Iran world heritage for all humanity

Iran has heritages for all humanity. Iran is a vast land with a long history of civilization and significant contributions to the entirety of human civilization. In several thousand years, many wondrous monuments have been created in Iran; monuments that would make us stand in awe and wonder, watching for hours and hours. In 1979, Iran joined the UNESCO World Heritage Convention —three years after its adoption in 1972. Three monuments in Iran were registered in the UNESCO World Heritage List in the same year. As of 2014, thirteen Iranian monuments are officially registered as world heritage properties and several other monuments are nominated for registration soon. Two Iranian manuscripts are also nominated for registration in UNESCO Memory of the World List. National New Year festival of Nowruz and the Radif of Persian Music was also registered on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2009.  

Persepolis

It was one of the first Iranian world heritage sites to be registered in the Unesco World Heritage List. The Persepolis compound, known to Iranians as Takht-e Jamshid, is a very remarkable example of ancient monuments of Iran. The structure is built in the ancient city of Parseh which was built by the order of Darius I the great of the Achaemenid dynasty. Xerxes, his son, and successor built the Gate of All Nations and added a few other places to the city of Parseh and it was then that Persepolis reached its legendary glory. The legend has it that on a night of drinking Alexander set the Persepolis on fire. Today you can see the remains of the glorious gate of All Nations on which the images of the representatives of different nations are carved into the stone. As you walk up the stairs, stone carvings of humans, plants, and animals still communicate the ancient Persians’ ideals of Life, Peace, and Beauty to you. 

Chogha Zanbil

The Tchogha Zanbil site holds the remains of the world’s largest ziggurat built in the ancient Elamite city of Dur Untash. The site is located near Susa (Shush) in southwestern Iran. constructed in about 1250 Bc, the ziggurat temple was dedicated to Elamite deity Ishushinak. The site was added to Unesco World Heritage List in 1979, in the same year Persepolis was registered. The receding stairs of the ziggurat lead to a temple of the second millennium BC, wherein the flashing of an eye one can get immersed in a world of ancient mysteries.

Meidan-e-Emam

This world heritage site is known also as Naghsh-e Jahan, the square is a masterpiece of urban construction situated at the heart of the legendary city of Isfahan. Built-in the 17th century by Shah Abbas of the Safavid dynasty at the time of flourishing of Isfahan, the compound consists of bazaars, mosques, and government headquarters. Its name, Naqsh-e Jahan means “image of the world” in Persian. The compound has been described as a Persian equivalent to Saint Mark’s in Venice. Two beautiful mosques of Masjed-e Imam and Masjed-e Sheikh Lotfullah situated at the sides of the square would charm your eyes with their intricate but simple design and decoration. The Aliqapu compound situated on the other side of the square is a six-story Safavid structure with exquisite design and decoration. The Naqsh-e Jahan square was registered in the Unesco World Heritage list in 1979, together with Chogha Zanbil and Persepolis.

Takht-e Soleyman

Near the town of Takab in West Azarbaijan lies a unique memorial to Persian history, philosophy, and art. The Takht-e Soleyman complex comprises monuments from the Sassanid (224-420 CE) to Il-khan eras (13th-century CE). There are remains of Sassanid royal architecture and a holy place where tow sacred elements of Zoroastrian philosophy, fire, and water, are brought together. This is the Azargoshasp Fire Temple, one of the three largest fire temples of ancient Iran which were built for warriors. In Takht-e Soleyman you’ll be an eyewitness to an enchanting, mysterious place whose name was mentioned in several old documents and diaries.

Pasargadae

Here is the Holy Land of Pasargadae and one of the most important world heritage sites in Iran. The burial place of Cyrus The great: the founder of the Persian empire, a man who denounced slavery and forced labor and believed in religious freedom, a monotheist of the ancient world who labored to promote goodness and justice as attested by the cuneiforms he ordered to be written on the Cyrus cylinder in ancient Babylonia. The site contains monuments from 5000 years ago as well as the ruins of several royal palaces, the trace of a royal garden, and several towers. Pasargadae is located a few kilometers away from the Persepolis (Takht-e Jamshid). The Pasargadae complex was registered in the Unesco World Heritage List in 2004.

Bam and its cultural landscape

The horrible 2003 earthquake drew the attention of the world to Bam, the city holding the world’s largest brick structure. The Arg-e Bam is spread on a land area of about 20 hectares and its Cultural Landscape encompasses an area of about 492 hectares where you can find many palm groves, subterranean water canals – the traditionally made aqueducts or Qanat in Persian— and several other natural attractions. in Arg-e Bam, several monuments from prehistoric times to the Islamic era have been discovered. As you pass the gate of Bam, you step to a silent city. with the help of your imagination, however, you can still hear the sounds of life—the sounds of people in the streets, houses, and commercial buildings—for the echo is forever preserved in Bam’s clay buildings. Bam and its Cultural Landscape were registered in the Unesco World Heritage List following the devastating 2003 earthquake that destroyed over 90 percent of the clay structure.

Soltaniyeh

Another amazing world heritage site in Iran and forty kilometers to the city of Zanjan lies Gonbad-e Soltaniyeh, the mausoleum of IlKhan ruler Oljeitu. The brick structure was created in the mind-fourteenth century in IlKhan capital city of Soltaniyeh. This is the world’s highest brick dome. The dome is 50 meters high and its octagonal base is 25 meters wide. An interesting feature of the compound is ten thousand square meters of plaster-work and painting. A wide array of ornamental works such as plaster-work, tile-work, painting on plaster and mosaic would meet the eye. Soltaniyeh is one of the world’s highest domes, along with Santa Maria Dei Frari church in Venice and Hagia Sophia cathedral in Istanbul.

Bisotun

Thirty kilometers east of Kermanshah lies Bisotun Mountain. in Bistun and nearby mountains you can see traces of human endeavor to record the history of a nation. The site contains about 200 culturally significant monuments from prehistoric times to the Il-Khan period. examples include a Median temple, a Median city, a Sassanid city and a Safavid caravanserai, etc. The most important monument of the site, however, is an Achaemenid bas-relief depicting Darius the Great and a group of rebels. under the bas-relief, there is a large inscription dating back to 520 BC. The inscription, which is one of the world’s most famous and reliable historical documents, is a narration of historical events during the reign of Darius i as well as the names of Iran’s neighboring countries and geographical regions of the time in three ancient languages. The rectangular cuneiform inscription is 21 meters long and 8 meters wide. This was the first cuneiform inscription to be translated into modern languages. Bisotun was registered in Unesco World Heritage List in 2006.

