The Lion and Sun — History of Iran's Most Iconic Symbol
شیر و خورشید — تاریخ نمادینترین نشانه ایران
Lion and Sun Iranشیر و خورشیدShir o KhorshidIran pre-1979 flagIranian symbolSeljuk lionPahlavi flagFree Iran symbolLion Sun sword IranIran secular identity
The Lion and Sun (Shir o Khorshid) is one of the oldest symbols of Iranian civilization, with roots in ancient astrology: the lion representing the zodiac sign Leo and the sun (in Persian astrology ruled by the lion). The combined image of a lion with a sun rising from its back appeared on Seljuk-era Persian seals and coins from the 12th century AD.
Under the Safavid dynasty, the lion gained a sword. The symbol reached its most familiar form on the Qajar and Pahlavi imperial flags: a lion holding a sword, with a radiant sun rising behind it. The lion represents power, sovereignty, and Persia itself; the sun represents the divine light, the Zoroastrian solar tradition, and Nowruz.
After the 1979 revolution, the Islamic Republic replaced the Lion and Sun on the Iranian flag with the new Allah symbol — deliberately erasing this symbol of 1,000 years of Persian imperial tradition. Today, the green-white-red flag with the Lion and Sun is the emblem of the Iranian freedom movement worldwide. It represents the secular, pre-Islamic, pre-Republican Iran that millions are fighting to restore.
The Twelve-Day War (June 2025) — Israel-Iran military conflict severely degrades Iran's military and pushes economy to collapse.
December Uprising (December 2025) — Tehran's Grand Bazaar erupts in protest. Merchants shut stalls. Protests spread to 200+ cities in 72 hours.
January Massacres (January 2026) — IRGC carries out mass killings — thousands killed in 48 hours. 53,000+ arrested. Protests do not stop.
Protests Sweep Iran (Jan–Feb 2026) — University sit-ins, oil worker strikes, women marching without headscarves. The regime loses control.
Global Diaspora Rallies (Jan–Feb 2026) — 150,000+ in LA, 250,000 in Munich, massive rallies in Vancouver, Toronto, London, Berlin. 'Pahlavi will return.'
The Lion and Sun combines Persian astrology (Leo the lion holding the sun), ancient royal power, Zoroastrian solar symbolism, and Persian imperial tradition. The sword was added in the Safavid era. After 1979, it became the symbol of Iran's secular resistance.
When was the Lion and Sun removed from the Iranian flag?
The Lion and Sun was removed from the Iranian flag in 1979 after the Islamic Revolution. The Islamic Republic replaced it with the stylized 'Allah' emblem. The Lion and Sun flag is used by the Iranian opposition and freedom movement.