The Lion and Sun is one of the main emblems of Iran (Persia), and was an element in Iran's national flag until the 1979 revolution and is still commonly used by nationalists and opposition groups of the Islamic Republic government. The motif, which illustrates ancient and modern Iranian traditions, became a popular symbol in Iran in the 12th century. The lion and sun symbol is based largely on astronomical and astrological configurations: the ancient sign of the sun in the house of Leo, which itself is traced back to Babylonian astrology and Near Eastern traditions.
Sign of Lion in Persepolis; Achaemenid Persian relief University of Chicago Oriental Institute.
Mesopotamian Sun God Shamash; Assyrian relief, North-West Palace of Nimrud (room B, panel 23) ; 865–860 BC.
Sun and moon god standing on a lion; orthostat relief from Herald's wall, Carchemish; 950–850 BC; Late Hittite style; Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Ankara, Turkey.
Islamic zodiac contains astrological lion and sun symbol, Pergamon Museum in Berlin, Germany.
The national flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran, also known as the tricolor, is a tricolor featuring the Pan-Iranian colors comprising equal horizontal bands of green, white and red with the national emblem ("Allah") in red centred on the white band and the takbir written 11 times each in the Kufic script in white, at the bottom of the green and the top of the red band. After the Iranian Revolution of 1979, the present-day flag was adopted on 29 July 1980.
The Tawhid is an emblem of Iran.
Shahdad Standard, c. 2400 BCE
Shahdad Standard
Derafsh Kaviani appearing in a coin of a local Persian dynasty that arose near Persepolis during the Seleucid reign.