Armenian Monastic Ensembles

This world heritage site situated in the north-west of the country, the property consists of three monastic ensembles of the Armenian Christian faith: St Thaddeus and St Stepanos and the chapel of Dzordzor (also known as Qara kelīsā). These edifices – the oldest of which, St Thaddeus, dates back to the 7th century – are examples of the outstanding universal value of the Armenian architectural and decorative traditions. They bear testimony to very important interchanges with the other regional cultures, in particular the Byzantine, Orthodox, and Persian. situated on the south-eastern fringe of the main zone of the Armenian cultural space, the monasteries constituted a major center for the dissemination of that culture in the region. They are the last regional remains of this culture that are still in a satisfactory state of integrity and authenticity. Furthermore, as places of pilgrimage, the monastic ensembles are living witnesses of Armenian religious traditions through the centuries.

Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex

Tabriz has been a place of cultural exchange since antiquity and its historic bazaar complex is one of the most important commercial centers on the Silk Road. Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex consists of a series of interconnected, covered, brick structures, buildings, and enclosed spaces for different functions. Tabriz and its Bazaar were already prosperous and famous in the 13th century, when the town, in the province of Eastern Azerbaijan, became the capital city of the Safavid kingdom. The city lost its status as capital in the 16th century but remained important as a commercial hub until the end of the 18th century, with the expansion of Ottoman power. It is one of the most complete examples of the traditional commercial and cultural system of Iran. Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex, located along with one of the most frequented east-west trade routes, consists of a series of interconnected, covered brick structures, buildings, and enclosed spaces for a variety of functions – commercial and trade-related activities, social gatherings, and educational and religious practices. Closely interwoven with the architectural fabric is the social and professional organization of the Bazaar, which has allowed it to function over the centuries and has made it into a single integrated entity. Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex has been one of the most important international places for commercial and cultural interchange, thanks to the centuries-old east-west trading connections and routes and wise policy of endowments and tax exemptions. Tabriz Historic Bazaar bears witness to one of the most complete socio-cultural and commercial complexes among bazaars. It has developed over the centuries into an exceptional physical, economic, social, political, and religious complex, in which specialized architectural structures, functions, professions, and people from different cultures are integrated with a unique living environment. The lasting role of the Tabriz Bazaar is reflected in the layout of its fabric and in the highly diversified and reciprocally integrated architectural buildings and spaces, which have been a prototype for Persian urban planning.

Shushtar, Historical Hydraulic System

Shushtar, Historical Hydraulic system inscribed as a masterpiece of creative genius, can be traced back to Darius the Great in the 5th century BC. It involved the creation of two main diversion canals on the river Kârun one of which, Gargar canal, is still in use providing water to the city of Shushtar via a series of tunnels that supply water to mills. It forms a spectacular cliff from which water cascades into a downstream basin. It then enters the plain situated south of the city where it has enabled the planting of orchards and farming over an area of 40,000 ha. known as Mianâb (Paradise). The property has an ensemble of remarkable sites including the Salâsel Castel, the operation center of the entire hydraulic system, the tower where the water level is measured, damns, bridges, basins, and mills. It bears witness to the know-how of the Elamites and Mesopotamians as well as more recent Nabatean expertise and Roman building influence.

Sheikh Safi Al-Din Khānegāh and Shrine Ensemble in Ardabil

This astonishing world heritage site built between the beginning of the 16th century and the end of the 18th century, this place of spiritual retreat in the Sufi tradition uses Iranian traditional architectural forms to maximize the use of available space to accommodate a variety of functions (including a library, a mosque, a school, Mausolea, a cistern, a hospital, kitchens, a bakery, and some offices). It incorporates a route to reach the shrine of the Sheikh divided into seven segments, which mirror the seven stages of Sufi mysticism, separated by eight gates, which represent the eight attitudes of Sufism. The ensemble includes well preserved and richly ornamented facades and interiors, with a remarkable collection of antique artifacts. It constitutes a rare ensemble of elements of medieval Islamic architecture. Sheikh Safi al-Din Khānegāh and Shrine Ensemble were built as a small microcosmic city with bazaars, public baths, squares, religious buildings, houses, and offices. It was the largest and most complete Khānegāh and the most prominent Sufi shrine since it also hosts the tomb of the founder of the Safavid Dynasty. For these reasons, it has evolved into a display of sacred works of art and architecture from the 14th to the 18th century and a center of Sufi religious pilgrimage. The Sheikh Safi al-Din Khānegāh and Shrine Ensemble in Ardabil is of Outstanding Universal Value as an artistic and architectural masterpiece and an outstanding representation of the fundamental principles of Sufism. Ilkhanid and Timurid architectural languages, influenced by Sufi philosophy, have created new spatial forms and decorative patterns. The layout of the ensemble became a prototype for innovative architectural expressions and a reference for other Khānegāhs. As the shrine of a prominent Sufi master, who also was the founder of the Safavid Dynasty, the property has remained sacred in Iran up to the present day.

Masjed-e Jāmé of Isfahan

Another Iranian world heritage site located in the historic center of Isfahan, the Masjed-e Jāmé (‘Friday mosque’) can be seen as a stunning illustration of the evolution of mosque architecture over twelve centuries, starting in ad 841. It is the oldest preserved edifice of its type in Iran and a prototype for later mosque designs throughout Central Asia. The complex, covering more than 20,000 m2, is also the first Islamic building that adapted the four courtyard layout of Sassanid palaces to Islamic religious architecture. Its double-shelled ribbed domes represent an architectural innovation that inspired builders throughout the region. The site also features remarkable decorative details representative of stylistic developments over more than a thousand years of Islamic art. Masjed-e Jāme’ is the oldest Friday (congregational) mosque in Iran, located in the historical center of Isfahan. The monument illustrates a sequence of architectural construction and decorative styles of different periods in Iranian Islamic architecture, covering 12 centuries, most predominantly the Abbasid, Buyid, Seljuq, Ilkhanid, Muzzafarid, Timurid and Safavid eras. Following its Seljuq expansion and the characteristic introduction of the four iwans (Chahar Ayvān) around the courtyard as well as two extraordinary domes, the mosque became the prototype of a distinctive Islamic architectural style. The prototype character is well illustrated in the earliest double-shell ribbed Nezam al-Molk dome, the first use of the four Iwans (Chahar Ayvān) typology in Islamic architecture, as well as the textbook character of the Masjed-e Jāme’ as a compilation of Islamic architectural styles. The Masjed-e Jāme’ of Isfahan is an outstanding example of innovation in architectural adaptation and technology applied during the restoration and expansion of an earlier mosque complex during the Seljuq era, which has been further enlarged during later Islamic periods by addition of high-quality extensions and decoration.

