Historical info and sites through out iran

I've wanted to start this thread for ages... think its a good idea cos we have so much history. so i decided once i get it open il add to it every now and again to keep it going ;)

http://www.iranchamber.com/history/images/naqshe_rostam660.jpg

Source: www.iranchamber.com (http://www.iranchamber.com/history/darius/darius_inscription_naqshe_rostam.php)

I. A great god is Ahuramazda, who created this earth, who created yonder sky, who created man, who created happiness for man, who made Darius king, one king of many, one lord of many.

II. I am Darius the Great King, King of Kings, King of countries containing all kinds of men, King in this great earth far and wide, son of Hystaspes, an Achaemenian, a Persian, son of a Persian, an Aryan, having Aryan lineage.

III. Darius the King says: By the favor of Ahuramazda these are the countries which I seized outside of Persia; I ruled over them; they bore tribute to me; what was said to them by me, that they did; my law -- that held them firm; Media, Elam, Parthia, Aria, Bactria, Sogdiana, Chorasmia, Drangiana, Arachosia, Sattagydia, Gandara, Sind, Amyrgian Scythians, Scythians with pointed caps, Babylonia, Assyria, Arabia, Egypt, Armenia, Cappadocia, Sardis, Ionia, Scythians who are across the sea, Skudra, petasos-wearing Ionians, Libyans, Ethiopians, men of Maka, Carians.

IV. Darius the King says: Ahuramazda, when he saw this earth in commotion, thereafter bestowed it upon me, made me king; I am king. By the favor of Ahuramazda I put it down in its place; what I said to them, that they did, as was my desire. If now you shall think that "How many are the countries which King Darius held?" look at the sculptures (of those) who bear the throne, then shall you know, then shall it become known to you: the spear of a Persian man has gone forth far; then shall it become known to you: a Persian man has delivered battle far indeed from Persia.

V. Darius the King says: This which has been done, all that by the will of Ahuramazda I did. Ahuramazda bore me aid, until I did the work. May Ahuramazda protect me from harm, and my royal house, and this land: this I pray of Ahuramazda, this may Ahuramazda give to me!

VI. O man, that which is the command of Ahuramazda, let this not seem repugnant to you; do not leave the right path; do not rise in rebellion!

Cool thread, Shugs!

You can also see more pics of Darius and Xerxes' inscriptions in the Hamadan thread :)

Cyrus II (The Great). Cyrus' Cylinder, (Worlds First Human Rights Charter)

http://www.derafsh-kaviyani.com/jpg/cyldr1.gif

The charter of Cyrus the Great, a baked-clay Aryan language (Old Persian) cuneiform cylinder, was discovered in 1878 in excavation of the site of Babylon. In it, Cyrus the Great described his human treatment of the inhabitants of Babylonia after its conquest by the Iranians.

The document has been hailed as the first charter of human rights, and in 1971 the United Nations was published translation of it in all the official U.N. languages. "May Ahura Mazda protect this land, this nation, from rancor, from foes, from falsehood, and from drought". Selected from the book "The Eternal Land".

Cyrus the Great entered the city of Babylon in 539 BCE, and after the winter, on the first day of spring, he was officially crowned:

My numerous troops moved about undisturbed in the midst of Babylon. I did not allow anyone to terrorise the land of Sumer and Akkad. I kept in view the needs of Babylon and all its sanctuaries to promote their well being. The citizens of Babylon ... I lifted their unbecoming yoke. Their dilapidated dwellings I restored. I put an end to their misfortunes.

I am Kourosh (Cyrus), King of the world, great king, mighty king, king of Babylon, king of the land of Sumer and Akkad, king of the four quarters, son of Camboujiyah (Cambyases), great king, king of Anshn, grandson of Kourosh (Cyrus), great king, king of Anshn, descendant of Chaish-Pesh (Teispes), great king, king of Anshn, progeny of an unending royal line, whose rule Bel and Nabu cherish, whose kingship they desire for their hearts, pleasure. When I well-disposed, entered Babylon, I set up a seat of domination in the royal palace amidst jubilation and rejoicing. Marduk the great god, caused the big-hearted inhabitations of Babylon to .... me, I sought daily to worship him.

He continues:

At my deeds Marduk, the great lord, rejoiced and to me, Kourosh (Cyrus), the king who worshipped him, and to Kaboujiyah (Cambyases), my son, the offspring of (my) loins, and to all my troops he graciously gave his blessing, and in good sprit before him we glorified exceedingly his high divinity. All the kings who sat in throne rooms, throughout the four quarters, from the Upper to the Lower Sea, those who dwelt in ...., all the kings of the West Country, who dwelt in tents, brought me their heavy tribute and kissed my feet in Babylon. From ... to the cities of Ashur, Susa, Agade and Eshnuna, the cities of Zamban, Meurnu, Der as far as the region of the land of Gutium, the holy cities beyond the Tigris whose sanctuaries had been in ruins over a long period, the gods whose abode is in the midst of them, I returned to their places and housed them in lasting abodes.

I gathered together all their inhabitations and restored (to them) their dwellings. The gods of Sumer and Akkad whom Nabounids had, to the anger of the lord of the gods, brought into Babylon. I, at the bidding of Marduk, the great lord, made to dwell in peace in their habitations, delightful abodes.

May all the gods whom I have placed within their sanctuaries address a daily prayer in my favour before Bel and Nabu, that my days may be long, and may they say to Marduk my lord, "May Kourosh (Cyrus) the King, who reveres thee, and Kaboujiyah (Cambyases) his son ..."

and:

Now that I put the crown of kingdom of Iran, Babylon, and the nations of the four directions on the head with the help of (Ahura) Mazda, I announce that I will respect the traditions, customs and religions of the nations of my empire and never let any of my governors and subordinates look down on or insult them until I am alive. From now on, till (Ahura) Mazda grants me the kingdom favor, I will impose my monarchy on no nation. Each is free to accept it , and if any one of them rejects it , I never resolve on war to reign. Until I am the king of Iran, Babylon, and the nations of the four directions, I never let anyone oppress any others, and if it occurs , I will take his or her right back and penalize the oppressor.

And until I am the monarch, I will never let anyone take possession of movable and landed properties of the others by force or without compensation. Until I am alive, I prevent unpaid, forced labor. To day, I announce that everyone is free to choose a religion. People are free to live in all regions and take up a job provided that they never violate other's rights.

No one could be penalized for his or her relatives' faults. I prevent slavery and my governors and subordinates are obliged to prohibit exchanging men and women as slaves within their own ruling domains. Such a traditions should be exterminated the world over.

I implore to (Ahura) Mazda to make me succeed in fulfilling my obligations to the nations of Iran, Babylon, and the ones of the four directions.

Susa (Shoosh)

http://www.iranchamber.com/history/susa/images/susa_aerial.jpg

http://www.livius.org/a/1/iran/susa_apadana2.JPG

http://www.iranchamber.com/history/susa/images/susa_archers.jpg
The Archers of Darius, Susa around 500 BCE

http://www.livius.org/a/1/iran/persian_warrior.jpg

Source: http://www.iranchamber.com/history/susa/susa.php

The city was rebuilt by the Persian king Darius the Great (522-486). It was clearly his favorite residence. The Greek researcher Herodotus of Halicarnassus, who wrote a lot about the Achaemenid empire, did not know of another capital. The scene of the Biblical book of Esther is laid in Susa, where king Ahasverus (Xerxes) resides. Unfortunately, a big fire during the reign of Artaxerxes I (465-424) destroyed much of the buildings from this age.

