ĀFTĀB (“Sun”), name of several Persian periodicals.
1. A scientific and literary monthly magazine published in Isfahan by Mīrzā Maḥmūd Khan Sanǰarī Tehrānī, a clerk with Zieglers and later with the Anglo-Persian Oil Company. The first issue appeared at Nowrūz, 1329/21 March 1911. Its real backer, who contributed most of the articles, was Shaikh Moḥammad-Bāqer Olfat-e Eṣfahānī, a leading theologian and founder of the literary society Anǰoman-e Āftāb. The content was strongly educational, and to each issue was annexed an installment of two books, one of which was Samuel Smiles’ Self-Help. However the magazine lasted for only eight issues.
2. A newspaper published in Tehran three times a week by Ḥ. ʿAbd-al-Wahhābzāda, the first issue appearing on 29 Moḥarram 1330/20 January 1912. Official or semi-official in character, it was concerned primarily with domestic and foreign news. One of the chief backers and contributors was Āqā Mīrzā Moḥammad-Ḥosayn Khan Kamāl-al-solṭān. There is no record of how long it lasted, but it was still appearing in April, 1913.
3. A newspaper founded on 2 December 1944 by Dāneš Nowbaḵt, and published irregularly in Tehran until 1947. During 1946 it was edited by Sayyed Moǰtabā Fāṭemī. Dāneš Nowbaḵt was the son of the Maǰles deputy Ḥabīballāh Nowbaḵt, who was known for his strongly pro-Aryan views.
Bibliography:
Browne, Press and Poetry, pp. xiii, 15, 26, 31-32.
M. Ṣ. Hāšemī, Tārīḵ-eǰarāyed va maǰallāt-e Īrān, Isfahan, 1327-32 Š./1948-53, I, pp. 211-15.
L. P. Elwell-Sutton, “The Iranian Press, 1941-1947,” Iran 6, 1968, p. 75.
(L. P. Elwell-Sutton)
Originally Published: December 15, 1984
Last Updated: July 28, 2011
This article is available in print.
Vol. I, Fasc. 6, p. 592
L. P. Elwell-Sutton, “ĀFTĀB,” Encyclopædia Iranica, I/6, p. 592; an updated version is available online at http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/aftab-sun-name-of-several-persian-periodicals (accessed on 14 March 2014).