Gonbad-e Qābus

This Iranian world heritage site has the 53 M high tomb built-in ad 1006 for Qābus Ibn Voshmgir, Ziyarid ruler, and literati, near the ruins of the ancient city of Jorjan in north-east Iran, bears testimony to the cultural exchange between Central Asian nomads and the ancient civilization of Iran. The tower is the only remaining evidence of Jorjan, a former center of arts and science that was destroyed during the Mongols’ invasion in the 14th and 15th centuries. It is an outstanding and technologically innovative example of Islamic architecture that influenced sacral buildings in Iran, Anatolia, and Central Asia. Built of unglazed fired bricks, the monument’s intricate geometric forms constitute a tapering cylinder with a diameter of 17–15.5 m, topped by a conical brick roof. It illustrates the development of mathematics and science in the Muslim world at the turn of the first millennium AD.

The Persian Garden

The property includes nine gardens in as many provinces. They exemplify the diversity of Persian garden designs that evolved and adapted to different climate conditions while retaining principles that have their roots in the times of Cyrus the Great, 6th century BC. Always divided into four sectors, with water playing an important role for both irrigation and ornamentation, the Persian garden was conceived to symbolize Eden and the four Zoroastrian elements of sky, earth, water, and plants. These gardens, dating back to different periods since the 6th century BC, also feature buildings, pavilions, and walls, as well as sophisticated irrigation systems. They have influenced the art of garden design as far as India and Spain. The Persian Garden consists of a collection of nine gardens, selected from various regions of Iran, which tangibly represent the diverse forms that this type of designed garden has assumed over the centuries and in different climatic conditions. They reflect the flexibility of the Chahar Bagh, or originating principle, of the Persian Garden, which has persisted unchanged over more than two millennia since its first mature expression was found in the garden of Cyrus the Great’s Palatial complex, in Pasargadae. Natural elements combine with manmade components in the Persian Garden to create a unique artistic achievement that reflects the ideals of art, philosophical, symbolic, and religious concepts. The Persian Garden materializes the concept of Eden or Paradise on Earth. The perfect design of the Persian Garden, along with its ability to respond to extreme climatic conditions, is the original result of an inspired and intelligent application of different fields of knowledge, i.e. technology, water management and engineering, architecture, botany, and agriculture. The notion of the Persian Garden permeates Iranian life and its artistic expressions: references to the garden may be found in literature, poetry, music, calligraphy, and carpet design. These, in turn, have inspired also the arrangement of the gardens. The attributes that carry Outstanding Universal Value are the layout of the garden expressed by the specific adaptation of the Chahar Bagh within each component and articulated in the charts or plant/flower beds; the water supply, management and circulation systems from the source to the garden, including all technological and decorative elements that permit the use of water for functional and aesthetic exigencies; the arrangement of trees and plants within the garden that contributes to its characterization and specific micro-climate; the architectural components, including the buildings but not limited to these, that integrate the use of the terrain and vegetation to create unique manmade environments; the association with other forms of art that, in a mutual interchange, have been influenced by the Persian Garden and have, in turn, contributed to certain visual features and sound effects in the gardens.

Golestan Palace

The lavish Golestan Palace is a masterpiece of the Qajar era, embodying the successful integration of earlier Persian crafts and architecture with Western influences. The walled Palace, one of the oldest groups of buildings in Teheran, became the seat of government of the Qajar family, which came into power in 1779 and made Teheran the capital of the country. Built around a garden featuring pools as well as planted areas, the Palace’s most characteristic features and rich ornaments date from the 19th century. It became a center of Qajari arts and architecture of which it is an outstanding example and has remained a source of inspiration for Iranian artists and architects to this day. It represents a new style incorporating traditional Persian arts and crafts and elements of 18th-century architecture and technology. Golestan Palace is located in the heart and historic core of Tehran. The palace complex is one of the oldest in Tehran, originally built during the Safavid dynasty in the historic walled city. Following extensions and additions, it received its most characteristic features in the 19th century, when the palace complex was selected as the royal residence and seat of power by the Qajar ruling family. At present, the Golestan Palace complex consists of eight key palace structures mostly used as museums and the eponymous gardens, a green shared center of the complex, surrounded by an outer wall with gates. The complex exemplifies architectural and artistic achievements of the Qajar era including the introduction of European motifs and styles into Persian arts. It was not only used as the governing base of the Qajar Kings but also functioned as a recreational and residential compound and a center of artistic production in the 19th century. Through the latter activity, it became the source and center of Qajari arts and architecture. Golestan Palace represents a unique and rich testimony of the architectural language and decorative art during the Qajar era represented mostly in the legacy of Naser ed-Din Shah. It reflects artistic inspirations of European origin as the earliest representations of synthesized European and Persian style, which became so characteristic of Iranian art and architecture in the late 19th and 20th centuries. As such, parts of the palace complex can be seen as the origins of the modern Iranian artistic movement.

Shahr-I Sokhta

Shahr-i Sokhta, meaning ‘Burnt City’ is located at the junction of Bronze Age trade routes crossing the Iranian plateau. The remains of the mud-brick city represent the emergence of the first complex societies in eastern Iran. Founded around 3200 BC, it was populated during four main periods up to 1800 BC, during which time there developed several distinct areas within the city. These include a monumental area, residential areas, industrial zones, and a graveyard. Changes in watercourses and climate change led to the eventual abandonment of the city in the early second millennium. The structures, burial grounds and the large number of significant artifacts unearthed there, and their well-preserved state due to the desert climate, make this site a rich source of information regarding the emergence of complex societies and contacts between them in the third millennium BC.