The Persian palace on a hill to the north of Susa has been excavated - rebuilt after the fire. On the picture, it is visible at top left. King Artaxerxes II Mnemon (404-358) built an audience hall (apadana), that is visible at bottom left. The conical structure in front is venerated as the tomb of the prophet Daniel, another Biblical figure who was related to the Persian court at Susa. In fact, there were other capitals (Pasargadae, Persepolis, and Ecbatana), but is evident that Susa was more impressive. An inscription in the palace, known as DSf, describes how Darius built his residence.

The Archers of Darius, Susa around 500 BCE
A great god is Ahuramazda, who created this earth, who created yonder sky, who created man, who created happiness for man, who made Darius king, one king of many, one lord of many.

Darius the King says: By the favor of Ahuramazda I built this palace.

Darius the King says: Ahuramazda, the greatest of the gods created me, made me king, bestowed upon me this kingdom, great, possessed of good horses, possessed of good men.

By the favor of Ahuramazda, my father Hystaspes and Arsames my grandfather - these both were living when Ahuramazda made me king in this earth.

To Ahuramazda thus was the desire: he chose me as his man in all the earth; he made me king in all the earth.

I worshipped Ahuramazda. Ahuramazda bore me aid. What was by me commanded to do, that he made successful for me. What I did, all by the favor of Ahuramazda I did.

This palace which I built at Susa, from afar its ornamentation was brought. Downward the earth was dug, until I reached rock in the earth. When the excavation had been made, then rubble was packed down, some 40 cubits in depth, another part 20 cubits in depth. On that rubble the palace was constructed.

And that the earth was dug downward, and that the rubble was packed down, and that the sun-dried brick was molded, the Babylonian people performed these tasks.

The cedar timber, this was brought from a mountain named Lebanon. The Assyrian people brought it to Babylon; from Babylon the Carians and the Yaunâ [=Greeks] brought it to Susa. The yakâ-timber was brought from Gandara and from Carmania.

The gold was brought from Lydia and from Bactria, which here was wrought. The precious stone lapis lazuli and carnelian which was wrought here, this was brought from Sogdiana. The precious stone turquoise, this was brought from Chorasmia, which was wrought here.

The silver and the ebony were brought from Egypt. The ornamentation with which the wall was adorned, that from Yaunâ was brought. The ivory which was wrought here, was brought from Ethiopia and from India and from Arachosia.

The stone columns which were here wrought, a village named Abiradu, in Elam - from there were brought. The stone-cutters who wrought the stone, those were Yaunâ and Lydians.

The goldsmiths who wrought the gold, those were Medes and Egyptians. The men who wrought the wood, those were Lydians and Egyptians. The men who wrought the baked brick, those were Babylonians. The men who adorned the wall, those were Medes and Egyptians.

Darius the King says: At Susa a very excellent work was ordered, a very excellent work was brought to completion.

Me may Ahuramazda protect, and Hystaspes my father, and my country.

This text interesting because it mentions many nations. The palace was clearly meant as propaganda, where every visitor would be impressed by the size of the empire.

After the fall of the Achaemenid empire and the reign of Alexander the Great, Susa became part of the Seleucid empire. It was now called Seleucia on the Eulaeus. A palace in Greek style was erected, next to Darius' palace. The administrative center, however, was in the southern part of the city, where nearly all Greek and Parthian inscriptions were discovered. The city remained important until the thirteenth century.

Kermanshah:

Bisotoon
http://www.rozanehmagazine.com/julyaugust02/abistun.jpg

About Bisotoun in Kermanshah province

On the rocks of the famous Bistun mountain, about 50 meters above the ground, there are some pictures and inscriptions from Darius the Achaemenid (559 - 330 BC), which still remain intact.
Darius, the Achaemenid issued an order in 522 BC in the consequence of a series of clashes and wars, according to which the details of his conquests and administration had to be left in trust on the rocks.
The Bistun inscription comes in three prevalent languages of the time namely Persian, Elamite and Babylonian. In this demonstration, Darius the Achaemenid stands before 9 captives whose hands have been cuffed placing his left foot on the chest of Keommana who is lying on the ground with a sword in his hand.

Anahita Temple
http://i2.tinypic.com/rcttl0.jpg

About Anahita Temple in Kermanshah province

This temple belongs to the Seleucides (313 - 64 BC - ) and has been built in Kangavar city. The architectural structure of this temple is a combination of the Greek and Persian styles and as its name suggests is related to Anahita, the daughter of Din Mehr, who enjoyed a very high status with the ancient Iranians.
The temple is as old as 200 B.C. Today houses and streets have been built on the surface of this monument and only part of the temple has remained intact because it neighbors Imamzadeh mosque.

Tagh Bostan
http://i2.tinypic.com/rctto1.jpg

About Tagh-e Bostan in Kermanshah province

Only nine kilometers from Kermanshah city, there is Tagh-e-Bostan village with signs left in it from the Sassanid period (266 - 651 AD). One such sign is the coronation of the Sassanid kings which has been demonstrated on the rocks.
On the left side of the reception of Artaxerxes the second`s coronation, there exist two vaults, a smaller one and a bigger one which belong to the Sassanids. The first vault which is the small one has been carved in the mountain during the reign of Shapur and includes two relief sculptures and two inscriptions in the Sassanid Pahlavi.
According to the inscriptions the two pictures belong to Shapur the second.
The smaller vault is of greater significance since the two inspcriptions have remained intact from events and act as introductions to the demonstrations of the vault.The bigger vault which contains more demonstrations and delicate carvings, has attracted the attention of historians.
The mouth of the bigger vault is 7.4 meters; it is 7.17 meters deep and 9 meters high. This bigger vault belongs to the era of Khosrow the second known as Parviz.

Thanks to Panj-d :D

Temple of Anahita, the water goddess in Bishapur, Pars.

The Sassanid city of Bishapur was one of the largest cities in the ancient times, however most of buildings of this great city have been destroyed but the structure of Anahita temple has remained relatively untouched, since it was built deeper than other buildings and covered by several feet of dirt till 1940s when the French archeologist Roman Ghirshman excavated the site of Bishapur.

The floor plan of palace and temple complex of Bishapur is shown below. The main entry to the temple is stairway in front of palace. The plan shows water from river Shapur is channeled into an under ground canal directed to the temple floor. The flow of water then continues to feed the city of Bishapur next to the complex.

http://www.vohuman.org/SlideShow/Anahita%20Bishapur/PalaceTemple%20Plan.gif

http://www.iranian.com/PhotoDay/2004/July/Images/f36.jpg

http://www.livius.org/a/iran/bishapur/bishapur_aerial.jpg

http://www.livius.org/a/iran/bishapur/bishapur_palace_1.jpg

According to French archaeologists, there was a large dome covering the entire area, but the walls appear to be not strong enough to support a heavy superstructure.

The temple:

http://www.livius.org/a/iran/bishapur/bishapur_temple_anahita_1.jpg

The exterior of the shrine:

http://www.livius.org/a/iran/bishapur/bishapur_temple_anahita_2.JPG

This looks like the triangle-shaped wall that supports a roof, but the sanctuary was open.

The inside of the temple:

http://www.livius.org/a/iran/bishapur/bishapur_temple_anahita_3.JPG


Bull shaped head stone:

http://www.vohuman.org/SlideShow/Anahita%20Bishapur/Cowhead.jpg

Main wall from floor view:

http://www.vohuman.org/SlideShow/Anahita%20Bishapur/TempleInsideView.jpg

Stairs from main floor:

http://www.vohuman.org/SlideShow/Anahita%20Bishapur/Stairs.jpg

Water canal:

http://www.vohuman.org/SlideShow/Anahita%20Bishapur/Tunnel2.jpg

Water was directed from Shapur river using under ground water canals to the floor of the temple.

