The Seven Families of Achaemenid Period as Reflected in Textual and Archaeological Evidence: The Case Gobryas

It is the tribal structure of society and power with which one can explain many developments in ancient Iran in particular in the Achaemenian period. The ancient authors confirm that seven families with various names played an important role in political، economic and military structures of Persia from this time up to the end of Sasanian period. By choosing Gobryas، described in the Old Persian and Elamite evidance as a Patischorian and a member of seven families during the reign of Darius I، as a case study، the present paper attempts to discuss this concept from a new perspective based on the Persepolis tablets and seal impressions preserved on them. In the light of this evidence، it seems that Gobryas as the leader of Patischorian tribe was one of major landlords of northwestern Fars and southeastern Khuzestan. It is suggested that this region was the house of Patischorian tribe. Further، it is argued that Liduma (modern Jenjan)، where Achaemenid architectural works have been discovered، was probably a regional/tribal center of Gobryas. The Achaemenid rock-cut tombs in Behbahan might be attributed to Gobryas family. This region was influenced by Elamite culture and art and، as the personal seal of Gobryas indicates، Gobryas family was not separated from it.