Behbahan

File:Coin of either Hormizd V or Hormizd VI, minted in Veh-az-Amid-Kavād.jpg coin of either Hormizd V or Hormizd VI, minted in present-day Behbahan]]

The origin of word 'Behbahan' can be traced back to two distinct ideas. According to some scholars like Nowban,{{Cite book |last=Nowban |first=Mehrozaman |title=Names of Geographical Places across Time |publisher=Mah |year=1998 |isbn=964-6497-00-4 |pages=118 |language=fa}} while the first part of the word, 'beh', means 'good', the latter, 'bahan', means palace or a very big house surrounded by orchards and gardens. This is well-documented that the region was an agricultural hub producing mainly olive, dates, citruses as well as flower gardens.{{Cite book |last=Qubadiani-Balkhi |first=Naser Khosrow |title=Book of Travels |publisher=Amirkabir |year=2007 |editor-last=Vazinpour |editor-first=Nader |edition=10th |location=Tehran |publication-date=2007 |language=fa}}{{Cite web |title=گنجور » ناصرخسرو » سفرنامه » بخش ۹۲ - ارجان |url=https://ganjoor.net/naserkhosro/safarname/sh92 |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=ganjoor.net}} The term Behbahan thus means a nice living area surrounded by gardens and farms.

Alternatively, it is suggested that the latter component of the word, namely 'bahan', might had been used to refer to a type of tent used in old times. In other words, after the downfall{{Cite web |last=Iranica Encyclopedia |title=Arrjan |url=https://iranicaonline.org/articles/arrajan-medieval-city-and-province-in-southwestern-iran-between-kuzestan-and-fars |access-date=May 31, 2024 |website=Encyclopedia Iranica}} of the ancient city of Arrajan due to a series of devastating earthquakes,{{Cite book |last=Ebn-e Athir |first=Ezzoddin |title=The Full History |publisher=Asatir |year=2005 |edition=3rd |location=Tehran |language=fa |translator-last=Roohani |translator-first=Hossein}} survivors unsurprisingly had to live in tents for some time. As they started to reconstruct the city, the name 'Behbahan' was used to denote that the new settlement is better than tents.{{Cite web|date=2011-07-14|title=Meaning of Behbahan - معنى بهبهان |url=http://www.marafie.com/port10/index.php/behbahan-long/meaning-of-behbahan.html|access-date=2021-02-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714033012/http://www.marafie.com/port10/index.php/behbahan-long/meaning-of-behbahan.html|archive-date=14 July 2011}} However, the use of the word 'beh' as 'better' rather than 'good' is rarely, if ever, reported in Persian language.{{Cite book |last=Dehkhoda |first=Ali Akbar |title=Dehkhoda Dictionary of Persian Language |publisher=Tehran University Publications |year=2007 |isbn=978-964-0393857 |location=Tehran |language=fa}} Also, there is no actual document of people using 'bahan' tents after the above-mentioned earthquakes. Resultantly, there needs to be more research on the etymology of the word Behbahan.

File:ChaharTaqi-KheirAbad Darafsh (4).jpg Era Zoroastrian Fire-Temple of Arjan]]

