Pars Museum

 

Encircled by a gorgeous garden, the Pars Museum appears as an octagonal gem, formed like an edged, ridged hat, which used to be a pavilion to host the prestigious foreign authorities of Karim Khan Zand in Shiraz. Although it houses Iran’s precious historical collection, it is highly valuable in its own right, boasting a unique and elegant architectural design. When you look at the building from the main entrance door, surrounded by a green area, the construction stands as a large hat in the center of the Garden. From within, it is also extremely dazzling with its practical traditional paintings. The Pars Museum by itself is part of a costly treasure that holds the most beloved ancient cultural works in the history of Iran. The history of this stylish construction dates back to the Zand period, when it was designed to host royal guests and representatives of foreign countries. Gradually, it turns into the resort of the kings and the princes.

Later, this royal building was converted into a museum open to the public. It was once renovated and reopened, welcoming national and international tourists. Pars Museum is at the top of the list for every tourist visiting Shiraz. Surrounded by Shirazi cedar and pine trees, the building shines in the middle of Nazar Garden. Its octagonal construction was incredibly designed and is so sight-catching with azure blue tile works representing the majestic haunting scenes all around the top edge. The building is 1.5 meters from the ground. That is why there are some steps to get in. When you enter, you will see the main central hall and a spectacular dome in the ceiling. There are also several king chambers close to the main hall. If you would like to visit the grave of Karim Khan Zand, you need to visit the eastern chamber first. One of the reasons this building is so attractive to tourists is the appealing paintings that are on the walls. On the ceiling, under the luxurious dome, there are stalactites.

 

The internal design of the halls and chambers is highly decorative so that every visitor would feel the atmosphere of a luxurious setting. The antique works collected in the Pars Museum are the main attraction for this tourist spot. The pieces are indeed grand in value, ranging from the Achaemenid, Sassanid, and even pre-Islamic era. The precious paintings of Agha Sadegh, the famous painter, are also collected there. The works are categorized into three sections: Islamic, Prehistoric, and historic eras. Within this context, the building is not only for the visual pleasure of the visitors, but also for the cultural and historical research works for those who are interested in the history and art of Iran. The best season for visiting this memorable monument is Spring, which coincides with the blooming Shirazi sour orange blossoms, spreading the mesmerizing aroma that is the individual characteristic of Shiraz.

During the time, Karim Khan was in power and ordered to construct this alluring garden area, it got so popular and the target of attention that it led to the construction of other Zand complex buildings like Karim Khan Citadel, Forum, and the central building that looks like an octagonal hat. This peaceful place turned out to be the host of official rituals. During the Qajar period, Hossein Ali Mirza Farmanfarma, Fathali Shah’s son, who was the governor of Shiraz, ordered the construction of two other buildings on the western side of this garden. These marginal constructions are called “The Mirror” and “The Sun”. Unfortunately, the only building that is left is the central construction, which looks like an octagonal hat.

The unique aqueduct system of the garden is surprisingly connected to the big subterranean of Rokn Abaad in the northwestern side of Shiraz. On the four corners of the garden, you would see four basins and water views, two of which were so big that during the construction of the nearby road, they were destroyed, with their stones removed to the garden of Hafiz Shrine. A historical cylinder stone tablet is on the west side of the garden, which is the main attraction of this place. On this stone, there are three tablets with Pahlavi Naskh script, Nastaaliq Persian calligraphy of the three historical periods of the Seljuks, the Safavid dynasty, and the Qajars.

 Another historical work in this garden is the unique stone piece of the Sun Palace on the east side of the area. Two lion figures are engraved on this stone. Other figures carved on the stones here are the images of the famous Iranian heroes who were presented in the wars against the Ottoman Empire, the first Hero of the Zand period, named Moosa Khamis. Other images represent the legendary figure of The Shahnameh, the greatest Persian secondary epic by Ferdowsi. The artworks that are collected indoors, in the octagonal building, are as follows:  some antique Qurans ascribed to Imam Ali, Imam Hassan, and Imam Sadiq’s handwriting. They were once stored in the Atiq Mosque. A Quran that belonged to Osmas, the second Islamic Caliphate, with his blood drops on it while he was being murdered. About 13 pages of The Mathnawi by Rumi, which Mulla Sadra, the famous philosopher of Shiraz, wrote. Surprisingly, a marriage licence that belongs to a famous minister named Hassan Mostawfi.

Last but not least is the tomb of Karim Khan. In his will, he had asked to be buried in the eastern chamber close to the main hall. The amazing historical event that happened during Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar when he ordered to exhumate Karim Khan so that his bones got transferred to Golestan Palace in Tehran, and he could pass over and kick them in disrespectful, avenging behavior. Fortunately, years after the end of the Qajar dynasty, Karim Khan’s bones were returned to Shiraz and were buried again with full respect. Therefore, the Pars Museum, or the peaceful palace where Karim Khan is sleeping forever, attracts visitors with its historical stories, arts, and the environment that are part of the puzzle of Iran’s rich history.