The Role of Teppir and Its Evolution in Ancient Elam

The title Dabīr has been one of the most significant administrative titles in Iranian history, from ancient times to the present day, with its origin traceable to the ancient Elamite teppir . However, the role of the Elamite teppir has received less attention than that of the Sassanid dibīr and Islamic dabīr . In this study, the authors collect, introduce, and analyze all known Elamite documents referencing this title, covering the period from the second half of the third millennium B.C. to the middle of the first millennium B.C. The analysis reveals that Elam had a hierarchy of teppir s, each active in one or more domains, including governance, property management, religion, military affairs, etc. Within this hierarchy, the most prominent teppir , often a member of the royal family, served as an adviser and subordinate to the king, playing a crucial role in shaping the Elamite states’ foreign policy. Furthermore, the findings of this study call for a reassessment of the view that, by the late Neo-Elamite period, the title teppir had been reduced to that of a simple scribe.