Water canal access:

http://www.vohuman.org/SlideShow/Anahita%20Bishapur/Tunnel.jpg

The huge statue of Shapur I (241-272) at Bishapur:

http://www.livius.org/a/iran/bishapur/cave_shapur4.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=77074905.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=43207004.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=78536702.jpg

Nice.

WOOOWW :O the sculptures survived so well...
Great post gilgamesh, :D

Ayapir - Izeh, Khozestan

Originally called Ayapir, Izeh is known for its large number of reliefs as the Town of Rock.

Izeh is an ancient town located at the northwest of Ahvaz, it takes approximately 210 km from Ahvaz to Izeh by passing Ramhormoz and Baghemalek.

This ancient town has the biggest gathered collection of archaeological sites and monuments, for instance; Sabz ali and Zebarjad tepes which refer to Zarzian period and the rock bas-relief galleries which show special religious scenes.


The Izeh Plain and the town of Izeh viewed from Eshkaft-e Soleiman:
http://www.umma.lsa.umich.edu/OldWorld/Deh_Luran/II/Landscape-1-large.JPG

The Eshkafte Soleiman, Elamite carvings:

http://sharlunika.com/sharsi/uplord/khouzestaan/izeh1.jpg

http://www.ostan-kz.ir/media/image/2004/10/39_orig.jpg

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/7299/ize34md.jpg

http://sharlunika.com/sharsi/uplord/khouzestaan/izeh2.jpg

http://www.ostan-kz.ir/media/image/2004/10/35_orig.jpg

http://sharlunika.com/sharsi/uplord/khouzestaan/izeh3.jpg

http://sharlunika.com/sharsi/uplord/khouzestaan/izeh4.jpg

http://www.ostan-kz.ir/media/image/2004/10/37_orig.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=fr_Ayapir-site(Izeh_khouzes.jpg

http://www.dreamview.net/dv/new/photos/100302.jpg

http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/1263/57880625gqibcmph6xn.jpg

http://www.ostan-kz.ir/media/image/2004/10/40_orig.jpg

lol, I just noticed you wrote only 3-5 pics. :D

I'll keep that in mind next time.

^^ nah its kool

btw dude, where u been?

Come on guys, let's post more places!

http://www.vohuman.org/SlideShow/Firuzabad/Firuzabad01.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/19/Ardeshir-kakh4.jpg/300px-Ardeshir-kakh4.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f6/Ardeshir-kakh.jpg/180px-Ardeshir-kakh.jpg

http://www.livius.org/a/iran/firuzabad/firuzabad_palace_ardashir_i_1.JPG

http://www.livius.org/a/iran/firuzabad/firuzabad_palace_ardashir_i_5.JPG

http://www.livius.org/a/iran/firuzabad/firuzabad_palace_ardashir_i_6.JPG

Castle of Ardeshir e Babakan, also known as the Atash-kadeh, is a castle located on the slopes of the mountain on which Ghal'eh Dokhtar is situated on. Built in AD 224 by Ardashir I of the Sassanian dynasty, it is located two kilometres (1.2 miles) north of the ancient city of Gor, i.e. the old city of Firouzabad in Fars, in ancient Persia (more commonly known today as Iran).

The structure contains three domes, among other features, making it a bit larger and more magnificent than its predecessor the nearby castle of Ghal'eh Dokhtar. However, it seems that the compound was designed to display the royalty image of Ardashir I, rather than being a fortified structure for defense purposes. That is why perhaps it would be best to refer to the structure as a "palace" rather than a "castle", even though it has huge walls on the perimeters (twice as thick as Ghal'eh Dokhtar), and is a contained structure. From the architectural design, it seems the palace was more of a place of social gathering where guests would be introduced to the imerial throne.

What is particularly interesting about this palace is that its architectural design does not exactly fall into that of the Parthians or even Sassanian category; the design is a unique design particular to architects of Fars.

The palace was built next to a picturesque pond that was fed by a natural spring, perhaps in connection with the Persian goddess of water and growth, Anahita. The spring is thought to have fed a royal garden, in the same way that Cyrus had his garden (bustan) built at Pasargadae. The pond was tiled on its sides, surrounded by pavement for guests of the royal court to enjoy the evenings by.

The structure is 104 m (340 ft) by 55 m (180 ft). The eivan is 18 m (60 ft) high, although it has partially collapsed. The structure was built of local rocks and mortar with plasterwork on the insides. The style of the interior design is comparable to that of Tachar palace at persepolis.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4e/Ghal'eh_Dokhtar2.jpg/400px-Ghal'eh_Dokhtar2.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e3/Ghal'eh_Dokhtar.jpg/400px-Ghal'eh_Dokhtar.jpg

http://www.farstourism.org/ghale%20dokhtar/1.jpg

http://www.farstourism.org/ghale%20dokhtar/3.jpg



Ghal'eh Dokhtar Castle, is a castle made by Ardeshir I, in present day Fars, Iran, in 209 AD. It is located on a mountain slope near the Firouzabad-Shiraz road. Despite damages sustained by the castle, its majesty still produces awe in visitors.

This structure was built by Ardashir I as a defense fortification, early on during his campaign to defeat the weakening Parthians. After capturing Isfahan and Kerman from the Parthians, he (re)built the city of Gur nearby the castle in Firouzabad, making it his capital. After defeating Ardavan V (Artabanus V ), the Parthian king, in a great battle in 224 AD, he built the Palace of Ardashir nearby the Ghal'eh Dokhtar castle, to facilitate the reception of guests, and to elevate his image as the new emperor of the Sassanide dynasty.

The 1800-year-old castle today has lost some four meters of its original height over the last century and experts warn if urgent measures are not taken to restore it, the castle may soon be gone forever.

Ziggurat of Chogha Zanbil, Susa

http://www.jamejamshid.com/images/ziggurat/127721118-ziggurat-2-.gif

Chogha Zanbil is situated in southwest Iran about 40 km southeast of the ancient city of Susa. It was built on a plateau above the banks of the Dez River. The complex consists of a ziggurat, temples, and three palaces built in 13th century BC by the Elamite king, Untash Gal.

The site was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1979, but it has still many secrets to reveal. Iranian archeologists have worked non-stop for the last 6 years on the site.

Its ancient name is Dur-Untash, which means the castle or the city of Untash. In the 13th century B.C., King Untash Napirisha founded an entirely new city. At the center of the city, a ziggurat was built of which two floors still exist. It was surrounded by a wall, which is the inner wall of three concentric walls in Dur Untash. Between the inner wall and the middle wall several temples belonging to different Elamite divinities were built. The outer city wall was about 4 km long enclosing an area of approximately 100 hectares.

