Category: history

knogckin at the door

“Who is knogckin at the door?”

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Knockers are not only decorative accessories hung on heavy wooden doors, they have a special cultural connotation.

Women inside houses had to wear the hijab in the presence of people outside the close family members knocking on the door.

“Who is knocking at the door?”

Knockers are not only decorative accessories hung on heavy wooden doors, they have a special cultural connotation. Women inside houses had to wear the hijab in the presence of people outside the close family members knocking on the door. There are two hammers on each door leaf, each having a different shape and a different tone. The circular one has a lower sound, indicates that a woman is standing in front of the door. The heavier, larger handle has a higher sound and tells us it is a man visiting the household.

knogckin at the door
The-diamond-Daraye-Noor-sea-of-light-Treasury-of-National-Jewels

The Royal treasury of Tehran

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The Royal treasury, probably an unparalleled collection in the world is currently housed in the basement of the Iran Melli Bank.

The accumulation of this treasure dates back to the Safavid era in the 17th century. After the conquest of India by Nader Shah, …

The Royal treasury of Iran

The Royal treasury, probably an unparalleled collection in the world is currently housed in the basement of the Iran Melli Bank in Tehran. The accumulation of this treasure dates back to the Safavid era in the 17th century. After the conquest of India by Nader Shah, he brought back a great deal of precious stones including the two largest pink diamond in the world, sea of light and mount of light. The latter later possessed by british army and is now on the crown of the queen.
In the Qajar era, once again, Fath Ali shah took possession of it and the personal interest of the Qajar kings added quite a few new gems to it, which were partly bought and some counted among the diplomatic gifts.
In 1937 a law required that the treasury be transferred to the Melli (national) bank as the financial endowment of national currency.
The treasury has been prepared and opened to the public with very restricted visiting times.
Among the unique jewels, we can name
The crown of the Pahlavi Dynasty of 2080 grams, used by Reza and Mohammadreza Shah in their coronation ceremony. The famous diamond Daraye-Noor (sea of light) of 182 carats in pink color.
The Kiani crown, belonged to Fath Ali shah and other Qajar kings, set with a 120 carat garnet.
The jeweled globe, made in 1869 by the order of Nasserdin-shah was made basically with 3656 grams of gold with 51366 precious stones mounted on it.
The peacock throne (in Persian named Tawouss, beloved of Fath Ali Shah) dating from the beginning of the 19th century.
Note the visiting hours are from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Open Saturday through Tuesday under strict control.

National Museum of Iran

National Museum of Iran

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Iran-e-Bastan, Archaeological Museum,
The most important archaeological museum in Iran,

built in the 1930s under the supervision of André Godar, the French architect, …

Iran-e-Bastan, National Museum

The most important archaeological museum in Iran, built in the 1930s under the supervision of André Godar, the French architect, to welcome and house the findings from archaeological missions throughout Iran. The entrance was inspired by the magnificent arch of ctisphon palace.
The building has two floors. The first floor reserved for the Paleolithic & prehistoric periods and the ground floor, intended for
the historical periods. Totally the museum covers almost 400000 years time span.
pottery is most abundant item in the museum which also serves as an index in the archeological chronology.

Among the most remarkable showcases we can indicate the one which shows a collection of stamp seals (stamp, signifying the signatures in Antiquity)
and cylindrical seals (mainly used in commerce) and tokens, functioned as delivery note in ancient time

A display case features artifacts from Shahr-e-Soukhteh (the burnt city) that is a site in the southeastern region of Iran in the 3rd millennium B.C. One of the most exciting object is a goblet showing the oldest animated painting in the human history.

A very rich collection of bronze objects from louristan, shows objects of high artistic refinement such as horse bit, pins and funerary artifacts.
A large bas-relief brought from Persepolis showing Xerexes and other courtiers.
A headless statue of Darius from Susa and mosaics from Bishapour (Sassanid period) are other significant objects in the museum.
The location of the museum is in the vicinity of some other museums including Islamic period museum and glassware museum.

National Museum of Iran
Hafezieh

Hafezieh

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Hafezieh, the tomb of the great 14th-century Persian poet, the undisputed master of lyrics poetry (Ghazal, a poetic style that deals more with themes of love).

The universal poet, the source of inspiration for great philosophers and writers like Goethe and André Gide.

Hafezieh

Hafezieh, the tomb of the great 14th-century Persian poet, the undisputed master of lyrics poetry (Ghazal, a poetic style that deals more with themes of love). The universal poet, the source of inspiration for great philosophers and writers like Goethe and André Gide.
His poetry deals as much with the worldly subjects (material world) and social theme as with the philosophical and mystical themes beyond our human perception. He talks about wine, beauty, and beautiful faces and appreciates the charm of his hometown Shiraz.

He has only one collection of poetry (Divan) which represents his literary style while there is another poet like Sadi (master of speech) mastering several styles, writes more voluminous works in prose as well as in poetry, but after centuries, it is the poetry of Hafez which has welcomed as interlocutor of advantage among Iranians and admirers of Persian poetry.

Perhaps more than literary and aesthetic reasoning, the enigma of Hafez’s poetry is one reason. Hafez’s poem is surreal and reveals several layers of perception that everyone based on their abilities perceives and translates.
This multifaceted quality has created a tradition called Tafaol (bibliomancy).
By opening Divan of Hafez at random, the verses that come, speak of the wish and foresees the fate of the person.
The ideal man for Hafez (Rend) is a person who does not care about this material and deceptive world that reveals the hypocrisy of the religious and deflects from the populism of authorities which has cost him the disgrace of governors.

The tomb is set in a pretty garden under a dome, it is the most comforting place for young lovers, frustrated by the infidelity of the beloved, seeking a cozy corner to spend some time with Hafez relieving verses.

zoukhaneh

Zourkhaneh, traditional sport in iran

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Zurkhane is an Iranian traditional sport which philosophy consists in mental and physical improvement.

