Zeinolabedin Motamen Information

Zein al-Abedin Motamen (1914–2005) was a renowned Iranian author, researcher, poet, and long-time educator, celebrated for his literary scholarship and devotion to Persian classical poetry, particularly the works of Saadi and Saeb Tabrizi.

Early Life and Education
Born in Tehran in 1914, Motamen came from a distinguished literary lineage, originally from Kashan, and was a descendant of Fath-Ali Khan Saba, the court poet (Malek al-Sho’ara) during the Qajar period. After completing his secondary education at Alborz College, he pursued higher education in both Persian literature and English language at the University of Tehran and the Higher Teachers’ College (Daneshsarā-ye ‘Āli).

Career in Education
In 1941, he joined the Ministry of Culture and began teaching literature at Alborz High School, where he served for over 42 years. Motamen was admired for his dedication, discipline, and pedagogical methods. Each year, he would assign his students around 150 essays on various topics, carefully reviewing and commenting on every one. He influenced generations of students who later became prominent figures in Iranian arts and humanities, including Homayoun Katouzian, Mohammad Reza Shafiei Kadkani, Bahrām Beyzā’i, Nader Ebrahimi, Ahmad Ashraf, Khosrow Sinai, Ali Dehbashi, and Dariush Ashouri.

Scholarly Contributions
Motamen’s literary contributions are wide-ranging, but he is especially known for his extensive research on the Safavid-era poet Saeb Tabrizi, a major figure of the Indian style (sabk-e hendi) in Persian poetry. His publications on Saeb include:

Goharhā-ye Rāz az Daryā-ye Andisheh-ye Saeb (Jewels of Thought from the Ocean of Saeb’s Mind)
Selected Poems of Saeb (with commentary)
A Literary Study on Saeb
On the Circumstances Surrounding the Rise of the Indian Style
These works are considered foundational in Saeb studies, helping restore his reputation in Persian literary history. Motamen’s deep admiration for Saeb led him to donate his entire personal library to the Saeb Cultural Complex in Isfahan.

Literary Works
Among his notable books is Ashiyāneh-ye Oqāb (The Eagle’s Nest), a monumental ten-volume historical novel, which some consider one of the most significant works in the genre of Persian historical fiction.

Personality and Legacy
Zein al-Abedin Motamen was known not only for his scholarship but also for his warm personality, wit, and humor. His former students recall him as a passionate and methodical teacher who always came prepared, respected time, and inspired a love for literature and critical thinking.

He passed away in 2005 and left behind a rich legacy of literary research, poetic refinement, and educational dedication that continues to resonate in the realm of Persian literature and pedagogy.