the seven families of achaemenid period as reflected in textual and archaeological evidence: the case gobryas

it  is  the  tribal  structure  of  society  and  power  with  which  one  can  explain  many  developments  in  ancient  iran  in  particular  in  the  achaemenian  period.  the  ancient  authors  confirm  that  seven  families with various  names  played  an  important  role  in  political,  economic and  military  structures  of  persia  from  this time  up  to  the end of  sasanian  period.  by  choosing  gobryas,  described  in  the old persian and elamite evidance as a patischorian and a  member  of  seven  families  during  the  reign  of  darius i,  as  a  case  study,  the  present  paper  attempts  to  discuss  this  concept  from  a  new  perspective  based  on  the  persepolis  tablets  and  seal  impressions  preserved on them. in the light of this evidence, it seems that  gobryas  as  the  leader  of  patischorian  tribe  was  one  of  major  landlords  of  northwestern  fars and  southeastern  khuzestan.  it  is  suggested  that  this  region was the  house of patischorian tribe. further, it is argued  that liduma (modern jenjan), where achaemenid  architectural  works  have been discovered, was probably a regional/tribal center of  gobryas. the achaemenid rock-cut tombs in behbahan might be  attributed to gobryas family. this region was  influenced  by  elamite  culture and art and, as the personal seal of gobryas indicates,  gobryas  family  was  not  separated  from  it.