History of Behbahan is indispensably intertwined with the ancient Iranian city of Argan (Arrajan) from Elamite era (3200–539 BC).{{Cite web |date=2023-06-21 |title=Historical mansion in Behbahan to turn into handicrafts center |url=https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/486027/Historical-mansion-in-Behbahan-to-turn-into-handicrafts-center |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=Tehran Times |language=en}}{{Cite journal |title=Behbahan |url=https://referenceworks.brill.com/display/entries/EIRO/COM-11688.xml |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=referenceworks |doi=10.1163/2330-4804_EIRO_COM_11688 |language=en|doi-access=free }} During a dam construction project{{Cite web |last=زارع |first=بابک |date=2021-07-30 |title=گنجینه ارجان |url=https://tarikhema.org/ancient/ilam/88821/%DA%AF%D9%86%D8%AC%DB%8C%D9%86%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%86/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=تاریخ ما |language=fa-IR}} on Marun river in 1982,{{Cite web |date=2020-12-12 |title=داستانِ اشتباهی که در هدیه‌ی تاریخی بهبهانی‌ها به المپیک توکیو رخ داد |url=https://www.isna.ir/news/99092317174/%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%87%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D9%87-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%87%D8%AF%DB%8C%D9%87-%DB%8C-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%AE%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D9%87%D8%A8%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%BE%DB%8C%DA%A9-%D8%AA%D9%88%DA%A9%DB%8C%D9%88 |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=ایسنا |language=fa}} an accidental{{Cite web |title=پنج گنج بزرگ ایرانی که به طور اتفاقی کشف شدند |url=http://fararu.com/fa/news/638721/%D9%BE%D9%86%D8%AC-%DA%AF%D9%86%D8%AC-%D8%A8%D8%B2%D8%B1%DA%AF-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D9%87-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%B7%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%82%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D8%B4%D9%81-%D8%B4%D8%AF%D9%86%D8%AF |access-date=2024-05-31 |language=fa}} find was reported shocking local archeologists. It was identified as a neo-Elamite{{Cite journal |last=Vallat |first=Francois |title=Kidin-Hutran et l'epoque néo-élamite |journal=Akkadica |language=fr |publication-date=1884 |issue=37 |pages=1–17}}{{Cite journal |last=Alizadeh |first=Abbas |year=1985 |title=A Tomb of the Neo-Elamite Period at Arjan, Near Behbahan |journal=Archaologische Mitteilungen aus Iran und Turan |issue=18 |pages=49–73}} tomb (600-550 BC){{Cite web |title=Peeters Publishers Leuven |url=https://www.peeters-leuven.be/detail.php?search_key=9789042922006&series_number_str=49 |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=www.peeters-leuven.be}} of a noble person who later turned out to be the Elamite ruler{{Cite web |title=On the Antiquity of the Yurt: Evidence from Arjan and Elsewhere |url=http://www.silkroadfoundation.org/newsletter/2004vol2num1/yurt.htm |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=www.silkroadfoundation.org}} Kidin-Hutran{{Cite web |last=محمد |first=آزغ |date= |title=ارجان شهری متعلق به دوره ی ساسانی یا عیلامی |url=https://civilica.com/doc/544390/certificate/print/ |language=fa |publisher=اولین کنفرانس سالانه پژوهش های معماری، شهرسازی و مدیریت شهری}} son of Kurlush.{{Cite book |last=Wicks |first=Yasmina |title=The Encyclopedia of Ancient History |publisher=John Wiley & Sons Inc |isbn=1119399912 |editor-last=Potts |editor-first=D.T. |location=United States |pages=1–5}} The tomb contains a large bronze coffin{{Cite web |title=در مورد ارجان در ویکی تابناک بیشتر بخوانید |url=https://www.tabnak.ir/fa/tags/227101/1/%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%86 |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=www.tabnak.ir}} which had a golden ring of power,{{Cite web |last=admina |date=2023-07-29 |title=حلقه‌‌ قدرت، شاهکار زرّین هنر ایرانی |url=https://madargashtzamin.com/%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%82%D9%87-%D9%82%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%AA%D8%8C-%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%87%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%B2%D8%B1%D9%91%DB%8C%D9%86-%D9%87%D9%86%D8%B1-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=مدار گشت زمین |language=fa-IR}} ninety-eight golden buttons,{{Cite journal |last=Vatandust |first=R. |title=A Preliminary Report on the Conservation and Technical Studies of Some of the Arjan Material |journal=Asar |language=fa |publication-date=1988 |issue=16 |pages=72–116}} ten cylindrical vessels,{{Cite web |last=زارع |first=بابک |date=2021-07-30 |title=گنجینه ارجان |url=https://tarikhema.org/ancient/ilam/88821/%DA%AF%D9%86%D8%AC%DB%8C%D9%86%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%86/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=تاریخ ما |language=fa-IR}} a dagger, a silver bar, and a bronze tray{{Cite web |date=2020-12-12 |title=داستانِ اشتباهی که در هدیه‌ی تاریخی بهبهانی‌ها به المپیک توکیو رخ داد |url=https://www.isna.ir/news/99092317174/%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%87%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D9%87-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%87%D8%AF%DB%8C%D9%87-%DB%8C-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%AE%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D9%87%D8%A8%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%BE%DB%8C%DA%A9-%D8%AA%D9%88%DA%A9%DB%8C%D9%88 |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=ایسنا |language=fa}} called Arjan bowl with various images{{Cite journal |last=Alvarez-Mon |first=Javier |year=2022 |title=Between Picasso and Piradi On tour with Saltimbanques and Musicians from ancient Iran (ca. 600 BC) |journal=Journal of Iran National Museum |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=129–140}} found with the coffin.{{Cite web |last=ایران |first=عصر |date= |title=داستان حلقه رازآمیز پادشاه / تابوتی که همه را شگفت‌زده کرد (فیلم) |url=https://www.asriran.com/fa/news/734396/%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%82%D9%87-%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B2%D8%A2%D9%85%DB%8C%D8%B2-%D9%BE%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%AA%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D9%87-%D9%87%D9%85%D9%87-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%B4%DA%AF%D9%81%D8%AA%E2%80%8C%D8%B2%D8%AF%D9%87-%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D9%81%DB%8C%D9%84%D9%85 |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=fa |language=fa}}