Elam first came into existence sometime between 3500 and 2500 BC. In around 2000 BC the Elamite dynasty conquered most of southern Mesopotamia. At its zenith, Elam controlled an empire that stretched from what is now the Baghdad area to the entrance of the Persian Gulf. The Assyrians sacked the Elamite capital, Susa, in 647 BC.

http://www.choghazanbil.ir/persian/geography/images/PhotoMap.jpg

http://img455.imageshack.us/img455/9725/choghazanbilmodel6jh.jpg
A model of the current Chogha Zanbil ziggurat, showing the other buildings around the main structure.

http://i1.tinypic.com/sfcapl.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=5908553.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=hk_Choghazanbil-temple(khou.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=7602122.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=1129711.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=2518344.jpg http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=569406.jpg http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=6999288.jpg

http://www.ostan-kz.ir/media/image/2004/10/21_orig.jpg

http://i1.tinypic.com/sfcetc.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=30507601.jpg

http://iranmiras.ir/photos/bldg_lpics/lbldg-2606-1.jpg

http://iranmiras.ir/Arch_report/choghazanbil/image/3.jpg

http://iranmiras.ir/Arch_report/choghazanbil/image/6.jpg

http://img398.imageshack.us/img398/8066/57887039gohhjcph1yy.jpg

http://www.choghazanbil.ir/pictures/home/cz_a_a.jpg

http://www.choghazanbil.ir/persian/geography/images/05.jpg

It might also be interesting to know that according to geologists the Elamites knew how to build this Ziggurat to be earthquake resistant:

Earthquakes and landslides have so far failed to ruin or even damage this splendid edifice. “Studies show that Elamites were fully aware of seismological safety standards and since the area is surrounded by faults, they have built the temple on a sandy patch of the land. Their architecture style is quite self-standing, thus making the ziggurat quake-resistant,” said Malek Abbasi, a geologist working on the site near the ancient city of Susa.

Another expert, Mohammad Hassan Talebian, observed that Elamites had gained the know-how to build great buildings and mansions without any foundations to boost its resistance to jolts and landslides.


http://www.chn.ir/en/news/?section=2&id=1625

gr8 thread...xx

I found these pix of Ardeshir palace (post 14): http://www.chnphoto.ir/gallery.php?&gallery_uid=&lang=fa&gallery_uid=299

all you need to is sit back click on the link below and enjoy it in full screen

http://www.iraninfo.dk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=49&Itemid=2

forget about everything else

Soltaniyeh Dome

Situated in the Province of Zanjan, some 240 km to the north-west from Tehran, used to be the capital of Ilkhanid rulers of Persia in the 14th century. Its name translates as "the Imperial". In 2005, UNESCO listed Soltaniyeh as one of the World Heritage Sites.

The principal among Soltaniyeh's several ruins is the Mausoleum of Il-khan Öljeitü, traditionally known as the Dome of Soltaniyeh. The structure, erected from 1302 until 1312, boasts the oldest double-shell dome in the world. The estimated 200 ton dome stands 49 meters (161 ft) tall from its base, and is currently undergoing extensive restoration.

Much of exterior decoration has been lost, but the interior retains superb mosaics, faience, and murals. Scholars such as A.U. Pope have described the building as “anticipating the Taj Mahal.”

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/851/sul2pf.jpg

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8501/ImageReports/8501080090/10_8501080090_L600.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=hksoltaniyeh-zanjan.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern3.php?image=f2.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern3.php?image=IMG_8623.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=30285008.jpg http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=4425609.jpg

http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/1489/brick2uk.jpg

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/4241/sultanie62bu.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern3.php?image=CRW_8609_RJ.jpg
http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=78883712.jpg

http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/7249/soltaniyehinteriors6jy.jpg

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8501/ImageReports/8501080090/8_8501080090_L600.jpg http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8501/ImageReports/8501080090/4_8501080090_L600.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=41813605.jpg http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=43837703.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=70761202.jpg

http://www.sultanieh.ir/images/main.jpg

WOW! Hectic... kinda looks like a Baha'i temple (the classic designed ones)... just proves wrong all those who said Baha'i temples have a 'European design'

hehe, also that last painting somewhat reminds me of the white house. ^_^

Stumbled across this

http://www.jamejamshid.com/images/parseh-images/1parseh-old-Stars-Map.jpg

wow cool.

Ghaleh Ganj/Treasure Fortress, Sistan

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=CRW_2844.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=CRW_2851.jpg

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Two years ago, in October 2003, when an autumn storm calmed down in Amir Abad Port of the Caspian Sea, remains from a large wooden object came out of the sea. Experts from the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization studied the remains, concluding that they were part of a ship dating back to the Safavid dynasty era (16th and 17th century). The ship had sunken at the location and was buried underneath the seabed until the storm revealed it hundreds of years later.

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=637648001.jpg

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http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=559602009.jpg

Yesturday Bisotoon became the 8th place to be included in Unesco heritage from Iran. Great.

^^ Great thread.

Why thank you :D

Gahl'eh Sarbaz (Iran Shahr)

This structure is one of the famous castles of Baluchestan, located in the Sarbaz Village.


http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=IMG_4109.JPG

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=CRW_4092.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=CRW_4136.jpg

Gahl'eh Naseri

I'm looking for some information about this. ;)

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=CRW_3928.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=IMG_3949.JPG

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=CRW_3915.jpg

Ghal'eh Sab, Saravan.

Any info about this?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d3/Sab_fort.jpg

Ghal'eh Dokhtar

One of the monuments remained from the time of the Sassanid dynasty (226–650 AD) in Firouz Abad Plain is a castle which is located on top of a mountain overlooking the Tong River. It is located 6 kilometers from the present day city of Firouz Abad in Fars province. This strong and relatively big castle was most probably built during the reign of Shapour I, the Sassanid king who ruled from 241 to 272 AD, for protecting and watching over the first capital city of the kingdom in the city of Gour. Dokhtar Castle has several labyrinth rooms constructed using stone rubbles, plaster, and mortar and has arched ceilings. This castle is less strong compared to other constructions built during the time of Shapour I. Dokhtar Castle was inscribed in the list of Iran’s National Heritage in the year 1936. One of the main features of this castle is a stone water reservoir built in the heart of the mountain which was used to supply the water needed in the castle. Among other usages of this castle was to keep dangerous criminals. It was also used as a shelter for those Persian kings who were defeated in wars and would take shelter in the Dokhtar Castle since there was plenty of food available there and they could also make use of a good source of water near the castle to survive for a long time when they were surrounded by the enemy.

I just realized this has already been posted, but the more pics and info, the merrier.

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=CRW_3134_RJ.JPG

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Atashgah (fire temple)

On top of a small hill which is located 20 kilometers west of Isfahan and overlooks the Zayandeh Rood River, there exists a tower-like building which is octagonal shaped from the inside but looks like a circle from the outside. This monument has been known as Atashgah (Fire Temple) from the ancient times. According to ancient Zoroastrian beliefs, the holly fire must have been placed where people could see it very easily. According to Hamzeh Isfahani, Persian historian of 4th century A.H., construction of this monument goes back to the time of Bahman, the son of Ardeshir, founder of the Sassanid Dynasty (226–650 AD). The walls of this fire temple are made of mortar and unbaked clay covered by mud, while its tower is built using baked bricks. This fire temple consists of a big round fireplace with several openings and is built by 40*40*14 cm3 unbaked clay bricks attached together using mortar, sand and straws collected from the coasts of the Zayandeh Rood River.

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=2578602.JPG

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Tomb of Cyrus the Great

The most important monument of Pasargadae is the structure previously known as the Moshhad-e Madar-e Soleyman ("Tomb of Solomon's Mother") but identified since 1820 as the Tomb of Cyrus the Great. According to Alexander historians, it originally stood in the middle of a vast park made up of various royal gardens. The tomb is over 11 meters high. It is built with massive blocks of stone some 7 meters long and consists of two distinct parts: a solid platform made up of six receding tiers and measuring 164.20 square meters at the base, and a small gabled chamber with walls some 1.50 meter thick and a cell a 2.11m high and measuring 2.11×3.17 meters. A single entrance in the northwestern front leads into the cella (the original stone door has vanished) where in the embalmed body of Cyrus was placed inside a golden Coffin on a golden throne next to his weapon and valuables, all of which were destroyed during Alexander's invasion of Persia.

