The Persian Empire, the predecessor of modern-day Iran, has a long history dating back to the period of 690-330 BC, with its territory spanning across West and Central Asia during its golden age.
By the 200s BC, the Persian Empire had established relations with another ancient civilization, China. Cultural exchanges became even more prominent during the Tang Dynasty due to the emergence of the Silk Road.
During this period, many Persians lived within the territory of the Tang Dynasty, studying in its capital, Chang’an (now Xi’an). Even several royal family members settled in Chang’an.
In 1955, an ancient tomb of a Persian royal was discovered in Xi’an. The tombstone was inscribed in both Old Persian and Chinese. The Chinese inscription indicated that the tomb’s occupant was the wife of Prince Suren, who passed away at the young age of 26.
The Chinese inscription on the tombstone identifies the occupant as the wife of Prince Suren, while the Persian text states she was his daughter. (Photo: Sohu)
Prince Suren was originally a prince of the New Persian Empire – the last Zoroastrian dynasty of the Persian Empire before the rise of Islam. He settled in the Tang Dynasty during the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang. Due to his royal lineage from a neighboring country, Suren was granted a position in the Tang court and lived in Chang’an.
However, when the Persian royal tombstone was studied by Western scholars, the Old Persian inscriptions suggested that the tomb’s occupant was not the wife but the daughter of Prince Suren. This revelation confused Chinese experts; with both languages present on the tombstone, which one was accurate?
The Shocking Secret on the Royal Inscription
In light of this confusion, experts on Zoroastrianism (the ancient religion of Persia) suggested that this situation could indeed be explained. In ancient times, Zoroastrianism placed great importance on pure bloodlines, especially within the Persian royal family. To achieve this aim, many members of the Persian royal family were willing to engage in incestuous marriages with their own children and siblings.
For Prince Suren, it appears he may have remarried his own daughter, making the woman in the tomb both his wife and daughter.
Prince Suren kept his secret hidden during his time in the Tang Dynasty. (Illustrative image: Internet)
A 1996 study from Darwin College published in Science Direct also revealed that incestuous marriages in Zoroastrianism were once encouraged due to their perceived “supernatural benefits” in Persian beliefs. This practice was not limited to the royal family but also existed beyond royal confines, leaving severe consequences in its wake.
The excavation results from Prince Suren’s tomb left many Chinese archaeologists astonished. During the Tang Dynasty, incestuous marriage was classified as one of the “Ten Evils” (ten of the most dangerous crimes such as treason, unjustified mass murder, and counterfeiting the emperor’s seal).
Even though he was a foreigner, Prince Suren lived and served in Chang’an, and if discovered, he would surely have faced severe punishment.
Prince Suren of Persia kept his secret hidden throughout his life, only to be revealed thousands of years later. Fortunately for him, the Tang emperor could not understand Persian; otherwise, Suren would have faced terrible punishment!
