Biography
Adur-Anahid was a daughter of the second Sasanian King of Kings of Iran, Shapur I (r. 240–270).[1] She is mentioned twice in an inscription on the wall of the Ka'ba-ye Zartosht at Naqsh-e Rostam near Persepolis in southern Iran, which Shapur I had created in c. 262.[2][1] In the first paragraph, Shapur I claims to have ordered the establishment of fires for his daughter Adur-Anahid and three of his sons, Hormizd, Shapur, and Narseh.[1][3][a] The fire established for Adur-Anahid was named Husraw-Adur-Anahid.[5] In the second paragraph, Shapur I claims to have rewarded Adur-Anahid, along with princes and other high-ranking members of the court by ordering sacrifices in their names.[1][3] Adur-Anahid is mentioned with the title of Queen of Queens (banbishnan banbishn) in the inscription.[6][1]
The German Iranologist Walther Hinz has suggested that Adur-Anahid was the spouse of her father Shapur I, demonstrating the practice in Zoroastrianism of khwedodah, or close-kin marriage.[1] However, this is opposed by other scholars, who have deduced that the title of members of the royal family illustrated their social status rather than family status.[1][3] The title of "Queen" was wielded by all women of the royal Sasanian family, including the king's daughters and sisters, and the spouses of Sasanian princes.[3] The title of Adur-Anahid thus demonstrated her status as the highest ranking woman in the court.[3][1] There is no suggestion that she practiced kwedodah with her father.[1] According to the modern historian Maria Brosius, "Analysis of the written evidence for the Sasanian period does not permit the conclusion that the Sasanian kings favored incestuous marriages."[3]