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=_MG_7435.JPG

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=_MG_7462.JPG

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=_MG_7409.JPG

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=84-2-20-Shiraz-Omid%20(23).JPG

Thanks avicenna shahkar kardi :)

Nice posts Avicenna :)

Kanglou Fortress is located on the Mountain of Savad Kooh, Mazandaran Province. Archeologists have dug trenches around this castle to find the best way leading to this ancient monument.

Previously it was believed that Kanglou is a Sassanid castle that is situated on a natural mountain.

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern3.php?image=2311771.jpg http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern3.php?image=8591502.jpg

Latest archeological studies have strengthened the idea that Kanglou was once a worship place during the Sassanid era.

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern3.php?image=1160273.jpg http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern3.php?image=1581604.jpg

Discovery of a Sassanid grave with the corpse positioned on its left side near Kanglou with the grave having a unique architectural style has surprised archeologists.

In this grave, several objects including clay dishes and a signet ring with inscription have been found.

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern3.php?image=8737535.jpg http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern3.php?image=8495776.jpg

On this signet ring there is a Sassanid-Pahlavi writing. Iranian master of ancient languages, Rasoul Bashash, has decoded this inscription.

The word on the ring says “Farokhi” or “Farahi”, meaning luck or happiness, and it was believed that it would bring dignity and splendor for its owner.

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern3.php?image=6443387.jpg http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern3.php?image=7596108.jpg

Cedar is a symbolic sign used in most of the seals which is delicately carved on this signet ring.

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern3.php?image=6550099.jpg

WOW shugs nice postt!

thank youuu for the posstt!

Museum of Ancient Persia... weird & wonderful things...

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=98539701.jpg http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=933295IMG_2920.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=380198IMG_2928.jpg http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=IMG_2966.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=IMG_2957.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=IMG_2968.jpg http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=IMG_3116.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=IMG_3118.jpg http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=IMG_3124.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=IMG_3147.jpg

Very awesome thread Shugs.
Thanks :)

dorud Geramian

i am so proud of you guys and the posts of ancient historical about our country Iran.

i shall post some in here too.

Regards

vista

^Thank you...

It's good to see you around vista :):)

^^ Thanks for sharing :)

you're welcome. :) I didn' realize I'm in one of the pics, lol

how did you find the wonders? I have never had the chance to visit when in Tehran

you're welcome. :) I didn' realize I'm in one of the pics, lol

Aw cool you're the one with the green scarf. Right?..... :)

how did you find the wonders? I have never had the chance to visit when in Tehran

I really enjoyed them; hopefully you'll have the opportunity to see them for yourself. They made me want to visit Persipolis even more.


Aw cool you're the one with the green scarf. Right?..... :)

yes

thanks for the great thread.

interesting photo,I remember around late 80's, archeologist in North west china near the city of ancient capital Xian, unearth large number of Roman and Sasanid coin.

wow Xian is quite a way into China, way East from the province of XinJiang that was once part of the empire...

Fresh pics from Shoush/Susa, pillar details

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=hpim%2065464.jpg http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=HPIM7264.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=HPIM7253.jpg http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=HPIM7249.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=HPIM7251.jpg http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=HPIM7248.jpg

The Buried Sassanid City of Sarmashad near Kazeroun City

The relief of Bahram II struggling with a Lion
http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern3.php?image=46398201.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern3.php?image=65821802.jpg

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http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern3.php?image=29373707.jpg http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern3.php?image=63397308.jpg

i duno whether this is appropriate place to post this but here we go:

BEIJING, April 22 (Bernama) -- An exhibition of Iran's 7,000 year-old civilisation dubbed "Glory of Persia" inaugurated in Seoul, capital of South Korea, Monday afternoon, Iranian news agency (Irna) reported.

In the exhibition, which will be opened five months in two cities of Seoul and Taegu, 206 articles belonging to the different periods of Iran history, especially Achaemenian and Sassanid dynasties, will be displayed.

In the inauguration ceremony in Seoul, around 400 scientific and cultural personalities and heads of foreign representatives in South Korea were present.

The venue of the exhibition in Seoul is National Museum building.

-- BERNAMA

Thanks Shugs, will get on to it.

Interesting about the exhibition - maybe it will come to the UK.

wow Xian is quite a way into China, way East from the province of XinJiang that was once part of the empire...

actually in was located center of China, around the time of second punic war, it was the capital of western Han dynasty, in fact there is zoraostrianist temple in the city. in China it was refer as huoa-chow (or something like that) translation- fire religion.

Let's see if this works then. The Sasanians and their rock reliefs are fascinating - but very difficult to get really good photos of. Here's Ardashir I, in his famous 'victory relief' near Firuzabad.

http://i29.tinypic.com/2cz6koy.jpg

More to come if you like this sort of thing.

thats great...keep them coming. :)

Is that the victory over Valarian? There is a really famous one that he is standing in victory over the Roman emperor...

This is the victory over the Parthians at the establishment of the Sasanian dynasty.

There are four reliefs celebrating Shapur I's triumphs over Valerian, Gordian and Philip the Arab, three at Bishapur (one of which is very badly weathered; another includes the horses another member already posted) and one at Naqsh-i Rustam - this last one is probably the most famous and might be the one you have in mind.

http://i30.tinypic.com/34p0sg4.jpg

Sorry if I wasn't clear - by "this is the victory over the Parthians" I meant the one above that I posted first. The latest one is Shapur I with Valerian and Philip.

Back to the famous Firuzabad relief then, for a couple more close views - I haven't often seen pictures of it so I was keen to take these. It was the first dry(ish) day after several wet ones, and the wetness of the rock actually seems to bring out some of the detail that would otherwise be hard to capture in photographs.

A Sasanian noble wrestles a Parthian from his horse:

http://i25.tinypic.com/fycxft.jpg

And Shapur, later to be Shah Shapur I, unhorses one of the Parthian dignitaries:

http://i31.tinypic.com/i255le.jpg

^^^^

wow u r awesome , pity the authorities dont value them

are the stones made up limestone or hardened clay

I've tried to look it up with no avail, even the UNESCO site just says it's a rock relief...

So it depends what the local cliff faces are made from, limestone is a good guess IMO.

limestones gets eroded with acid rain, over time.. thats bad

Without it though no magnificent Persian marble palaces :drool:

Soltanieh Dome Restoration Compeleted

Tehran, October 29, 2008: Iranian experts have finished the restoration of the country’s 700-year-old Soltanieh Dome, located in the western province of Zanjan.

http://tourism.chn.ir/en/manage/photo/2002-92626.JPG

Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism Organization (ICHTO) refurbished the brick structure’s exterior with azure tiles made in traditional kilns over a four-year period.

“Some 100,000 tiles were used to restore the structure, all of which were produced in the area,” said head of the restoration project, Mohammad Reza Qorbanzadeh.

“Experts will also use strengthening material to protect the tiles from the area’s cold and windy climate,” he added.

Soltanieh Dome, built during the Ilkhanid era, was the world’s tallest building of its time and currently ranks third after Italy’s Saint Mary church in Florence and Turkey’s Aya Sofia Mosque in Istanbul.