Pasargadae, The Royal Capital

I am the Cyrus, The king, The Achaemenian.

Adam Kurush Khshayathiya Hakhamanishiya.

These simple but dignified words carved in three languages and repeated on several blocks that lay scattered about the plain of Murghab is the only available inscriptions we have in this city of Pasargadae about the Mighty Lord of Asia, Cyrus the Great. This plain, some 16 miles (25 kilometers) long and 9 miles (15 kilometers) wide is generally acknowledged as the site of the classic Pasargadae, the Royal Capital of Cyrus the Great. It was on this plain that Cyrus fought his most decisive battle against his Median Overlord Astyages, whom he defeated in 550 B.C. and it was here that he laid the foundation of his capital “Pasargadae”. Pasargadae is about 50 miles to the north of Persepolis, the Imperial Capital of the great Persian Empire ruled by later kings of the Achaemenian Dynasty, the Dynasty founded by Cyrus the Great. The advance of centuries across the dial of eternity has been unable to obliterate the evidence of the magnificence of Persia even in the plain of Pasargadae, though it has suffered much from the relentless hand of time. There are several interesting sites to be seen by visitors and studied by scholars, beginning on the hillock known as the Takht-e-Suleiman or the Throne of Solomon.

The stone platform

This is a huge and outstanding stone platform over 250 feet long (80 meters) and 50 feet wide (18 meters). It is believed to have been the foundation for a palace. This platform is about half a mile from the last point to which a car can travel. When traveling by car turn right at the end of the narrow road between Pasargadae and Tehran – Shiraz road. At the foot of the hillock, the remains of a building Similar to the one at the Naqsh-e-Rustam Necropolis near Persepolis can be seen. This building and its purpose is a matter for dispute among orientalists and archaeologists. Some say it was a fire altar, others assert that it was a tomb and some argue that it was a shrine of some sort. The existence of two identical buildings, one in Pasargadae and one in the Persepolis area, is, however, significant. There are no tombs near the Pasargadae building and it is thought that it probably housed the sacred book and the arch-priest during religious ceremonies. Here, as in the case of the Throne of Solomon, the Mohammedan tradition (1,000 years later) has overlaid earlier history and the building has come to be known as the Prison of Solomon. Even the tomb of Cyrus is called Maritirum or “Mother of Solomon”, This was a ruse used by the Persians to make the fanatical Arab invaders respect these buildings and spare them from destruction.

The eastern palace 

To the southwest of the Prison of Solomon, the remains of a palace, called the Eastern Palace, can be inspected. No exact date can be given either for this building or the two other palaces situated to the northwest of it. It is probable, however, that this was the first of the Achaemenian palaces built in an original Persian style. Large white slabs of stone were used for the floor and the roof was supported on eight columns, the bases of which were uncovered in 1951. The area of this palace IS 594 square meters (22 x 27 meters). It is in this palace that the famous bas-relief of Cyrus the Great, is to be found (So far it is the earliest known example of Achaemenian carving.) Travelers who saw this monolith – Morier in 1802, Kerr Porter in 1821 and Flandin in 1841 related it in their books and made copies of the inscription engraved on top of this huge block. This inscription “Adam Kurush Khshayathiya Hakhamanishiya” was found in other palaces too. The figure shows Cyrus the Great wearing a curious Egyptian crown, an Elamite robe, and four fanlike wings. The monolith is approximately 9 feet high (2.9 meters). The best time for seeing this carving and for the photographing it is after 4 p.m. in the winter and 5 p.m. in the summer.

The private palace of Cyrus 

To the west of the Eastern Palace, two other palaces have been excavated in recent years. Only one column, a few shafts and several blocks of stone were to be seen here until a few years ago. However, the diligent efforts of the Persepolis Institute of Fars have uncovered the outlines and foundations of two magnificent palaces. The wall surrounded them has been constructed to protect them. The larger of the two palaces is known as the Private Palace and is almost 3,500 square meters in area (44 x 77.50 meters). The other building now known as the Audience Hall is 2,400 square meters in area (44 x 56 meters). The palaces are almost identical in design. The Private Palace had a central hall with two long colonnades on the west and east. On the door jambs of the central hall, figures of the King were carved, but only the lower halves of these have been found.

 The palace of the Audience  

The large hall of this palace had eight beautiful columns and there were four balconies or covered verandahs, one on each side. These verandahs were colonnaded and the northern side was the largest and longest with a total of 48 columns. The floor area of this large hall is approximately 7,000 square meters (32 x 22 meters) Of special interest in this palace are the carvings on the door jambs, the shafts of stone at the end of the colonnades (which bear the inscription quoted on page 13 in three languages) and the very pleasing combination of white and black blocks of stone at the base of the columns Only one column is now standing. No trace of any capital has been found, though the body of an animal in a form similar to those found at Persepolis, suggest that the columns bore capitals of the double-headed bull or lion motif. The carvings on the door jambs are believed to be that of the Fish God EA but how or why this motif was carved here is not yet known.

Mausoleum of the great king

On completion of the tour of the northern part of the Pasargadae plain, it is time to see the main object of this site, the Tomb of Cyrus the Great. This entails walking some distance over the rather dusty plain. Although there is nothing here to be seen it is firmly believed that all this area was occupied with gardens, pavilions, fountains and other buildings. It is such a place where one can imagine the gardens and avenues leading to the impressive and revered Mausoleum of Cyrus. This solid piece of masonry has been standing here for 2,500 years. The plinth is 13 meters long and just 12 meters wide. The seven broad steps leading up to the sepulcher are respectively 70, 70, 70, 2, 53, 54 and 53 centimeters in height. The sepulcher itself 5.24 meters long and 5.30 meters wide is about 6 meters high measuring to the top of the roof. Historians from 200 B.C. have mentioned this tomb. Another historian says the tomb was inscribed “I, Cyrus, The king of kings, lie here “and such an inscription seems more in keeping with the dignity of Cyrus the Great. Today, however, there is no trace of any inscription except a few sentences in Arabic carved at later dates by Muslim kings both inside and outside the sepulcher.