The athletes not only build their body muscles, but also improve their morality and behaviour by performing ancestral movements.

Zourkhaneh, traditional sport in iran

 

Zourkhaneh is an Iranian traditional sport which philosophy consists in mental and physical improvement.
The athletes not only build their body muscles, but also improve their morality and behavior by performing ancestral movements.
The gentlemen gather in a small arena that is built slightly below street level to provide constant temperature. In the middle of the arena there is a round or octogonal sunken area named “Gowd”. The exercise starts with a warm up following the rythm of the Morshed, the master of ceremony who plays tombak and manage the training, singing traditional songs (mostly from Shanameh of Ferdowsi that is the epic of Iranian heroes and athletics). Then they start to play with some special instruments like wooden maces, shields, bows, which have been inspired from the antique weapons.
Some movements remind us the whirling Sufi dance.
The tradition dictates that the older athletes and If one is descendant of the Prophet of Islam (Seyed), have to be more respected, whatever their skills, experience or body condition. the ovation would turn to a salavat, the formula of praise and salutation to prophet Mohammad and his family.
It is said that the origin of this art goes back to the time that Iran was under Mongol domination, the persian warriors secretly trained to organize the insurrection against the invaders.
The entrance of the ceremonies are absolutely free for the spectators, but they can give money, collected in a vase for charities.

zoorkhaneh
vank church

Vank Cathedral in Isfahan

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Vank Cathedral,(congregational) the first and the main Armenian church in Isfahan was built in the middle of 17th century

and the differences of its plan to the classic ones has raised some legends and rumors, …

Vank Cathedral in Isfahan

Vank Cathedral,(congregational) the first and the main Armenian church in Isfahan was built in the middle of 17th century after the Armenian immigration forced by shah Abass who wanted to promote prosperity in his new capital, Isfahan.
Brick dome of church and some tiles working seem to be a derivation of Muslim mosques. The paintings are the combination of Byzantine style and Iranian miniature. This church is not in service any more and it is just used as a museum and for administrative matters. An ethnography museum near by shows the history of the Armenians since their arrival.

Zoroastrianism Iranians ancient religion

Zoroastrianism, Iranians ancient religion

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“Zoroaster” is the name generally known in the West for the prophet of ancient Iran,

whose transformation of his inherited religion inaugurated a movement that eventually became the dominant religion in Iran up until the triumph of Islam.

Zoroastrianism, Iranians ancient religion

Zoroastrianism is Iranians ancient religion, Zoroaster is the name generally known in the West for the prophet of ancient Iran, whose transformation of his inherited religion inaugurated a movement that eventually became the dominant religion in Iran up until the triumph of Islam. Controversy over Zaraθuštra’s date has been an embarrassment of long-standing to Zoroastrian studies. If anything approaching a consensus exists, it is that he lived ca. 1000 BC.
There is really nothing in the Gathas (oldest part of Avesta , zoroastriens holy book) which might give a clue where Zoroaster lived or the areas in which he was active.
Even though there are later traditions which place him in Azerbaijan and Media, it is more reasonable to locate Zoroaster somewhere in eastern Iran along with the rest of the Avesta. The Gathas offer scant information about the life of the prophet. Apparently, Zaraθuštra’s position within his own society became so precarious that he was forced to flee. Ethics plays a predominant role in Zaraθuštra’s thought. Part and parcel of Zaraθuštra’s ethical vision was the belief in rewards and punishments in the afterlife. Although it is impossible to know whether or not it was his innovation, Zaraθuštra was the first in recorded human history to articulate a clear theology of heaven for the righteous and a hell for the wicked.

Zoroastrianism Iranians ancient religion
Kalmakareh: A mysterious Historical Cave

Kalmakareh: A mysterious Historical Cave

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A mysterious Historical Cave
Kalmakareh treasure was discovered in 1989 by a local hunter. The Kalmakareh cave is about 20 km to the northwest of Pol-e Dokhtar, Lurestan Province.

The collection is consisted of different metal objects including vessels, rhytons, animal and human figurines, masks, plaques, adornments and etc.

Kalmakareh: A mysterious Historical Cave

Kalmakareh treasure was discovered in 1989 by a local hunter. The Kalmakareh cave is about 20 km to the northwest of Pol-e Dokhtar, Lurestan Province. The collection is consisted of different metal objects including vessels, rhytons, animal and human figurines, masks, plaques, adornments and etc. The presence of neo-Elamite scripts on some artifacts makes it unickly easy to date. The names on the scripts indicates a close connection to the cultural horizon of Neo-Elamite period. The inscriptions, Old Aramaic, Neo- Assyrian and NeoElamite, revealed a new unknown local dynasty in Lurestan, concurrent with neo-Elamite period; which opens a new discussion in investigating archaeological issues and art history of this period in western Iran. Discovered objects are mostly made of silver.

Kalmakareh: A mysterious Historical Cave
Wind Tower

Wind Tower

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Badgir or wind tower is a kind of tower constructed on top of the roof of the houses in Yazd and other cities in the desert to capture wind flow and to lead it to the room under for ventilation.

Do not worry about hot wind because a cool water basin under the tower would add some moisture to it and make it cooler.

wind tower

wind tower or  Badgir is a kind of tower constructed on top of the roof of the houses in Yazd and other cities in the desert to capture wind flow and to lead it to the room under for ventilation.
Do not worry about hot wind because a cool water basin under the tower would add some moisture to it and make it cooler.
How does it work when the wind stops? very ingenious, Some cool weather of the last night is enough to make an
airflow at the day when it begins to get hot in the rooms.

Wind Tower