This article examines the representation of Iranian national identity in cultural heritage from the first to fifth centuries AH, with a particular focus on the roots, mechanisms, and historical continuity of archaic (pre Islamic) nationalism in Iran. The study aims to explain how Iranian national identity was formed and reproduced through culture, myths, language, and symbols, and to clarify the role of cultural heritage in consolidating this identity in opposition to the “Arab Other.”
The research adopts Michel Foucault’s discourse analytic approach to uncover the underlying configurations of knowledge, power, and subjectivity in their historical context and to trace the structure and persistence of cultural nationalism. In parallel, an ethnosymbolist perspective is employed to conceptualize the contribution of symbols, myths, and rituals to the formation and stabilization of this nationalist discourse.
The findings demonstrate that Iranian national identity cannot be reduced to a by product of modern state building or Western influence but emerges from a long term, cumulative process embedded in the cultural memory and historical experience of Iran. Texts such as Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh, together with Islamic period textiles and other artistic and cultural artefacts, function as key media for re articulating ancient myths and histories and for reinforcing collective memory. The analysis suggests that archaic Iranian nationalism is deeply rooted in historical tradition and collective memory and is characterized by a predominantly cultural, spiritual, and symbolic orientation that is continuously reproduced through artistic and cultural creativity. Overall, the article underscores the value of a historical cultural lens on Iranian nationalism and highlights the central role of cultural heritage in shaping and transmitting national self consciousness.