Cyrus Cylinder not coming home: Iran cuts all ties with British Museum
Iran has cut all relations and cooperation with the British Museum after the museum refused to lend the country the Cyrus Cylinder for a showcase. The decision to cut the ties was announced during a press conference on Saturday by Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization Director Hamid Baqaii, who is also a vice president. -MNA - 2/8/10
A Monty Python Visits Persia!
Terry Jones one of the Members of the Famous Monty Python Band is also a History Enthusiast. In a Documentary for British TV called "The Barbarians", he introduces us to the Ancient Civilizations which fought the Roman Empire. -Darius KADIVAR - 2/7/10
Photos: Isfahan's Historic Kamal Zourkhaneh Demolished
The historic Kamal Zourkhaneh in Isfahan's Sabzeh Meidan district, built during Qajar dynasty, has been demolished to be replaced by a commercial complex. Zourkhaneh, literally meaning house of strength, is the Iranian national sport also called varzesh-e pahlavani (sport of heroes) or varzesh-e bastani (sport of ancients) played in an Iranian traditional gymnasium. -Photos by Aulieh Sa'adatpour - 2/6/10
Aref Qazvini's memoirs on Constitutional Movement published
Personal memoirs of the Iranian national poet Aref Qazvini on the Constitutional Movement were recently published by Nashr-e Sokhan Publications.Abolqassem Aref Qazvini (1882- 1934) was an Iranian poet, lyricist, and musician. He was a revolutionary during the Iranian Constitutional Movement and composed many political and pro-revolutionary songs. - 2/6/10
Photos: Iranians Celebrate "Sadeh" Ancient Persian Fire Fest
Thousands of Iranians gathered at dusk against a snowy mountain backdrop to light giant bonfires in an ancient mid-winter festival dating back to Iran's pre-Islamic past that is drawing new interest from Muslims. - 1/31/10
Anahita Temple avoids destruction
The construction project that caused damages to the Anahita Temple in Kangavar in Kermanshah Province was halted last week. The decision to halt the project was made following publication of a report on the mess at the Parthian era site by the Persian service of the Mehr News Agency. - 1/30/10
Norooz Resolution Passes House Committee in U.S. Congress
This March, as millions of Iranians and Iranian Americans celebrate Norooz, they may be joined by an unlikely group: the United States Congress. H.Res.267, the Norooz Resolution, was unanimously approved today (January 27) by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and now awaits final passage before the House of Representatives. -NIAC - 1/28/10
Norooz Resolution Moving Ahead in U.S. Congress
NIAC has confirmed that the Norooz Resolution will move forward to a Committee vote this Thursday. This is the last step before the Norooz Resolution comes before Congress for final passage! Tell your Representative to sign on to this important resolution today so that the Norooz Resolution receives a vote and is passed by Congress in time for the New Year! - 1/26/10
Museum row threatens Iran links
The Iranian government has threatened to sever cultural relations with the British Museum in a dispute over a prized clay artefact that echoes the recent souring of diplomatic ties between Tehran and London. The threat will come as an embarrassment to Neil MacGregor, the museum's director, who has made strenuous efforts to establish cultural links with Iranian scholars at a time of rising political tensions. -Financial Times - 1/21/10
Iran threatens to cut cultural ties with Britain over Cyrus Cylinder
Iran's Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization (CHTHO) director, who is also a vice president, said on Thursday that Iran would cut cultural ties with Britain if they cannot come to an agreement with the British Museum concerning the Cyrus Cylinder loan. -MNA - 1/16/10
Homecoming for Cyrus the Great Cylinder Postponed
Head of Iran's Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization, Hamid Baghaei announced that the return of Cyrus the Great Cylinder from British Museum to Iran for public display has been postponed. - 1/9/10
Isfahan Metro now threatening Historic Si-o-Se Pol Bridge