The 200-ton structure was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2006 after the Naqsh-e-Jahan square, Persepolis, Chogha Zanbil Ziggurat, Takht-e-Soleiman, Pasargadae, and Bam citadel.

Source: CHN (http://www.chnpress.com/news/?section=1&id=2002)

Soltaniyeh Dome

Situated in the Province of Zanjan, some 240 km to the north-west from Tehran, used to be the capital of Ilkhanid rulers of Persia in the 14th century. Its name translates as "the Imperial". In 2005, UNESCO listed Soltaniyeh as one of the World Heritage Sites.

The principal among Soltaniyeh's several ruins is the Mausoleum of Il-khan Öljeitü, traditionally known as the Dome of Soltaniyeh. The structure, erected from 1302 until 1312, boasts the oldest double-shell dome in the world. The estimated 200 ton dome stands 49 meters (161 ft) tall from its base, and is currently undergoing extensive restoration.

Much of exterior decoration has been lost, but the interior retains superb mosaics, faience, and murals. Scholars such as A.U. Pope have described the building as “anticipating the Taj Mahal.”

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/851/sul2pf.jpg

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8501/ImageReports/8501080090/10_8501080090_L600.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=hksoltaniyeh-zanjan.jpg

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http://img47.imageshack.us/img47/1489/brick2uk.jpg

http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/4241/sultanie62bu.jpg

http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern3.php?image=CRW_8609_RJ.jpg
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http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/7249/soltaniyehinteriors6jy.jpg

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8501/ImageReports/8501080090/8_8501080090_L600.jpg http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8501/ImageReports/8501080090/4_8501080090_L600.jpg

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http://www.chnphoto.ir/pattern.php?image=70761202.jpg

http://www.sultanieh.ir/images/main.jpg

Castle Babak, also known as the Immortal Castle or Republic Castle, is an impressive and huge building citadel on the top of a mountain in the Arasbaran forests, at 2,600 m. above sea level, which is located 16 km southwest of Kaleibar City in northwestern Iran. The castle is surrounded by gorges as deep as 400 to 600 meters, is believed to belong to the Parthian dynasty and modified under the Sasanid dynasty. To reach the castle, one has to trek a tortuous and narrow passageway and then cross a corridor-shaped temple, 200 meters in lengths.
Babak Fort was the refuge and the campsite where Babak Khorramdin and his followers began their resistance movement against the Abbasid caliphs in 816 A.D. and it took 22 years till Babak was killed. They were then called “the rebellions of Sorkh-Jamegan (red wears).
People gather in the fort on 9th of July each year to celebrate Babak Khorramdin resistance.
http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Middle_East/Iran/photo983097.htm

By Atousa Taghavi (TrekEarth)

http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/4258/babakcastletx7.jpg

From Wikipedia
http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/646/img2416pb3.jpg

http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/8595/800pxbabakcastlecl0.jpg

Come on people, why do we abandon such nice threads. We need to show who we are.

Ameri House

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3553/3403756241_9848a857f3_b.jpg
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Nasir al-Mulk mosque

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2294/2342948944_20f238e4b8.jpg

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http://doostaan.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/iran-shiraz-nasir-al-molk-mosque.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Masjedk.jpg

http://www.detroitphotosalon.com/entries/CG/216-CG-2.jpg

(from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/soerenfaika/ )

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2077/2382512677_8c31b73ea0.jpg?v=0
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(from http://www.flickr.com/photos/malekmohammadi/)

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http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2405/2444107074_1bfd4f45dd.jpg?v=0

thanks arashM for the cool pic:) what's the name of that place? where's it located? i have a feeling like i've seen it in one of the threads before and i wondered what is the place.

طاق بستان در شهر كرمانشاه | Monuments of Taq-Bostan , carved 4-6th A.D, Kermanshah

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8712/ImageReports/8712101058/1_8712101058_L600.jpg

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8712/ImageReports/8712101058/6_8712101058_L600.jpg

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8712/ImageReports/8712101058/13_8712101058_L600.jpg

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8712/ImageReports/8712101058/16_8712101058_L600.jpg

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8712/ImageReports/8712101058/18_8712101058_L600.jpg

thanks arashM for the cool pic:) what's the name of that place? where's it located? i have a feeling like i've seen it in one of the threads before and i wondered what is the place.

That would be the Narenjestan e Ghavam in Shiraz. It was built during the Qajar dynasty for the Ghavam fammily. It looks extremely similar to the Eram garden, which is also in shiraz.

Narenjestan e Ghavam
http://www.gardenvisit.com/assets/madge/narenjestan-e_qavam_1964_jpg/600x/narenjestan-e_qavam_1964_jpg_600x.jpg

Eram Garden
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1153/1142241921_9dee8dc7bf.jpg?v=0

Oh and cool pics Persan. I always wanted to visit Taq e Bostan, hopefully I can soon. You can see how the "Faravahar" has become very Greco-Romanesque, yet still having its iranian identity.

Shahzdeh Garden, Mahan, Kerman

http://www.photoatlas.com/photo/iran_shazdeh_mahan_garden_02.jpg
http://www.iranyellowpages.net/Images/About_iran/Art_gallery/Kerman/Kerman11.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3020/2932226458_2afb08e690.jpg
http://www.iran-daily.com/1384/2386/html/033273.jpg
http://i.pbase.com/u23/hadi01/upload/22078467.ShazdehGarden5.jpg
http://k43.pbase.com/u23/hadi01/upload/22078465.ShazdehGarden2.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Shazdeh_Garden.jpg

Luristan Rock Inscriptions | نقوش حجاري شده بر سنگ قبرها در لرستان

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8801/ImageReports/8801210387/2_8801210387_L600.jpg

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8801/ImageReports/8801210387/3_8801210387_L600.jpg

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http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8801/ImageReports/8801210387/1_8801210387_L600.jpg

Acropol Castle and Susa (Shush) | قلعه باستاني و كاخ آپادانا در شوش استان خوزستان

The Acropol or Shush castle was constructed by a group of French archeologists in the year 1897 AD in the highest region of the city. The same is very similar to the Bastille in France. This castle has been constructed by Dezful artists and by means of bricks obtained from Darius (Dariush) castle and some engraved bricks in the Kific script from Choqazanbil. This castle was in the hands of the French authorities before the Islamic revolution, after which it was utilised as the archeological center of Shush.

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8801/ImageReports/8801210695/19_8801210695_L600.jpg

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http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8801/ImageReports/8801210695/3_8801210695_L600.jpg

http://www.destinationiran.com/pictures/achaemenian_architecture.jpg

http://www.destinationiran.com/pictures/safavid_architecture.jpg

http://www.destinationiran.com/pictures/post_Islam.jpg

http://www.destinationiran.com/pictures/ilkhanid_architecture.jpg

Many people do not really know how the ancient Iranic peopels looked like, they often think it is something like from the movie "300" or something like classical Arabic dress, which is totally false.

