At the first session of the lecture series “The Persian Gulf: From Ancient Times to the Present Day,” held on May 26, 2026 (5 Khordad 1405), Dr. Soheila Heydari, a researcher at the Persian Language and Literature Academy, presented her study entitled “The Name of the Persian Gulf in Ancient Historical Texts.”
During the session, which was attended by a number of interested participants, the historical background of the name Persian Gulf—from ancient texts to contemporary official documents—was examined and explained.
In the first part of the presentation, reference was made to Achaemenid inscriptions, Greek texts, and Latin sources, providing reliable evidence of the use of the name Persian Gulf in these documents. Numerous references were also highlighted in the writings of Muslim geographers, who used the term Persian Gulf (al-Khalij al-Farsi) to refer to the body of water south of Iran. Some of these sources were introduced in the second part of the lecture.
Another section of the presentation focused on the historical use of the name Persian Gulf in official treaties and correspondence of the British government during the imperial era, as well as those of Portugal.
In the final part of the session, reference was made to official documents issued by the United Nations and other international organizations, all of which emphasize the use of the name Persian Gulf.
The University Publishing Center organizes the lecture series “The Persian Gulf: From Ancient Times to the Present Day” every two weeks (on Tuesdays). These academic sessions explore the significance of the Persian Gulf in Iranian civilization from various perspectives.