A deviation from the correct course in digging the western end of a tunnel for the Isfahan Metro near the Si-o-Se Pol Bridge is threatening the historic Safavid monument. The tunnel-boring machine (TBM) is reported to have deviated from its proper route and bumped into a ramp and a lower part of the bridge. - 1/5/10
Graphic Novel: The Blacksmith's revolution - Iranian methodology
Kaveh Ahangar, a blacksmith, is a mythical figure in Iranian mythology who leads a popular uprising against a ruthless foreign ruler, Zahhak. Kaveh is the most famous of Persian mythological characters in resistance against despotic foreign rule in Iran. After losing 18 of his sons to Zahhak's serpents, he rebels against the foreign ruler of Persia and leads the people to overthrow the tyrant king. -Graphic Novel by Ramin Abhari - 1/4/10
Photos: Shopping for Yalda - Iranians to mark the longest night
Iranians throughout the world will celebrate the longest night of the Iranian calendar year, Yalda, in a tradition welcoming the birthday of the Goddess of Love, Mitra. Yalda is the last night of autumn and the beginning of winter. -Raouf Mohseni, MNA - 12/20/09
THE PERSIANS: Ancient, Mediaeval and Modern Iran
In recent years, Iran has gained attention mostly for negative reasons - for its authoritarian religious government, disputed nuclear program, and controversial role in the Middle East - but there is much more to the story of this ancient land than can be gleaned from the news. This authoritative and comprehensive history of Iran, written by Homa Katouzian, an acclaimed expert, covers the entire history of the area from the foundation of the ancient Persian Empire to today's Iranian state. - 12/16/09
Adopt a Library and Donate the Book "Ancient Iran"
The Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA) is pleased to announce the selection of the award winning children's book "Ancient Iran" by Massoume Price to be placed in city, public, town and school libraries across North America, or to be given as gifts this holiday season. - 12/13/09
Iran Heritage Foundation appoints Dr Ladan Akbarnia as new Executive Director
A highly regarded arts administrator and dynamic educator with extensive curatorial experience, Dr Akbarnia joins Iran Heritage Foundation from the Brooklyn Museum where she was Hagop Kevorkian Associate Curator of Islamic Art. - 12/3/09
Victoria and Albert Museum and Iran Heritage Foundation announce the creation of a new post
The V&A Museum and Iran Heritage Foundation are delighted to announce that Dr. Moya Carey will become the Iran Heritage Foundation Curator, Iran Collections, in the Asian Department of the V&A. This new curatorial role is one of a series of positions created as part of Iran Heritage Foundation's new programme of developing strategic partnerships with major academic and cultural organisations. - 11/26/09
Persepolis Fortification Archive Project Annual Report 2008-2009
When we began to learn about the legal emergency that puts the Persepolis Fortification Archive in peril, a colleague couldn't resist quoting Samuel Johnson's old saw: "The prospect of hanging concentrates the mind wonderfully." The prospects of the Archive are still perilous, and the Persepolis Fortification Archive (PFA) Project's attention is still concentrated wonderfully on its emergency priorities: to make thorough records of the Archive and to distribute the records widely, freely, and continuously. - 11/18/09
Photos: Parizad Khanom
I just returned from Iran and did some new photos. As I was visiting and shooting a few of the Qajar palaces, I couldn't help but wondering about the Qajar harems. Nasseredin Shah Qaiar had about 100 wives. However, only a few were among the favorites, such as Anis Al-Doleh; many were overlooked. I wondered how lonely life must have been for the new brides who were never to be taken seriously. -Niki Koohpaima - 11/18/09
Photos: Masters Reopen Music Museum of Iran
Masters of music reopened the Music Museum of Iran during a ceremony held on Friday evening. Great musicians and singers Mohammadreza Shajarian, Hossein Dehlavi, Hossein Alizadeh, Davud Ganjeii, Mohammad Sarir, Dariush Pirniakan, Hushang Kamkar, Dariush Talaii and Farhad Fakhreddini were seen among the guests at the opening ceremony. - 11/14/09
Photos: Kermanshah Museum - 32 years in the making!