How the REAL ancient Iranians (Persians) looked like:

Achemeanid (Hækhamæneshi) dynasty:

http://www.siue.edu/COSTUMES/images/PLATE2BX.JPG
http://www.siue.edu/COSTUMES/images/PLATE3CX.JPG
http://www.siue.edu/COSTUMES/images/PLATE3DX.JPG
http://www.siue.edu/COSTUMES/images/PLATE3BX.JPG
http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Images2/Military/Achaemenid_Soldier1.gif
http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Images2/Military/Achaemenid_Cavalary.gif
http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Images2/Military/Achaemenid_Foot_slodier.gif
http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Images2/Achaemenid/Artefacts/Sculpture_Relief/AchaemenidSoldierChristies1.jpg
http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Images2/Achaemenid/Artefacts/Sculpture_Relief/Achaemenid_Persian_Funerary_Stele__from_Anatoolia1_Istanbul_Museum.jpg
http://iranpoliticsclub.net/history/historical-women/images/Persian%20Women%20Warriors-close.jpg
http://www.ghandchi.com/iranscope/Anthology/KavehFarrokh/300/image002.jpg
http://300themovie.info/gallery/shanyar3.jpg
http://300themovie.info/gallery/maleki.jpg

cont. to Parthian ....

The Parthian/Arcesid (Part-ha/Æshkanian) dynasty:

http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Images2/Parthian/Metalwork/Surena6.JPG
http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Images2/Parthian/Hatra/Parthian_king.jpg
http://strategicsimulations.net/catalog/images/SSORI72021.jpg
http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Images2/Parthian/Artefacts/YoungManWithParthianCostume_Palmyra.jpg
http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/6481/parthianarmy.jpg
http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/5738/part1bq1.jpg
http://img466.imageshack.us/img466/2961/part2nw1.jpg
http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/5177/sasnid11pvei4.jpg
http://img124.imageshack.us/img124/3806/sasnid29jpcd7.jpg
http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/2420/sasnid38qmfn3.jpg

Sassanid (Sasanian) dynasty:

http://plateauofiran.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/puran_shahrvaraz.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3049/2997038834_560a5486e5_o.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_xqta6CiR-Qg/SDIdawUqrNI/AAAAAAAAACk/RG6fOnqvoFI/s400/Sassanid+soldiers.jpg
http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Images2/Sasanian/artifacts/Sculpture/shapur_II_head.jpg
http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/3843/1211706777052855490S425x425Q85.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2232/2401892392_aa6b6e09d4.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3248/2401901552_43aa4140cc_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3241/2401072029_d23c995d29_o.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2297/2401902004_1ec3f1b1d6_o.jpg
http://300themovie.info/blog/sassan1.jpg
http://300themovie.info/blog/sassan6.jpg
http://300themovie.info/blog/sassan7.jpg
http://300themovie.info/blog/sassan2.jpg
http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/7214/mon82kinr8.jpg

(from: [url]
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2410/2443281999_5e3023437f_b.jpg


:drool:
Is that Isfahan?
It looks just like it.. except without the dome and minarets.

Rayen Citadel, Kerman

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8712/ImageReports/8712181094/16_8712181094_L600.jpg

The sign says "Zurkhaneh" which is a traditional gym for free style wrestlers
http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8712/ImageReports/8712181094/2_8712181094_L600.jpg

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8712/ImageReports/8712181094/1_8712181094_L600.jpg

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8712/ImageReports/8712181094/6_8712181094_L600.jpg

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8712/ImageReports/8712181094/5_8712181094_L600.jpg

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8712/ImageReports/8712181094/9_8712181094_L600.jpg

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8712/ImageReports/8712181094/8_8712181094_L600.jpg

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8712/ImageReports/8712181094/7_8712181094_L600.jpg

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8712/ImageReports/8712181094/12_8712181094_L600.jpg

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8712/ImageReports/8712181094/10_8712181094_L600.jpg

Entrance gate
http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8712/ImageReports/8712181094/17_8712181094_L600.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3344/3488513485_55afcbe074.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3362/3486375173_94b16415e6.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3372/3489606994_9d3a733465.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3416/3447787202_d4315bcb56.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3622/3447720884_4cfdc60a24.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3609/3485517485_8488fefe7d.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3341/3485517549_fb31fc2f55.jpg?v=0

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1171/866248528_20be8b17e2.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3365/3507188972_a7dac0cfd5.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3625/3473159022_aa562d732c.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3492/3459100560_ddd10b4936.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3549/3459086464_47b7cebbe9.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3586/3474518029_5c14ddc38b.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3360/3479575538_e70d6aec2e.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3320/3505495238_f4be781896.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3545/3504686539_0cdb6f8ea3.jpg?v=0

Those photos from the historical places, temples etc of Iran are really very nice :)

Women in pre Islamic Iran

http://h.imagehost.org/0712/09-07-20_09_59_12.jpg (http://h.imagehost.org/view/0712/09-07-20_09_59_12)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2512/3739583963_abf9bba78a_b.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9848500@N06/3739583963/

http://www.kdi-co.com/Kasra_files/Kasra.JPG

Really a great pics, where you got these beutiful pics from??? Can you please share this link here.

12000 years age,humans lived in this historical village. :nuts: ^^
That's very amazing :eek2:

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8701/ImageReports/8701030075/1_8701030075_L600.jpg

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8701/ImageReports/8701030075/9_8701030075_L600.jpg

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8701/ImageReports/8701030075/25_8701030075_L600.jpg

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8701/ImageReports/8701030075/19_8701030075_L600.jpg

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8701/ImageReports/8701030075/22_8701030075_L600.jpg

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8701/ImageReports/8701030075/6_8701030075_L600.jpg

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8701/ImageReports/8701030075/11_8701030075_L600.jpg

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8701/ImageReports/8701030075/8_8701030075_L600.jpg

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8701/ImageReports/8701030075/10_8701030075_L600.jpg

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8701/ImageReports/8701030075/5_8701030075_L600.jpg

http://media.farsnews.com/Media/8701/ImageReports/8701030075/15_8701030075_L600.jpg

Nice

Castle Babak, also known as the Immortal Castle or Republic Castle, is an impressive and huge building citadel on the top of a mountain in the Arasbaran forests, at 2,600 m. above sea level, which is located 16 km southwest of Kaleibar City in northwestern Iran. The castle is surrounded by gorges as deep as 400 to 600 meters, is believed to belong to the Parthian dynasty and modified under the Sasanid dynasty. To reach the castle, one has to trek a tortuous and narrow passageway and then cross a corridor-shaped temple, 200 meters in lengths.
Babak Fort was the refuge and the campsite where Babak Khorramdin and his followers began their resistance movement against the Abbasid caliphs in 816 A.D. and it took 22 years till Babak was killed. They were then called “the rebellions of Sorkh-Jamegan (red wears).
People gather in the fort on 9th of July each year to celebrate Babak Khorramdin resistance.
http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Middle_East/Iran/photo983097.htm

By Atousa Taghavi (TrekEarth)

http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/4258/babakcastletx7.jpg

From Wikipedia
http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/646/img2416pb3.jpg

http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/8595/800pxbabakcastlecl0.jpg


and that might be, the most magestic place on earth

the history of this ancient region remain to 7000BC,located in Esat of Meshgin shahr city,alongside ghare sou river.(in north west of Iran)

^^

منطقه باستانی معروف به شهر یری در شمال غربی روستای پیرازمیان در ۳۱ کیلومتری شرق مشگین شهر در کنار رود قره سو قرار دارد. وسعت این منطقه تا1528 s منطقه باستانی يری : آثار بی نظیر در جهان | تاریخ باستان تمدن عکسهای تاریخیریخی ۴۰۰ هکتار است و از سه قسمت دژ نظامی، معبد و قوشا تپه تشکیل می شود. قدمت قلعه و معبد به ۱۴۵۰ پیش از میلاد و قوشا تپه به ۷ هزاره پیش از میلاد می رسد.

