Review of Twelve Ancient Texts

The book of Twelve Ancient Texts is the result of years of research and follow-up by Bijan Gheiby in ancient Iranian texts, especially Middle Persian texts. In each of the articles, the author first presents the sources and then deals with the Pahlavi text, transliteration, translation of the text, lexical notes, and explanation of the ambiguities of the text. This book includes a report on twelve short pahlavi texts such as Wizārišn ī čatrang, mādayān ī yōšt ī Yošt ī Fryān, māh ī Farvardin…, ayādgār ī zarīrān, āmadan ī šāh Bahrām ī warjāwand, Sūr ī saxwan, xwēškārīh ī rīdagān, Rēdakān, Farroxnāmag, čim ī kostīg, āfrīn ī žardšt. This book is very important because of its careful translation of texts and commentaries and the author’s valuable notes. However, the above-mentioned authorship is not without significant shortcomings in terms of scientific principles and methods in correcting and translating ancient texts. These shortcomings have sometimes damaged the principle of authorship. What has seriously damaged the whole collection is the lack of critical correction of the Pahlavi texts; that is, comparing of the manuscripts, transliteration and transcription of the texts, and the mention of the differences in the manuscripts. Obviously, without such a method, reliable translations of the texts cannot be obtained.