KEYANI

[Guest]

Hello,

I just found your informative site. I am an archaeologist, researching
for a book, the meaning, origin and history of the name "KEYANI"
especially with regard to Pre-Islamic Persia.

I understand the the family name KEYANI is an Old Persian word meaning
royal or imperial. I also understand that it refers to a dynasty from
the Sassanid Period.

Currently, my main source of information is the Shahnameh of Ferdowsi.

I would be very grateful if you could point me to further useful
sources of infomation on this topic.

Sincerely,

[Kaveh]

There is an article about Kianian in the Farvardy site :
http://www.farvardyn.com/articles/kianian.php

[Guest]

from avesta.org : http://www.avesta.org/dhalla/dhalla1.htm

But the second Iranian dynasty is known as the Kavi or Kianian [Kayanian]. Its renowned kings who lived before the coming of Zarathushtra were Kavi Kavata, Kavi Usa, and Kavi Haosrava. Even Vishtaspa, who later became the royal patron of the new religion, retains this title and Zarathushtra speaks of him as Kavi Vishtaspa.41 It is significant, however, that Vishtaspa is the last king who shares this epithet with his royal predecessors. The kings who succeed him and with whom the dynasty dies out do not share the title. To the class of the Kavi belong the Karapan, corresponding to Skt. kalpa, 'ritual,' and the Usij, Skt. ushijah.