مجموعه کامل عکس های این تصاویر پایین قرار داده شده است

اولین بار در حدود ده سال پیش از انقلاب اسلامی چارلز برنی در این محوطه کاوش کرد و از سال ۱۳۸۳ تا ۱۳۸۵ سه فصل حفاری به سرپرستی علیرضا هژبری نوبری در آن انجام شد.
در اولین فصل حفاری که در آبان ۸۳ آغاز شد قبرهای عصر آهن بررسی شدند که پیش از آن توسط جویندگان عتیقه تخریب شده بودند و تنها ساختمان بندی قبرها معلوم بود. در این دوره سفالها یی مربوط به دوره کالکو لتیک کشف شد و قدمت منطقه را به ۳۵۰۰ سال از از عصر آهن به عقب برد. این سفالها شبیه سفالهای مناطق باستانی دالما و حاجی فیروز هستند. به این ترتیب برای اولین بار قدمت سکونت بشر در استان اردبیل به دوره مس- سنگ رسید. برخی از سفالها منقوش و برخی با طرح سبدی بودند. تعدادی سفال دو لایه نیز در حفاری کشف شد که احتمال می رود لایه دوم سفال برای ترمیم قسمتهای شکسته سفال به کار رفته است.
در منطقه یری تعداد زیادی سنگ شیشه برنده(ابسیدین) کشف شد که می تواند گواهی بر ارتباط این منطقه با قفقاز و آناتولی باشد زیرا سابقه استخراج این نوع سنگ در این مناطق شناخته شده است. از ابسیدین برای برش سنگهای سخت در دوره کالکولتیک استفاده می شده است.
در منطقه یری چند دوره تاریخی از مس- سنگی ، عصر آهن۱ و عصر آهن ۲ مشخص شد و بقایایی از قلعه ای متعلق به دوره آهن کشف گردید.
در فصل بعدی حفاری در سال ۸۴ بقایایی از سفال، مفرغ و نقوش انسانی دیده شد که باستان شناسان آنها را نذوراتی متعلق به معبد میدانستند. یکی از این دو معبد در زیر دیوار دفاعی قلعه قرار داشت . باستان شناسان نتیجه گرفتند در دوره اورارتویی که ساکنان شهر یری بر روی معبد خود قلعه ساخته بودند از دین خود روی گردانده اند و خدای اورارتویی( خالدی) را پذیرفته اند. البته این امر میتواند اختیاری یا به اجبار صورت گرفته باشد.
در این فصل حفاری یک لایه نیز در زیر محوطه داخلی قلعه کشف شد که به شخری متروک و قدیمی تر تعلق داشن. برخی سفالهای قهوه ای مایل به بنفش و سفالهای داغدار و سیاه نیز در این محل کشف شدند که به پیش از عصر آهن تعلق دارند.
در فصل سوم حفاری مشخص شد که در دوره اورارتوییان قلعه به آتش کشیده و متروک شده است. وجود خاکستر در لایه های خاک قلعه نشان دهنده آتش سوزی قلعه است . به این ترتیب دوئره های متوالی زندگی بشر از ۷۰۰۰ تا دوره اورارتوییان در شهر یری به صورت متوالی مشخص شد. در این فصل تعداد زیادی ظروف سفالی، اشیای زرین مانند آویز، دگمه های زینتی و پلاکهای طلایی و مفرغی کشف گردید.
نیایشگاه اصلی منطقه یری در این فصل از زیر خاک بیرون آمد که شامل بیش از ۳۰۰ سنگ افراشت با ارتفاعهای مختلف از ۳۵ تا ۲۵۰ سانتیمتر با شکلهای انسانیهستندو اشکال حجاری شده روی سنگها مشابهند و حاوی صورت آدمی( بدون دهان) ، دست و شمشیر هستند.
در مناطق دیگری از آذربایجان نیز سنگ افراشت وجود دارد مانند سنگ افراشت نشت بان سراب ولی هیچ کدام دارای حجاری نیستند.
در غرب محل تجمع سنگها غاری قرار دارد که ساکنان محلی آنرا قاراکوهبل نام نهاده اند. روبروی آن چند تخته سنگ بر روی هم گذاشته شده اندو به این ترتیب سه فصل حفاری منطقه باستانی یری در سال ۸۴ به پایان رسید.
مدیر کل میراث فرهنگی اردبیل در سال ۸۴ طی بازدید از منطقه اعلام کرد که در سال ۸۵ حریم شهر یری تعیین خواهد شد و این منطقه باستانی به ثبت ملی و جهانی خواهد رسید. ولی در مرداد سال ۸۵ تحقیقات باستان شناسی منطقه تعطیل شد. وی در مرداد سال ۸۶ اعلام کرد که کار طراحی سازه محافظ با اعتباری به مبلغ بیست میلیون تومان انجام خواهد شد در حالی که این کار نیاز به صد میلیون تومان بودجه دارد. در هر صورت تا پایان سال ۸۶ هیچ گونه اقدامی در جهت حفاظت از سنگ افراشتها انجتم نشده بود.
منطقه یری که وسیع ترین منطقه تاریخی استان اردبیل و یکی از با اهمیت ترین مناطق پیش از تاریخ شمال غرب ایران است به شماره ۶۱۶۲ به ثبت آثار ملی رسید. ولی به دلیل عدم حفاظت از منطقه سرمای بی سافقه زمستان سال ۸۶ سنگ افراشتها را مورد حمله قرار داد و در اول بهمن ۸۶ با یک زیر نویسی تلوزیونی در شبکه خبر اعلام شد که ۸۰% از آثار تاریخی منطقه یری بر اثر سرما از میان رفته است. در واقع یکی از با ارزش ترین و بی نظیر ترین آثار باستانی ایران و جهان در اثر بی مسولیتی سازمان میراث فرهنگی از دست رفت و به هیچ وجهه قابل مرمت نیست.

http://www.iranatlas.info/regional%20prehistoric/yeri/images/1525.jpg
http://www.iranatlas.info/regional%20prehistoric/yeri/images/1526.jpg
http://www.iranatlas.info/regional%20prehistoric/yeri/images/1527.jpg
http://www.iranatlas.info/regional%20prehistoric/yeri/images/1528.jpg
http://www.iranatlas.info/regional%20prehistoric/yeri/images/1529.jpg
http://www.iranatlas.info/regional%20prehistoric/yeri/images/1530.jpg
http://www.iranatlas.info/regional%20prehistoric/yeri/images/1532.jpg
http://www.iranatlas.info/regional%20prehistoric/yeri/images/1533.jpg
http://www.iranatlas.info/regional%20prehistoric/yeri/images/1536.jpg
http://www.iranatlas.info/regional%20prehistoric/yeri/images/1539.jpg
http://www.iranatlas.info/regional%20prehistoric/yeri/images/1542.jpg
http://www.iranatlas.info/regional%20prehistoric/yeri/images/1544.jpg
http://www.iranatlas.info/regional%20prehistoric/yeri/images/1549.jpg

GREAT!!!!!!! fascinating i shall say, iran truely is the cradle of civilization

Ziggurats were built when the first civilizations were formed in the world, people understood that they can live together in the cities and build great things.

The world's largest ziggurat and the only one which has been inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage List: Tchogha Zanbil

A model of the ziggurat:

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/ziggurat/Chogha1.jpg

A model of the current ziggurat:

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/ziggurat/Chogha2.jpg

Some pics of the ziggurat:

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/ziggurat/Chogha3.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/ziggurat/Chogha4.jpg

http://www.allempires.com/uploads/ziggurat/Chogha5.jpg

I think it was better that I poted it in the Architecture forum.

gives me shivers from greateness