The entrance is low and narrow and the Mausoleum is now quite empty. There is no trace of a sarcophagus nor any of the treasures that undoubtedly surrounded Cyrus at his entombment. The best time to see the Tomb of Cyrus the Great is towards sunset when the light of the setting sun gilds the inside of the tomb. In the evocative atmosphere, the imagination can conjure up some pictures of the last obsequies for a great King.

Introduction to Iran

One of the world’s oldest civilizations is Iran and most probably this country beginning with the formation of the Elamite kingdoms in the fourth millennium BC. Iran first unified by the Iranian Medes in the seventh century BC and reached its territorial height in the sixth century BC under Cyrus the Great, whose Achaemenes Empire stretched from Eastern Europe to the Indus Valley, one of the largest empires in history. Now, we have a brief introduction to Iran to know-how is amazing Iran.

Iran the beating heart of Eurasia

Iran, (officially the Islamic Republic of Iran), known internationally as Persia until 1935, is a country in Central Eurasia, located on the northeastern shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Iran is a cognate of Aryan, and means “Land of the Aryans”. The 18th largest country in the world in terms of area at 1,648,195 km², Iran has a population of over seventy million. Iran is a country of special geostrategic significance, because of its central location in Eurasia.

Iran is bordered to the north by Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and the Caspian Sea; to the east by Afghanistan and Pakistan; to the south by the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman; and to the west by Turkey and Iraq. Tehran is the capital, largest city and the political, cultural, commercial, and industrial center of the nation. Iran is a regional power and occupies an important position in international energy security and world economy as a result of its large reserves of petroleum and natural gas.

Iran is home to one of the world’s oldest continuous major civilizations, with historical and urban settlement dating back to 3200 BC. The Medes established the first government in Iran in 725 BC. They were succeeded by three Iranian dynasties. The Achaemenes, Parthians, and Sassanid which governed Iran for more than 1000 Years.

Iran was once again reunified as an independent state in 1551 by the Safavid dynasty who promoted Shi’a Islam as the official religion of their empire. Marking one of the most important turning points in the history of Islam. Iran had been a monarchy ruled by a shah, or Emperor, almost without interruption from 1501 until the 1979 Iranian revolution, When Iran officially became the Islamic Republic on 01 April 1979.

Iran is a founding member of the UN, NAM, OIC, and OPEC. The political system of Iran, based on the 1979 constitution, comprises several intricately connected governing bodies. The highest state authority is the Supreme Leader. Shi’a Islam is the official religion, and Persian is the official language.

Provinces and Cities

Iran is divided into 31 provinces (Ostān), each governed by an appointed governor (Ostāndār). The provinces are divided into sub-provinces (Shahrestān) and subdivided into districts (Bakhsh) and sub-districts (Dehestān). Iran has one of the highest urban-growth rates in the world. From 1950 to 2002 the urban proportion of the population increased from 27% to 60 %. Most internal migrants have settled near the cities of Tehrān, Isfahan, Shiraz, Ahvaz, and Qom.

Tehran, with the highest population (Around 9 Million) is the largest city in Iran and is the Capital city. Tehran is home to around 11% of Iran’s population. Tehran, like many big cities, suffers from severe air pollution. It is the hub of the country’s communication and transport network.

Mashhad is the second largest Iranian city and is one of the holiest Shi’a cities in the world as it is the site of the Imām Rezā shrine. It is the second-largest city and with a population of 2.8 million is the center of the Khorāsān Razavi Province. Almost 20 million pilgrims go to Imām Rezā’s shrine every year.

The other major Iranian city is Isfahān. Isfahān is the capital of Esfahan Province. The Naghsh-e Jahan Square in Esfahān has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

The city contains a wide variety of Islamic architectural sites ranging from the eleventh to the 19th century. The growth of the suburban area around the city has turned Isfahan to the second most populous metropolitan area. 

The other major Iranian cities are Karaj, Tabrīz, and Shīrāz. Tabriz is situated north of the volcanic cone of Sahand south of the Eynalī Mountain. Tabrīz is the largest city in north-western Iran and is the capital of East Āzarbāījān Province. Karaj is located in Tehrān province and is situated 35 km west of Tehrān, at the foot of Alborz Mountains, however, the city is increasingly becoming an extension of the metropolitan Tehrān.

And at last, Shiraz is the capital of Fars province, the cradle of Iran Culture and civilization. The province has recorded around 3000 monuments on the national heritage list. The existence of four Unesco heritage sites and two prominent poets, having beautiful mosques, Shrines, Known as third religious city as well as the cultural capital of the country, having very unique natural sites, different kind of handicraft, all these features of this province have turned it to one the best tourist destinations in Iran.

Nature and Climate

Iran has long been called the “Land of Seven climates,” and it still seems the best description for Iran’s climate conditions. Iran’s diverse climate conditions provide shelter for several rare and unique species of plant and animal life. In Iran, green fields, thick forests, burning deserts, vast plateaus, and snow-covered mountains are found during all four seasons. with 25 wildlife shelters, 46 nature reserves, more than 500 species of birds, 200 species of reptiles, 360 species of mammals, 12000 species of plant life, 12 rare forests and tens of thick forests, 320 thermal mineral springs, 16 ponds and lagoons, 50 lakes, 16 mountain peaks with altitudes over 4000 meters, 14 mountain peaks with altitudes over 3000 meters and historical constructions in the heart of the nature such as houses, temples, and cathedrals carved in the rock, Iran’s natural attractions rank fifth in the world. Iran’s climate ranges from humid subtropical to sub-polar. In simple words, the mountain climate can be found in the western and northwestern areas, hot and dry climate prevails in central and southern regions and a trip in the north bordering the Caspian Sean enjoys a humid and temperate climate.

Iran Mountain and Geology

Iran’s mountains belong to the Neogene period and especially the Miocene epoch, i.e. 23.7 to 5.3 million before the present time. Some of these mountains are of a volcanic origin. Mount Taftān, a massive cone reaching 4,042 meters in southeastern Iran, emits gas and mud at sporadic intervals. Mount Damavand with an altitude of 5,671 meters has been inactive in historical times. In northwestern Iran, Mount Sabalān with a height of 4,812 and Mount Sahand reaching 3,710 meters from the mean sea level are notable examples of dormant volcanoes. There is no active volcano in Iran today.

