azerbaijan
CountyShahin Dezh
BakhshCentral
Population
 (2016 Census)
 • Total43,131 [1]
Time zoneUTC+3:30 (IRST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+4:30 (IRDT)

Shahin Dezh (Persian: شاهين‌دژ; also Romanized as Shāhīn Dezh; also known as Şā’īn Dezh, Shahindej, and Sahin Dazh; formerly, Sāīn Kale, صائین قالا and Şā’īn Qal‘eh)[2] is the capital city of Shahin Dezh County, in the West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. In the 2006 census, its population was 43،852, with 8,671 families.[3]

Shahin Dezh is located about 1,300 meters in elevation. The city is on the Zarrineh River, southeast of Lake Urmia.

History[]

The modern town of Shahin Dezh was formerly known as Ṣāʾīn Qal‘eh.[4] The name Ṣāʾīn (also spelled Sāīn, Shahin, etcetera.) is derived from the Mongol sayin, which translates as "good".[4]

The local Turkic Afshars, a segment of which had to migrate to Urmia in order to make room for the Chardawri (Chardowli) Lurs, were brought to the area at the beginning of the 19th century by Fath-Ali Shah Qajar (r. 1797–1834).[4] The chief of the Chardowli's lived at Mahmuddjik and was the commander of c. 5,000 men.[4] In 1830, Ṣāʾīn Qal‘eh was sacked by Kurds led by Sheikh Ubeydullah.[4] In 19th-century Qajar Iran, Ṣāʾīn Qal‘eh was the site of an Iranian military garrison, and it guarded the entrance to the Azerbaijan Province through the Zarrineh valley.[4]

The ancient Karaftu caves, first described by Robert Ker Porter (1777–1842), and the old site of Takht-e Soleyman were formerly located in the territory of the Afshars of Ṣāʾīn Qal‘eh.[4] The lake of Chamli Göl, near the village of Badarli with its floating island were likewise well known at the time.[4] Some of the Afshars of Ṣāʾīn Qal‘eh belonged to the Yarsanism sect.[4]

The old site of Ṣāʾīn Qal‘eh is now occupied by the modern town of Shahin Dezh, which is also the chef-lieu of Shahin Dezh County. In c. 1950, its population was 3,170 which by 1991 had increased to 25,050.[4]

The fortress of Ṣāʾīn Qal‘eh must not be confused with the similarly named fortress on the Abhar river to the east of Soltaniyeh, which was mentioned by Hamdallah Mustawfi (1281 – after 1339/40).[4]

References[]

  1. ^ "Statistical Center of Iran > Home".
  2. ^ Shahin Dezh can be found at GEOnet Names Server, at this link, by opening the Advanced Search box, entering "-3081937" in the "Unique Feature Id" form, and clicking on "Search Database".
  3. ^ "Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1385 (2006)" (Excel). Statistical Center of Iran. Archived from the original on 2011-11-11.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Minorsky, V. (1997). "Ṣāʾīn Ḳalʿa". In Bosworth, C. E.; van Donzel, E.; Heinrichs, W. P. & Lecomte, G. (eds.). The Encyclopaedia of Islam, New Edition, Volume IX: San–Sze. Leiden: E. J. Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-10422-8.

External links[]

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