Banbishn

Bānbishn (Persian: بانبشنان بانبشن‎‎) was the Middle Persian title of the Sasanian Queens of Iran. The full version of the title was Banbishnan banbishn ("Queen of Queens").

Etymology

Although the Old Persian form of "banbishn" is not found in any source, it was most likely spelled "māna-pashnī", matching the Avestan "dəmąnō.paθnī" ("mistress"), which is from Old Iranian "dmāna-paθnī". The word was later absorded into the Armenian language, where it was spelled "bambishn". The Sogdian version of the word is "bāmbusht".

Sources

• Sundermann, W. (1988). "BĀNBIŠN". Encyclopaedia Iranica, Vol. III, Fasc. 7. London et al. pp. 678–679.