هرمزدنامه

by ابراهیم پورداود

هرمزدنامه
نوشته: ابراهیم پورداود
چاپ نخست دیماه 1331 خورشیدی
نشریه انجمن ایران شناسی
446 صفحه
قطع وزیری - جلد شومیزی

446 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1953

About the author

He is one of the most formidable scholars of Iran during the 20th century. Pourdavoud translated Avesta into Persian in six volumes. In addition, he made many other significant contributions to Iranian studies.

At 20, Pourdavoud moved to Tehran to study traditional medicine but medicine proved not to be to his liking. In 1908, at the age of 23, he went to Beirut where he studied French literature for two and a half years. He then returned to Iran to visit his family but before long left for France. Here, he published the periodical Iranshahr (the Land of Iran), with the first issue appearing in April 1914 and the fourth and the last issue on the day World War I erupted. During the War, he established himself in Baghdad where he published the periodical Rastakhiz (Resurrection); in total 25 issues of this periodical were published, publication lasting until March 1916. He left Baghdad for Berlin, where he stayed until 1924. His studies in Germany led him to Zoroastrian history and teachings.

After his return to Iran, in 1924, Pourdavoud founded the School of Ancient Languages where he initiated extensive research work concerning ancient history and ancient Iranian languages, especially the Avestan language. In 1945, he founded the Iranology Society and, very soon afterwards, the School of Iranology.

Pourdavoud’s many and varied contributions fall into the following categories:

- translation of Avesta,
- investigations into ancient Persian languages, especially the Avestan language,
- interpretation of the contents of Avesta, including elucidation of signs and symbols, as well as terms and expressions used herein,
- studies concerning peoples, animals, plants, and
- research into the history of Iran, giving especial attention to the weapons used by ancient Persians and the methods with which these were used.

Pourdavoud was well-versed in Arabic, English, French, German, and Turkish, in addition to his mother tongue and ancient Persian languages.

Pourdavoud was awarded Germany's highest academic honour by the German President Theodor Heuss in 1955. Soon thereafter, he received the Rabindranath Tagore Medal, which is conferred in recognition of outstanding contributions to literature, from India. In 1965, he received from the representative of Pope Paul VI in Tehran the order of Chevalier Saint Sylvester Pope (Knight of Saint Sylvester Pope).

He was married to a woman of German origin; they had one daughter named Pourandokht. In the morning of November 17, 1968, his family found him dead behind his desk in his study at home.

Reviews

[Khodabakhsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

از پیشگفتار کتاب: این نامه در دو بخش رویهم بیست و شش گفتار دربردارد. در بخش نخست آن، در هفده گفتار از گیاهان سخن رفته و بخش دوم در نه گفتار درباره چند واژۀ نادرست (پول، ارتشتار، پرچم، افسر، دساتیر، تیمسار، پایوران، نمونه‌ای از لغتهای فرهنگستان، چارسو) است که در این چندسال گذشته در سر زبانها افتاده است.

[Hosna · Rating 5 out of 5]

نامه شگفت انگیزی از ابراهیم پورداود. پیشنهادم به همه‌ی ایراندوستان و زبانشناسان. از ریشه نام گیاهان گرفته تا چهار سو و نقد واژگان فرهنگستان. کتابی بسیار دقیق و علمی. پورداود با دانش و آگاهی و چیرگی و ارجاع به کتابها و منابع گذشته کتابی دلنشین فراهم اورده که قطعا برای هرکسی چیزی در خور دارد. پورداود هم از نویسندگانی است که چشم بسته میتوان نوشته‌هایش را گزید و خواند.

[Bahman Bahman · Rating 2 out of 5]

هرمزد نامه کتابی مهم در زمینه زبان‌شناسی است. این کتاب در دو بخش روی هم بیست و شش گفتار را در بردارد. نخست در هفده گفتار از گیاهان سخن رفته و بخش دوم در نه گفتار، درباره چند واژه نادرست که در این چند سال گذشته بر سر زبانها افتاده است مثل «افسر»، «پرچم»، «خلبان» و «تیمسار» صحبت شده است. در این گفتارهای گوناگون در همه جا سخن از واژه شناسی است.