In Iranian mythology, mountains are depicted as sacred and mysterious. Alborz Mountains are the abode of the fabulous Sīmorgh—a benevolent mythical bird sharing qualities aspects of Phoenix. In Zoroastrian texts, the three-headed dragon Aži Dahāka was chained within Mount Damavand, there to remain until the end of the world. Recreation

Iran’s mountains make perfect places for mountain climbing and snow skiing. 

Dīzīn ski resort situated to the north of Tehran in the Alborz Mountains is Iran’s most famous ski resort. Because of the altitude, the ski season in Dīzīn lasts longer than European ski resorts (from December to May).

Desert

Iran would be a special place for people interested in the attractions of the deserts. Two vast deserts of a lie in the central region of Iran which together occupy 320,000 square kilometers or one fifth of the country’s land area. The Dasht-e Kavīr’s soil is covered with sand and pebbles; there are marshes, lakes, and wadis. The smaller desert called Dasht-e Lūt has an area of about 51,800 square kilometers. Life is not easy in a desert, but its hard-working people forge subterranean canals– aqueducts or Qanāt in Persian– to water pistachio, apple sand dates orchards. 

The Caspian Sea

The Caspian Sea (Persian: Daryā-ye Māzandarān) in northern Iran is the world’s largest lake. Sefīd-rūd, Atrak and Aras rivers flow into the Caspian Sea. It is the natural habitat for over 350 species of fish. the climate in the coastal areas is temperate (humid subtropical) and there is rich plant life. the Caspian Sea is a major center of producing Caviar of world-class quality.

The Persian Gulf 

In the south, Iran borders the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman—connected through the Strait of Hormoz. Mangrove forests on the southern coast of Iran, commonly called Hara forests are unique features of Iran’s natural environment. the forests, found mainly near the island of Qeshm, make a major habitat for migratory birds in the cold season, and for reptiles, fish, and varieties of arthropods and bivalves. Iranian islands in the Persian gulf such as Kish, Khark, the greater and the lesser Tunbs, Abu Musa, etc are major recreational and economic centers of the country.

Lakes

Besides the Caspian Sea – the world’s largest lake—there are many other lakes in Iran. Urmia lake (Persian: daryācheh-ye orūmīyeh) in West āzarbāījān province is the largest lake inside Iran. It has a surface area of approximately 5,200 km². The lake has 102 islands.

other lakes include lake Shūrābīl in Ardabil province, the lakes of lār, and āhang in Tehran province, lake hāmūn in Sīstān VA Balūchestān Province, Parishan and Maharlu lake in Fras Province, etc.

Islands 

Iranian islands fall into two categories: those situated in international waters and inhabited by Iranian people and unpopulated islands inside Iran’s lakes which are habitat to various species of plant and animal life. Qeshm, Hormoz, kish, Khark, Lāvān, Abu Musa, the greater and lesser Tunbs and āshūrādeh islands are some of the major populated islands of Iran.

Flora and Fauna

Iran is a very rich country in terms of the diversity of plant and animal life. Iranian forests are habitats for wildcat, wolf, jackal, boar, fox, bear and ram as well as several rare and endangered species of animals such as the Asiatic Cheetah, which is found only in Iran. The lakes, ponds, and lagoons are habitats for frogs, snakes, tortoises, crabs and various species of birds such as duck, goose, swan, pheasant, francolin, stilt, swallow, etc. The Persian leopard is said to be the largest of all the subspecies of leopards in the world. The main range of this species in Iran closely overlaps with that of Bezoar Ibex. Hence, it is found throughout Alborz and Zagros mountain ranges, as well as smaller ranges within the Iranian plateau. Leopard population is very sparse, due to loss of habitat, loss of natural prey, and population fragmentation. Apart from Bezoar Ibex, wild sheep, boar, deer (either Maral red deer or roe deer), and domestic animals constitute leopards’ diet in Iran. Approximately one-tenth of Iran is forested, mostly in the Caspian region. Hyrcanian forest starts stretches southeastern Azerbaijan and stretches to Iran’s three northern provinces of Gīlān, Māzandarān, and Golestān. Hyrcanian Forest contains remnants of the broadleaf forests that once covered most of the North Temperate Zone some 2550- million years ago, in the early Cenozoic Era. When Europe was covered with ice during the Pleistocene, Hyrcanian Forest—or the Caspian Forest, as it is sometimes called– was alive and at the end of the frozen era, plant species of Hyrcanian Forest immigrated to Europe, which makes this forest the mother of European forests. Ten million hectares of oak forests lie in Iran’s highlands in Chahārmahāl Va Bakhtīārī, Kohgilūyeh Va Boyer Ahmad, Fārs, Kordestān, Lorestān, īlām, and Kermānshāh provinces. Acorns, aspens, poplars, and maples would give the visitors another view of Iran’s natural environment. But Nature has much more to offer the curious visitor: cypress trees of a few thousand years of age in the village of Manjīl (in Gīlān) and the village of Abarqū (in Fars Province) or a tree which split rock overtime in the town of Arsanjān in Fars province.

Lagoons

water always creates wonderful scenes in Iran. The lagoons are among some of Iran’s most interesting places to visit. Anzalī lagoon in Gīlān Province is a unique site whose water lilies would catch the attention of every visitor. you can have a wonderful time riding boats on this lagoon. Choqākhor lagoon in Chahārmahāl VA Bakhtīārī is another notable example. Choqākhor has great ecological importance as it is a habitat for migrating birds. There many other lagoons including, for example, Elmāgoli, Fūshāgoli and Māhī Abād lagoons in west Azarbāījān Province and Shādegān in Khūzestān Province.

Waterfalls

There are tens of beautiful waterfalls in Iran. A notable example is Shūshtar’s ancient waterfall. The construction of the Shushtar waterfall compound began during the Achaemenid era (circa 550-331 BC) and later it was expanded during the Sassanid dynasty (224-651 Ce). The waterfall is located near the ancient Elamite city of Susa (Shūsh) in Khuzestan province. The structure was meant to operate somewhat like a water mill. Margun waterfall in Fars province is one of Iran’s largest falls situated in a most beautiful natural environment.

