Zurkhaneh and Its Milieu - A Study of Traditional Athletics in Iran

The athletes, pahlav¿ns, and the zurkh¿neh, where they practice martial arts and spirituality, are often presented as the cornerstone of traditional Iranian masculine identity. Philippe Rochard's immersive study allows us to observe a sporting passion and way of life and to discover how the staging of the self and of the group have evolved in Iran.

About the author

Philippe Rochard is an associate professor of anthropology at the University of Strasbourg and former director of the Institut Français de Recherche en Iran (IFRI) in Tehran.

Product details

• Authors: Philippe Rochard
• Publisher: Harvard University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Release: 22.04.2025, delayed
• EAN: 9780674298828
• ISBN: 978-0-674-29882-8
• No. of pages: 276
• Series: Ilex Series
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; Iran, History, SPORTS & RECREATION / History, HISTORY / Middle East / Iran, SPORTS & RECREATION / Wrestling, Social and cultural history, Gender studies: men and boys