Balqis Castle is the fake name of which city?

Naming any phenomenon is very important because it depicts the identity and nature of that phenomenon. In other words, it can be said that the importance of naming the phenomena has made this issue more accurate and sensitive. We should know that named names include traits and characteristics that the owner of the name carries or can be the expression of the ideal and wish of a name giver.

Rajab Ali Labafkhaniki, researcher and archaeologist of Khorasan, said in an interview with ISNA: Some writers who have introduced and dated the works and buildings of Khorasan, apparently did not have enough knowledge of the history and culture of Khorasan, and probably without having seen those works, only based on Based on the non-expert and popular writings of others, they have introduced that “Balqis Castle” is one of these cases.

He said: Balqis Castle and Balqis City were fake names that were apparently used for the first time by British Colonel Charles Edward Yate in his travelogue called “Khorasan and Sistan” in 1894 AD, corresponding to 1312 AH, in order to call it the “Old City of Esfrain”. The use has occurred.

Labafkhaniki added: 12 years after him, the English Sir Percy Sykes also mentioned the ruins of old Esfrain as “Balqis city” and mentioned that the name of Balqis was new and he did not see such a name in Arabic books. This is despite the fact that until that time, the old city of Esfrain was always referred to as “Mehrgan”, “Sper Ayin”, “Esbrein” and “Esfrain”.

He continued: Of course, after the last blows that the Afghans entered Esfrain in 1160 AH and turned the city into ruins, until the beginning of the 14th century AH, those ruins were named as “Ruins of Esfrain” and “Old Esfrain”. Is.

This Khorasani archaeologist noted: The Esfrain Plain has always been of great interest and importance both in terms of nature and geography. For example, the fertile sediments on the banks of the two almost permanent rivers “Bidovaz”, “Royin” and the pastures overlooking it, which provide agricultural and animal husbandry facilities for the residents, have been one of the importance of this city. Also, the passage of the east-west communication route through that region has led to cultural connections and cultural prosperity; For this reason, according to archaeological studies, the record of residence in the Esfrain Plain reaches the Stone Age (6th millennium AD).

Labafkhaniki stated: With the beginning of the historical period in the Esfrain plain, which was part of the “Parth” or “Perthwah” territory at that time, until the advent of Islam, there were many habitats, the result of which are now in the form of ancient hills such as “Khem Tepe” and “Qarakul Tepe”. ” is left behind.

He added: But “Old Isfarayn”, which is said to have been founded at the beginning of Islam, was a function of Neyshabur and has always been important because great men in the field of science and literature such as “Abu Ishaq Ibrahim Ibn Muhammad Isfarayni” and “Emaduddin Abul Muzafar Taherin Muhammad” has introduced “Esfraini” to the world.

During the Mongol era, coins were minted in Esfrain

Labafkhaniki said: Esfrain, with all its name and fame, was destroyed by the Mongols in the year 618 AH, but after a while, it was reorganized with the efforts of its hardworking people, in such a way that it became very prosperous during the time of the Mongol ilkhans, and coins were minted there. .

He continued: The city of Esfrain was not spared from the attack of the Timurids, Uzbeks and Shibanians and continued to resist until the Afghans inflicted the final blow on the thin body of Esfrain and the rest of the people migrated to the village of “Mian Abad” near the old Esfrain. which became the center of Mian Abad, the core of the current Efrain. In 1316, Mianabad, which was the center of the district, was again called “Esfrain”, and in 1329, Esfrain was subordinated to Bojnord city, and from 1339 onwards, Esfrain became an independent city.

Labafkhaniki pointed out: Now, with this brilliant history that Esfrain has, why should the monuments and signs of the glory and greatness of that city be called “Balqis Castle” or “Balqis City” and not have a beautiful and graceful name like “The Old City of Esfrain” for example? be Why should we resort to mythical and foreign characters in naming that important city?