However, Arjan saw its downfall as it was hit by a series of earthquakes destroying almost all of its infrastructure. In the cross-road of Elamite and Persian empires, as claimed by Alvarez-Mon,{{Cite book |last=Alvarez-Mon |first=Javier |title=The Arjan Tomb: At the Crossroads of the Elamite and the Persian Empires |publisher=Peeters |year=2010 |isbn=9789042922006 |language=en}} the city had to be rebuilt.

The reconstruction was done by Kavadh I who was the Sasanian King of Kings{{Cite journal |last=Tyler-Smith |first=Susan |title=The Kavād Hoard |journal=The Numismatic Chronicle |volume=164 |pages=308–312}} of Iran from 488 to 531, with a two or three-year interruption.{{Cite web |title=Kavadh I {{!}} Sasanian Dynasty, Zoroastrianism & Revolt |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Kavadh-I |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}} In 502-503,{{Cite web |title=Kavad I - Livius |url=https://www.livius.org/articles/person/kavad-i/ |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=www.livius.org}} the king launched a campaign as part of the Anastasian War against northern Roman Mesopotamia, and deported 80,000 prisoners from Amida, Theodosiopolis, and possibly Martyropolis to Pars, some of whom are thought to have helped rebuild the city of Arrajan.{{Cite news |last=profilbaru.com |title=Amida (Mesopotamia) |url=https://profilbaru.com/article/Amida_(Mesopotamia) |access-date=2024-06-01 |language=en}} This is why the names 'Ram-Qobad', 'Beram-Qobad', 'Abar-Qobad' and 'Beh az Amed-e Kavad' all used by later historians to refer to the reconstructed Arjan, include an element referring to king Kavad I.{{Cite book |last=Kavir |first=Mahmood |title=The Phoenix Millennium: from the Sassanid to the Samanid |publisher=H & S Media |year=2017 |location=London |publication-date=2017 |language=fa}}

Through time, Arrajan experienced ups and downs of the history and managed to survive even the Arab Muslim invasion albeit at the cost of almost all residents having to convert from Zoroasterianism to Islam. The name, as discussed above, was changed to Behbahan in the Islamic period.

{{Historical populations

|title = Population history

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|source = {{cite web |title=Cities with a population of 100,000 and more (1956-2006 census) |url=https://irandataportal.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/13-cities-with-a-population-of-100-000-and-more-1335-1385-1956-2006-census-1.xlsx |website=irandataportal.syr.edu |publisher=Iran data portal |access-date=1 June 2025 |page=1 |format=XLS}}

