EARLY POLITICAL FORMATIONS IN SOUTH AZERBAIJAN
This study subjects the origins of early political figures and geographical centers, typically treated within the narrative of the “rise of the Persian Empire” in ancient Near Eastern historiography to a critical re-examination. Focusing on the Elamite identity of the city of Anshan (Tepe Malyan), the article questions conventional assumptions regarding the ethno-cultural affiliations of figures such as Teispes and Cyrus I. In light of archaeological evidence and primary cuneiform sources, it analyzes the historicity of the so-called “Achaemenid” genealogy, allegedly constructed under Darius I and the prevailing narratives that portray early rulers as ethnically Persian, while also engaging with alternative hypotheses that emphasize Eurasian steppe connections.
