Esfarayen

For the administrative subdivision, see Esfarayen County.
"Isfarain" redirects here. For the nearby village also with that name, see Jowshaqan, Esfarayen.
Esfarayen
اسفراین
city
Esfarayen

Location of Esfarayen in Iran

Coordinates: 37°04′35″N 57°30′36″E / 37.07639°N 57.51000°E / 37.07639; 57.51000Coordinates: 37°04′35″N 57°30′36″E / 37.07639°N 57.51000°E / 37.07639; 57.51000
Country  Iran
Province North Khorasan
County Esfarayen County
Bakhsh Central
Population (2006)
 • Total 60,372[1]
Time zone IRST (UTC+3:30)
 • Summer (DST) IRDT (UTC+4:30)
Website esfarayennews
Esfarayen at GEOnet Names Server

Esfarayen (Persian: اسفراین‎‎, also Romanized as Esfarāyen; formerly, Meyanābād, Mīānābād, and Mīyānābād)[2] is a city in and the capital of Esfarayen County, North Khorasan Province in Iran. At the 2006 census its population was 60,372, in 17,334 families.[3]

The largest ethnic groups of the Esfarayen city are Kurmanjs and Tats.[4][5]

Esfarayen is one of the focal points for residence of Aryan tribes after entering Iran.

Etymology

According to the medieval Arab geographer Yaqut al-Hamawi, the original name of Esfarayen was Asbarayin, which meant "the shield-bearers".

History

After the Islamic conquest of Persia, Esfarayen enjoyed a period of great prosperity,which came to an end with the fall of the Abbasid caliphate, when it fell victim to attacks and eventual destruction, although it was, eventually, rebuilt.

The town was in a completely ruinous state at the time of the ruler Ebrahim Afshar.

Sport

Esfarayen is home to a Koshti Pahlevani (traditional Iranian wrestling) tournament called Bachokheh or Koshti Bachokheh. This tournament is held in the open air.

References

  1. ↑ Iran Census 2011
  2. ↑ Esfarayen can be found at GEOnet Names Server, at this link, by opening the Advanced Search box, entering "-3062173" in the "Unique Feature Id" form, and clicking on "Search Database".
  3. ↑ Iran Census 2011
  4. ↑ About Tati language of North Khorasan (Persian)
  5. ↑ 'Farhang-e Tāti (Tati Dictionary)' (Tati dialects: 6- Northern Khorasan), Jahandoost Sabzalipour, Rasht: Farhang-e Iliya Press. Second. Edition in 2013

Sources


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