Caves

There are wondrous caves in Iran. The Alisadr cave in Hamadan province is a notable example. water flows inside the cave and allows Boatriding inside the cave. in the town of Dehlorān in Ilam province, you can visit a cave which is the habitat for a rare species of bats. There are also historical caves that besides their natural beauty were shelter to primitive humans. Paintings on the walls of such caves would reveal exciting stories to archaeologists. examples of historical caves of Iran include Shekārchyān Cave in Kermanshah province, Karaftū Cave in Kordestan, the caves of Hūmyān and Kalmākareh in Lorestan province, Kataleh Khor in Zanjan and Chal Nakhjir in Markazi Province, etc. cave Pra in Kermanshah province is the deepest cave in Iran.

Hot Water Springs

There are several hot water springs in Iran. A notable example is Sar’eyn Thermal spring in Ardabīl Province. Bathing in hot water springs is traditionally believed to be useful for various physical problems and so many people travel to thermal springs to soothe their pains. Mahallāt thermal springs in Markazi province, Genū hot water springs in Hormozgān province, bābā Gohar springs in the city of Hamadān and Rāmsar hot water springs in Mazāndarān Province are some examples of Iran’s thermal springs.

Naqsh-e Rostam (Necropolis)

One of the most glorious and magnificent ancient sites of the Achaemenid Empire is Naqsh-e Rostam, which is including the huge tombs of Persian kings dating back to the first BC. The stone tombs of Achaemenid rulers and their relatives dating to the 4th and 5th centuries BC, engraved on the superficies of a mountain range considered sacred in the Elamite periods. It shows the lasting memory of a powerful empire that ruled over a significant portion of the ancient world. The meaning of Naqsh-e Rostam is the Throne of Rostam which is located about 5 km (around 3 miles) to the northwest of the capital of the former Achaemenid Empire, Persepolis. The Sasanians carved generously decorated reliefs in the 3rd century AD. Although Naqsh-e Rostam is a royal necropolis, it is also a major ceremonial center for the Sasanians until the 7th century AD. The evidence of relief and old graves belong to pre-Achaemenid such as Elamite was found in the Naqsh-e Rostam site which shows that this site was already in use before the arrival of the Achaemenids. A portrait of a man with a hat which forward-pointing and a long dress like vesture have been carved over by a Sasanian relief, but this cloth is not typical of the Achaemenids and Sasanians, so according to some sources, this figure shows that it belongs to the mythical hero of the Shahnameh writings in the book of the kings, named Rostam, Therefore the name of the site.

 The religion of kings of this dynasty

There is a mountain previously called Mehr( means love) and now called Rahmat (means Mercy)In this mountainous region including a 2500 years old ruined palace still blinding on its domain. This place remains from the Achaemenid reign of Iran from c.550 to 330BC. Researchers have not still conclusively reached a definite opinion on the religion of this dynasty and some result which have to obtain is based on questionable pieces of evidence and commentary. The sermon is an trying to show that the kings of this dynasty were surely followers of Zoroaster according to remaining pattern and stone-carvings, this religion was the first official religion of the world 6 to 7 centuries AD. You can see the proof of this article in all the symbols found in this unique palace having Iranian roots.

About Naqsh-e Rostam

Together with other records of Persia are lost forever. Yet enough remains to suggest the sacred nature of this site. Most scholars agree that the square structure in front of the tombs, known locally as the Shrine of Zoroaster (Ka’ba-ye Zartosht) is, in reality, an altar. Several other vestiges on the top of the hill and the general design give weight to the idea. There are four tombs. The identity of one of them, that of Darius the Great, is positively known from the inscriptions carved on the doorway and friezes. This is the second tomb from the right as you face the cliff standing at the foot of the square stone building. The four occupants of the tombs are suggested as (from left to right facing the rock) Artaxerxes I, Xerxes, Darius I (The Great), and Darius II. Hewn from the side of a hill, a sheer cliff face about 500 feet long and 200 feet high, these vaults in their solidity and inaccessibility were the last resting place for the august Achaemenian Kings. The facades of the tombs are uniform in design, some 75 feet high and 60 feet wide with a door in the center. Two columns on each side of the doorway, capped with bullheads, support a frieze and a panel occupying the topmost part of the façade. Carved in two rows in the manner of other Persepolitan art, representatives of vassal nations support the throne of the King, who is in an attitude of worship before the sacred fire, the sun, and the emblem of Ahuramazda floating above all. The interiors of the tombs are now empty though they were undoubtedly richly decorated in their time. One tomb is now easily accessible by a staircase recently constructed for visitors.

The stone of Zoroaster 

This solid building probably built by Darius the Great, served some religious purpose, and the space between it and the foot of the necropolis was filled with gardens, avenues, and statues of the Kings. Here again, the Visitor may pause and try to visualıze the ceremonies of ancient days, when the long-robed high priests and their acolytes holding incense burners and chanting sacred hymns, performed the rites and rituals of the faith and sang the praises of the deceased monarchs.

Ka’ba-ye Zartosht

There is a building stands at the necropolis Aside from the tomb. Zoroastrian come along to pray around Naqsh-e Rostam in this magnificent temple named Ka’ba-ye Zartosht. As in the past, a lot of dust and sand cover the area so The real ground is the surface of this temple. it is the same as Zendane Suleyman (means Prison of Solomon) in Pasargadae which is the first dynastic capital of the Achaemenid Empire. At first, it was believed that this structure was the site of a perennially burning fire common in Zoroastrian temples, but the lack of ventilation system shows that Although there is currently no general agreement as to the specific use of this structure, it is truly accepted that it served a religious function. On the walls of this building is a relatively well-preserved epigraph in three languages.

Sassanian rock carvings

In and near Persepolis numerous carvings which date from the 3rd century A.D. can be seen. Seven panels of Sassanian carving dating from the Second Persian Empire (220-640 A.D.) are seen at the base of the necropolis. The most interesting of these carvings is that of Shapur I accepting the homage of the Roman Emperor Valerian (260 A.D.). The seven panels, again proceeding from left to right are as follows:

1. Ardashir, founder of the Sassanian Dynasty (226 A.D.) mounted, receives the ring of sovereignty from the God Ahuramazda while his horse tramples his foes.
2. Vahram II and his court.
3. Spirited engagement on horseback. Identities of personages not positively known.
4. Shapur I and Valerian 
5. A Sassanian royal group, probably Shapur I and his Queen; the more usual identification is that the figure is Varahram V or Bahram Gur (420 A.D.) with his Indian wife.

