Turan
/ˈtʊərɑːn/noun
A historical and literary name for the region north and northeast of Iran, especially Central Asia, often portrayed as Iran’s rival in Persian epic tradition.
Did you know?In Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh, Turan is ruled by Afrasiab and stands in recurring conflict with Iran, turning geography into a mythic struggle between rival peoples and kings.
Etymological Timeline
Avestan period
Avestan
tūirya-
“A name for a people associated with the northeastern Iranian world; the earliest linguistic ancestor connected with Turan.”
Ancient Iranian tradition
Old Iranian
Tūriya-
“The Turian people, later personified in Persian tradition through the figure of Tur.”
Middle Persian period
Middle Persian
Tūrān
“The land or realm associated with Tur and the Turians.”
10th–11th Century
New Persian
Tūrān
“The legendary Central Asian rival of Ērān, especially in epic literature.”
19th Century
English
Turan
“An English borrowing used for the historical, literary, and imagined region north of Iran.”