Origins & Early Life

Kartir (also spelled Karder, Karter and Kerdir; Middle Persian: 𐭪𐭫𐭲𐭩𐭫‎ Kardīr) was a powerful and influential Zoroastrian priest during the reigns of four Sasanian kings in the 3rd century. His name is cited in the inscriptions of Shapur I (as well as in the Res Gestae Divi Saporis) and the Paikuli inscription of Narseh. Kartir also had inscriptions of his own made in the present-day Fars province (then known as Pars). His inscriptions narrates his rise to power throughout the reigns of Shapur I (r.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

240–270), Hormizd I (r. 270–271), Bahram I (r. 271–274), and Bahram II (r. 274–293). During the brief reign of Bahram II's son and successor Bahram III, Kartir was amongst the nobles who supported the rebellion of Narseh, who overthrew Bahram III and ascended the throne.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

During Narseh's reign, Kartir faded into obscurity. Kartir's name is spelled in several ways in the engravings: Middle Persian kltyl, kltyly, krtyr, kltyr (𐭪𐭫𐭲𐭩𐭫‎, 𐭪𐭫𐭲𐭩𐭫𐭩‎, 𐭪𐭥𐭲𐭩𐭥‎, 𐭪𐭫𐭲𐭩𐭥‎); Parthian krtyr (𐭊𐭓𐭕𐭉𐭓‎), Greek Karteir, and Coptic Kardel. The name was also used in the northeastern Iranian world, being spelt <krt'yr> in Sogdian and as Kirdira in Bactrian.

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