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|1956 |29,886

|1966 |39,874

|1976 |49,378

|1986 |78,694

|1991 |85,846

|1996 |88,213

|2006 |99,204

|2011 |107,412

|2016 |122,604

}}

At the time of the 2006 National Census, the city's population was 99,204 in 24,204 households.{{cite report|title=Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1385 (2006): Khuzestan Province|language=fa|publisher=The Statistical Center of Iran|website=amar.org.ir|url=http://www.amar.org.ir/DesktopModules/FTPManager/upload/upload2360/newjkh/newjkh/06.xls|access-date=25 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920093911/http://www.amar.org.ir/DesktopModules/FTPManager/upload/upload2360/newjkh/newjkh/06.xls|format=Excel|archive-date=20 September 2011}} The following census in 2011 counted 107,412 people in 29,280 households.{{cite report|title=Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1390 (2011): Khuzestan Province|language=fa|publisher=The Statistical Center of Iran|website=irandataportal.syr.edu|via=Iran Data Portal, Syracuse University|url=https://irandataportal.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/Khuzestan.xls|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230118191739/https://irandataportal.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/Khuzestan.xls|archive-date=18 January 2023|access-date=19 December 2022|format=Excel}} The 2016 census measured the population of the city as 122,604 people in 35,826 households.{{cite report|title=Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1395 (2016): Khuzestan Province|language=fa|publisher=The Statistical Center of Iran|website=amar.org.ir|url=https://www.amar.org.ir/Portals/0/census/1395/results/abadi/CN95_HouseholdPopulationVillage_06.xlsx|access-date=19 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021081917/https://www.amar.org.ir/Portals/0/census/1395/results/abadi/CN95_HouseholdPopulationVillage_06.xlsx|format=Excel|archive-date=21 October 2020}}

File:A Replica of Arjan bowl.jpg|A replica of Arjan bowl

File:Ring of Power Statue, Symbol of Ancient Behbahan (Arjan Square).jpg|Ring of Power Statue, Symbol of Ancient Behbahan (Arjan Square)

File:Khuzestan,bahbahan2.jpg|Ruins of Arjan Briges on Marun River in Northern Behbahan

File:Ring arjan.jpg|Arjan Ring of Power from Elamite king Kidin-Hutran

File:ChaharTaqi-KheirAbad Darafsh (32).jpg|Arjan Zoroasterian Fire-Temple from Sassanid Era

File:سنگفرش راه کوهستانی باستانی در ارجان بهبهان.jpg|A stonepaved Achamenid Era road in Zagros Mountain Range, Behbahan

File:Pelaj marun.jpg|Marun Dam Public Resort

File:قلعه‌ای در روستای برج بهبهان.jpg|An outpost from Sassanid Era near Borj village, Behbahan

File:نرگس خودروی بهبهان.jpg|Main souvenir of Behbahan, daffodils

File:ارجان.jpg|Bowl of Arjan

File:Khuzestan.behbahan1.jpg|Ruins of Arjan town walls in northern Behbahan

File:Map of Bihbahān, 1950.jpg|1950s map of Behbahan

File:کلیسای نستوری تشان. عکس از مهدی یگانه.jpg|Ruins of a Nestorian church in Tashan village, Behbahan

File:Coin of either Hormizd V or Hormizd VI, minted in Veh-az-Amid-Kavād.jpg|Coin of either Hormizd V or Hormizd VI, minted in Veh-az-Amid-Kavād (present-day Behbahan)

Behbahan has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen: BSh), characterised by sweltering and rainless summers and pleasant winters with occasional heavy rainfall.

{{Weather box|location = Behbahan (1993-2010)

