MARRIAGE

i. THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT IN THE PRE-ISLAMIC PERIOD

The use of a formal, written agreement as part of the process of establishing a marriage bond between two families is documented in both eastern and western Iranian practice. The several surviving examples of such contracts in Middle Iranian languages are here discussed and translated in full. (See also FAMILY LAW i. IN ZOROASTRIANISM; cf. ii. IN ISLAM.)

i. Bactrian marriage contract.

ii. Sogdian marriage contract.

iii. Pahlavi marriage contract.