شیر و خورشید — نماد باستانی هویت ایرانی
The Lion and Sun (Shir-o-Khorshid) is one of the oldest and most recognizable symbols of Iranian national identity. Its origins trace back to ancient Mesopotamian and Iranian astral symbolism, combining the lion (representing royal power and the zodiac sign Leo) with the sun (representing the Zoroastrian deity Mithra).
The symbol appeared on Iranian flags, coins, and royal seals for centuries, most prominently during the Safavid, Qajar, and Pahlavi dynasties. Under the Pahlavi dynasty (1925–1979), the Lion and Sun with a crown became Iran's official state emblem, appearing on the national flag, government documents, and military insignia.
After the 1979 revolution, the Islamic Republic replaced the Lion and Sun with a stylized Allah emblem. Today, the Lion and Sun flag has become a powerful symbol of resistance and hope for a free, secular Iran — waved at protests worldwide by Iranians demanding the restoration of their pre-Islamic national identity.
The lion represents royal power, courage, and the zodiac sign Leo, while the sun represents the ancient Iranian deity Mithra, light, and truth. Together they symbolize Iran's pre-Islamic national identity.
The Islamic Republic removed the Lion and Sun after the 1979 revolution, replacing it with a stylized Allah emblem. The regime viewed it as a symbol of the monarchy and pre-Islamic identity.