The Zurkhaneh and Its Milieu

Philippe Rochard

The Zurkhaneh and Its Milieu
Format
Paperback
Publisher
Harvard University Press
Country
United States
Published
22 April 2025
Pages
276
ISBN
9780674298828

The Zurkhaneh and Its Milieu

Philippe Rochard

The athletes known in Iran as pahlavāns and the domed structure, the zurkhāneh, where they congregate to practice ritualized martial arts, physical culture, and spirituality, are usually presented as the cornerstone of traditional Iranian masculine identity. However, this idealization does not do justice to the complex history of Iranian society.

Philippe Rochard, who has observed the zurkhāneh world for the past thirty years and actually lived in it for over four years, sets out to reveal through his own experience and a reconsideration of the extant historiography the various identities-real or imagined-of the zurkhāneh, its role within ancient and contemporary Iranian society, and the intimate mechanisms of the male societies that frequent it, as well as the moral and social values-real or simply proclaimed-that the athletes embody.

This immersive study gives us an opportunity to observe at close quarters the workings of a sporting passion and way of life, and to discover how the forms and norms of the staging of the self and of the group have evolved in Iran.

Order online and we’ll ship when available (22 April 2025)

Our stock data is updated periodically, and availability may change throughout the day for in-demand items. Please call the relevant shop for the most current stock information. Prices are subject to change without notice.

Sign in or become a Readings Member to add this title to a wishlist.