Khomeini’s Face in the Moon Rumor

Record summary

During the Iranian Revolution, stories circulated that Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s face could be seen in the moon or in other luminous signs. The motif has been discussed as revolutionary folklore, rumor, visual suggestion, and a possible product of collective expectation rather than an objective apparition. It matters because it shows how traditional sign-reading and modern mass politics can reinforce one another. The precise first reports, geographic spread, and wording are uncertain, so researchers should trace contemporary newspapers, memoirs, oral histories, and later scholarly treatments.