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The Iranians

Culture of Iran

Cyrus the Great in Sydney Olympic Park

This is a replica of a Bas-Relief found in Pasargade, the capital city of Persia founded by Cyrus . It depicts Cyrus the Great (580-529 BC)-in a Babylonian Costume, Jewish helmet, with two wings and a short Persian beard.

Cyrus was the first Achaemenian Emperor of Persia , who issued a decree on his aims and policies, later hailed as his charter of the rights of nations. Inscribed on a clay cylinder, this is the first known declaration of Human Rights, and is now kept at the British Museum . A replica of the cylinder is also at the United Nations in New York . The so-called Cyrus ’ cylinder was issued by Cyrus in Babylon (550 BC).

The Bas-relief symbolizes Multiculturalism and celebrates the peaceful coexistence of peoples from different backgrounds and cultures in one land. The statue was unveiled by Mary Dimech, Multicultural Programme Manager, Australia Council for the Arts. The International College Spain and the Australia Council for the Arts assisted by providing major sponsorship contributions.

For more information on Bicentennial Park visit the Bicentennial Park Page.

Exploration of Forgotten Inscription of Xerxes in Turkey...and more

The first big achievement of Iranian couple who have started their exploration tour around the world with motor cycle, was finding the forgotten inscription of Xerxes, the Achaemenid Emperor, in heights of Van Lake in Turkey.

Burning of Persepolis by Alexander of Macedon

By: Diodorus, Translated by M.M. Austen

As for Persepolis, the capital of the Persian kingdom, Alexander the Macedonian warlord described it to his troops as their worst enemy among the cities of Asia, and he gave it over to the soldiers to plunder, with the exception of the royal palace.

It was the wealthiest city under the sun and the private houses had been filled for a long time with riches of every kind. The Macedonians rushed into it, killing all the men and plundering the houses, which were numerous and full of furniture and precious objects of every kind. Here much silver was carried off and no little gold, and many expensive dresses, embroidered with purple or with gold, fell as prizes to the victors.

FIRST IRANIAN REFERENCE LIBRARIES
Sent by: Shirindokht Nourmanesh

By: MANOUCHEHR SAADAT NOURY, PhD
Libraries have been always regarded as one of the institutions that play a very significant role in advancing literacy and education in every society. Literary, library has been defined as a building, room or organization which has a collection, especially of books, for people to read or borrow usually without payment.

Seminal Contributions of Historical Iranian (Persian) Philosophers, Poets, Physicians and Scientists, Revisited.

By Davood N. Rahni, New York, U.S.A.

Payvand.com

Around the world in a few minutes, amazing - enjoy!

Banan and Tajvidi
Ey Iran is often mistaken for being a present or previous Iranian national anthem. It has only briefly had the de-facto national anthem status. It was unofficially usedin the transitional

period between the time of the Shah (deposed February, 1979) until the adoption of the national anthem of the Islamic Republic. Despite political opposition, it found its way into the heart and soul of the people. The lyrics were written by Hossein Gol-e-Golab in 1946, the music was composed by Ruhollah Khaleghi, and it was first performed by Gholam Hossein Banan. Gol-e-Golab was inspired to write the song by patriotism. He has been quoted to have said: "In 1944, the footsteps of the invading armies in the streets were enough to rattle any patriot and inspired me to write this anthem". www.IranDokht.com

Claude Monet - Enjoy!

Book

Poets and Pahlevans: a Journey Into the Heart of Iran

By: Marcello Di Cintio

Marcello Di Cintio prepares for his “journey into the heart of Iran” with the utmost diligence. He takes lessons in Farsi, researches Persian poetry and sharpens his wrestling skills by returning to the mat after a gap of some years. Knowing that there is a special relationship between heroic poetry and the various styles of traditional Persian wrestling, he sets out to discover how Iranians “reconcile creativity with combat.”

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Memoirs of Prince Hamid Kadjar
Son of the Last Qajar Crown Prince
Habib Ladjevardi, editor

Harvard Oral History

Prince Hamid Kadjar was the grandson of Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar (reigned 1907-9), nephew of Ahmad Shah (reigned 1909-25), and son of Crown Prince Mohammad Hassan Mirza (1909-25) and Mohtaram al-Saltaneh Razzaghi, the second of five wives married to the Crown Prince. He was born in Tabriz on April 23, 1918.

Short Story

Mahomood Khan's birthday

By: Shirin Tabibzadeh

On the occasion of the massacre of 1988 - some of you asked for this to be posted again, here you go:

It is Mahmood khan's birthday. He wakes up on this humid August morning, startled by birdsong echoing across the garden outside and, for a long time, stares in confused remembrance of a past long gone at the swelling orange sun burning the faded floral wallpaper across from his bed.

Poetry

The Wind Will Take Us Away

Forough Farrokhzad

Translated by : Shirin Tabibzadeh & Melinda Barnhardt

In my brief night, ah

the wind has a rendezvous with the leaves of the trees

In my brief night, there is dread of ruin

Listen

Do you hear the blowing of the darkness?

I look, with doubt, upon this happiness

I am addicted to my despair

Listen

Do you hear the blowing of the darkness?

Cinema

Milani's 'World Peace' at UN

A short film titled 'World Peace' by the internationally acclaimed Iranian director Tahmineh Milani has been screened at the UN.

One of a collection of films made by filmmakers from across the globe on the theme of “World Peace”, the 1.5-minute film portrays 140 Iranian children wearing traditional clothes, singing a special song with the message of world peace.

The film was shot at the ancient site of Persepolis, the capital of ancient Persia, founded by Darius the Great in the sixth century B.C.

Other filmmakers from Italy, France, India, Egypt, and seven other countries have made films with the same message at other historical sites like the Eiffel Tower, the Egyptian Pyramids, the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal in India.

The Iranian director, Tahmineh Milani, was born in 1960 in Tabriz, Iran. She has so far bagged quite a few awards, including one for Best Screenplay at the Asia-Pacific Film Festival in 2001.

She was also nominated for a Golden Pyramid at the Cairo International Film Festival the same year.