The inscription on the large vacant space between the third and fourth tombs dates from the 18th century.

Bridges in Iran

“Bridges in Iran” is a topic that could be extended to books with many pages. 

The vast land of Iran is a high plateau with many elevations. The central part of Iran is formed by the desert and Lut plain, surrounded by the Alborz Mountains in the north and the Zagros Mountains in the west and the eastern mountains. 

The existence of these low and high altitudes has caused climatic diversity so that in the northern and western districts, the amount of rainfall is relatively high and in the central part of the rainfall is very low.

However, Iran has a vast network of running water, both as permanent rivers and as temporary rivers.

Rivers were major obstacles to caravan routes. Inevitably, the need to build a bridge for road construction was strongly felt. 

It may be difficult to answer the question of who started the construction of the first bridge, but undoubtedly when humans were able to build a dam by accumulating rocks or soils in front of the water and direct the rivers to their desired routes, bridge construction started by using tree trunks to cross the rivers.

In Iran, there are enough ruins of old bridges to study the art of bridge construction from ancient times. 

The oldest bridge in Iran is the one built by the Urartu on the Aras River, which is now the border between Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan. Although the bridge was destroyed around the eighth century BC, there are still enough traces of it to understand the existence of the bridge and its design and size.

In the Achaemenid period, which was the era of conquests and military campaigns, the biggest obstacles were rivers that stood in their way. But, the experts always solved the problem with tact and solutions.

Historical texts of this period show that during the establishment of the royal roads, several bridges were built in Iran along the road, of which there are few traces today.

Only in the corners of the vast country of Iran can be seen the ruins of bridges attributed to this period, which were built around ​​palaces and gardens of Pasargadae in the fifth and fourth centuries BC and a few years ago archaeologists excavated them.

No Parthian bridges have been found in Iran, but it is inconceivable that new roads were not constructed in the middle of this period, especially the Silk Road, which began in China and through Kashgar, Samarkand, Merv, Balkh, and northern Iran to Asia Minor and Rome. Could you imagine this possible without a bridge?

Considering the remnants of the Sassanid reign in Iran, we find that the Sassanid had a brilliant history in construction and architecture, in addition to the necessary conditions which at the time required that bridge construction.

This need was most noticeable in the Khuzestan region, which had roaring rivers.

Bridges attributed to this period in the Fars region are Pirin and Khair Abad bridges, Sassanid bridge of Darrehshahr, Dokhtar Mamolan bridge, Sassanid bridge of Kashkan in the Lorestan region is a proof of the importance of roads and bridge construction in this era.

In Khuzestan, there are several cases of combining bridges and dams. At a distance of 300 meters west of the dam, the ruins of a bridge can be seen, which is known as Shadirvan Bridge.

Some of the bridges attributed to the Sassanid have only Sassanid foundations and were built in Islamic periods.

Bridge construction stagnated in the first two centuries of Islam, and if a bridge was ever built across the country, it was the result of the efforts of rulers and wealthy natives, not the government.

There are no reliable documents and sources about the construction of the first bridge in the Islamic period. Hamdollah Mustawfi writes: The first bridge in the Islamic era was built by Bakr bin Abdullah on the Aras River.

The fourth-century AH coincides with the rule of two Shiite sects in Iran, the Buyid dynasty, which ruled in Hamedan, Rey, Isfahan, and Iraq, and the Hassanid Kurdish tribe, which ruled in Lorestan and Kurdistan.

The Daylamites paid a lot of attention to the development of the areas under their eye, and for this reason, not only were most of the ruined bridges at that time repaired, but they also built large bridges and huge dams. Band-e Amir Bridge and Talkan Bridge are examples of works of this period.

Several dams and bridges remain from the Ghaznavid era. Perhaps the most famous of these is the Tus Bridge, which overlooks the Kashafrud River on the road that connected Tus to the cities of Herat and Balkh.

There are credible documents that show that bridge construction was of special importance during the Seljuk period. Band-e Qesar on Karbal River in Fars is one of the well-constructed examples of this period.

During the Ilkhanate dynasty, after the establishment of peace in the country, the construction of bridges and roads continued. One of the most important bridges of this period is the strong and beautiful bridge that Alishah Jilani built on the Zayanderud River.

The chaos that had arisen throughout Iran after the death of Sultan Abu Sa’id Teymouri subsided with the advent of Shah Ismail Safavid and the severe repression of the enemies, and peace based on power emerged and paved the way for reforms during the reign of Shah Abbas.

Since Shah Abbas choose Isfahan as the capital of all Iran, this city expanded as one of the most wonderful cities in the East and became a full-fledged mirror of Safavid architecture.

In this city, several bridges were built on the Zayanderud River. Sio- Se- Pol Bridge, Khaju Bridge, and the wooden bridge, in addition to providing traffic, the place of recreation of the king and courtiers and sometimes ambassadors of foreign countries in this era.

Most of the bridges that can be seen in different parts of Iran today are valuable works related to this period.

Unfortunately, during the Afsharid dynasty, not much attention was paid to road construction and bridges in Iran. More or less during the Zand dynasty, bridges gained some attention from the government like the bridge of Khoshk River in Shiraz, which is one of the innovations of Karim Khan.

During the rule of the Qajar sultans, due to the Shaky foundations of independence, disorder, hypocrisy, and betrayal of agents, no important action was taken to reform the country.

Bridges in Iran in the last century have followed new architectural methods, often made of iron and reinforced concrete, or in which cut stones have been used.

There are two very large bridges on the Iranian railway, which are different from ordinary bridges due to their grandeur. One of them is the Veresk Bridge in the Alborz Mountains, built by German engineers, and the other is the Ghotour Bridge in West Azerbaijan, built by Austrian engineers.

The 153-meter-long White Bridge, which was inaugurated in 1930, and Ahvaz Grand Bridge over the Karun River are also masterpieces of bridge construction in the recent century.

Bridges in Iran, like any other place, were not just to ease the traffic, they were also connection routs for people in different districts. Can you see the cultural trade when you look at a bridge?