|metric first = Y

|single line = Y

|width = 70%

|Jan high C = 17.4

|Feb high C = 20.4

|Mar high C = 25.2

|Apr high C = 31.6

|May high C = 39.0

|Jun high C = 43.7

|Jul high C = 44.8

|Aug high C = 44.8

|Sep high C = 41.0

|Oct high C = 35.4

|Nov high C = 26.1

|Dec high C = 20.1

| Jan mean C =12.0

| Feb mean C =14.1

| Mar mean C =18.0

| Apr mean C =23.9

| May mean C =30.5

| Jun mean C =34.7

| Jul mean C =36.6

| Aug mean C =36.2

| Sep mean C =31.9

| Oct mean C =26.7

| Nov mean C =18.9

| Dec mean C =13.9

|Jan low C = 6.7

|Feb low C = 7.9

|Mar low C = 10.8

|Apr low C = 16.3

|May low C = 22.0

|Jun low C = 25.7

|Jul low C = 28.5

|Aug low C = 27.6

|Sep low C = 22.7

|Oct low C = 17.9

|Nov low C = 11.7

|Dec low C = 7.8

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation mm =83.6

| Feb precipitation mm =33.5

| Mar precipitation mm =48.4

| Apr precipitation mm =20.1

| May precipitation mm =3.7

| Jun precipitation mm =0.8

| Jul precipitation mm =0.0

| Aug precipitation mm =0.4

| Sep precipitation mm =0.2

| Oct precipitation mm =3.0

| Nov precipitation mm =42.0

| Dec precipitation mm =81.6

| year precipitation mm =

| Jan humidity =75

| Feb humidity =64

| Mar humidity =52

| Apr humidity =41

| May humidity =23

| Jun humidity =17

| Jul humidity =20

| Aug humidity =25

| Sep humidity =26

| Oct humidity =33

| Nov humidity =52

| Dec humidity =70

| year humidity =

| Jan sun =186.0

| Feb sun =197.5

| Mar sun =232.9

| Apr sun =240.1

| May sun =312.3

| Jun sun =348.4

| Jul sun =335.9

| Aug sun =336.3

| Sep sun =309.4

| Oct sun =283.7

| Nov sun =218.3

| Dec sun =187.4

| year sun =

|source = Iran Meteorological Organization(temperatures{{Cite web |title=AVERAGE OF MEAN DAILY TEMPERATURE IN C. STATION: BEHBAHAN (40834) |url=http://www.chaharmahalmet.ir:80/stat/archive/iran/khz/BEHBAHAN/5.asp |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321215123/http://www.chaharmahalmet.ir/stat/archive/iran/khz/BEHBAHAN/5.asp |archive-date=21 March 2016 |access-date=20 February 2025 |website=Chaharmahalmet |publisher=Iran Meteorological Organization |type=asp}}{{Cite web |title=AVERAGE OF MINIMUM TEMPERATURE IN C. STATION: BEHBAHAN (40834) |url=http://www.chaharmahalmet.ir:80/stat/archive/iran/khz/BEHBAHAN/2.asp |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907015626/http://www.chaharmahalmet.ir/stat/archive/iran/khz/BEHBAHAN/2.asp |archive-date=7 September 2014 |access-date=20 February 2025 |website=Chaharmahalmet |publisher=Iran Meteorological Organization |type=asp}}{{Cite web |title=AVERAGE OF MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE IN C. STATION: BEHBAHAN (40834) |url=http://www.chaharmahalmet.ir:80/stat/archive/iran/khz/BEHBAHAN/3.asp |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905195946/http://www.chaharmahalmet.ir/stat/archive/iran/khz/BEHBAHAN/3.asp |archive-date=5 September 2014 |access-date=20 February 2025 |website=Chaharmahalmet |publisher=Iran Meteorological Organization |type=asp}}), (precipitation{{Cite web |title=MONTHLY TOTAL OF PRECIPITATION IN MM. STATION: BEHBAHAN (40834) |url=http://www.chaharmahalmet.ir:80/stat/archive/iran/khz/BEHBAHAN/25.asp |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010033556/http://www.chaharmahalmet.ir/stat/archive/iran/khz/BEHBAHAN/25.asp |archive-date=10 October 2016 |access-date=20 February 2025 |website=Chaharmahalmet |publisher=Iran Meteorological Organization |type=asp}}), (sun{{Cite web |title=MONTHLY TOTAL OF SUNSHINE HOURS STATION: BEHBAHAN (40834) |url=http://www.chaharmahalmet.ir:80/stat/archive/iran/khz/BEHBAHAN/42.asp |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821221856/http://www.chaharmahalmet.ir/stat/archive/iran/khz/BEHBAHAN/42.asp |archive-date=21 August 2014 |access-date=20 February 2025 |website=Chaharmahalmet |publisher=Iran Meteorological Organization |type=asp}}), (humidity{{Cite web |title=AVERAGE OF RELATIVE HUMIDITY IN PERCENT STATION: BEHBAHAN (40834) |url=http://www.chaharmahalmet.ir:80/stat/archive/iran/khz/BEHBAHAN/14.asp |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914070425/http://www.chaharmahalmet.ir/stat/archive/iran/khz/BEHBAHAN/14.asp |archive-date=14 September 2014 |access-date=20 February 2025 |website=Chaharmahalmet |publisher=Iran Meteorological Organization |type=asp}})

|date=February 2025}}

• Arjan bowl
• Arrajan

{{Portal-inline|Iran}}

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{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

{{Commons}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100731034629/http://www.marafie.com/port10/index.php/behbahan-long.html The Marafi (Behbahani) Family of Kuwait]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20160305233921/http://eilrg.org/languageprofiles.html Behbahani dialect profile]

{{Authority control}}

{{Khuzestan Province|state=collapsed}}

{{Behbahan County|state=collapsed}}

Category:Cities in Khuzestan province

Category:Populated places in Behbahan County