According to a report by ISNA, the construction of the biggest museum in western Iran, in the city of Kermanshah, has not been completed after about 32 years from start. According to another report by ISNA, some statistics put the number of unfinished projects across Iran at about 50,000. This is one of the biggest economic problems for the country where year after year the projects consume the funds and resources without any benefits to the people. - 11/11/09
Cyrus Cylinder to travel home for a short while
After talks between the Keeper of British Museum on Middle East section John Curtis and the Iranian cultural heritage officials, two sides agreed to display the cylinder in Iran for four months from January 16 - 11/11/09
Vanished Persian army said found in desert
The remains of a mighty Persian army said to have drowned in the sands of the western Egyptian desert 2,500 years ago might have been finally located, solving one of archaeology's biggest outstanding mysteries, according to Italian researchers.-Discovery News - 11/10/09
Celebrating the Cultural Origins of Persian Carpets: Farhang Foundation and LACMA Present the Premiere of Imaginary Knots
An original artistic performance in association with A Tale of Two Persian Carpets: The Ardabil and Coronation Carpets exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art - 10/30/09
Sassanid site bulldozed in southwestern Iran
Part of a Sassanid tepe was destroyed last week near Ahvaz, the provincial capital of Khuzestan. The destruction was carried out by the Mehrab Housing Company for construction of a high-rise apartment complex, Khuzestan Cultural Heritage Lovers Society (Taryana) announced on Monday. - 10/28/09
Report of PFAP 2009 Event in Palo Alto: The Story of the Persepolis Fortification Archive
Friends of Persepolis Fortification Archive Project (PFAP) extend heartfelt thanks to the 100 guests and all who helped make the PFAP '09 Event not just a wonderfully informative experience, but one which raised both awareness and contributions for this important cause. - 10/22/09
Thousands of Unique Fossils Stored in the Garage of a Rental House in Kerman
Mohsen Tajrobehkar, the manager of the ancient studies in Kerman, told the reported of Mehr News Agency that 70,000 unique fossils are being kept in the garage of a rental house without proper protection. He added that the other part of the fossils collection kept in the ancient studies museum is also in danger due to lack of attention by the officials because cracks have appeared in the walls of the museum and water has sipped in through the ceiling and the walls. - 10/13/09
Iran Warns British Museum Over Cyrus Cylinder
Tehran will cease cooperation with the British Museum in London until it loans the Cyrus the Great Cylinder to the National Museum of Iran. The clay cylinder is inscribed in Babylonian cuneiform with an account by Cyrus II, king of Persia (559-530 BC). The Cyrus Cylinder is described as the world's first charter of human rights. - 10/9/09
Nowrouz Inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
Novruz, Nowrouz, Nooruz, Navruz, Nauroz or Nevruz marks the New Year and the beginning of spring across a vast geographical area covering, inter alia, Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan. It is celebrated on 21 March every year, a date originally determined by astronomical calculations. - 10/7/09
PFAP '09 Event On Oct 11th In Palo Alto: Support Preservation Of Ancient Persian Heritage and History
Come join the Friends of Persepolis Fortification Archive Project to hear the story of PFA and support the preservation of the ancient Persian history and cultural heritage during the PFAP '09 Event at Four Seasons Hotel, Silicon Valley, Palo Alto. - 10/5/09
Threatening construction projects halted at Soltanieh Dome
Over the past year, excavations by archaeologists at five trenches and 40 other areas near the Ilkhanid monument have all resulted in the discovery of historical architectural structures, convincing the shops' owners to stop the projects, Soltanieh Dom Cultural Heritage Center Executive Director Mohammadreza Qorbanzadeh told the Persian service of CHN on Saturday. - 10/3/09
Alborz: An International Conference
The Samuel Jordan Center for Persian Studies and Culture at University of California, Irvine cordially invites you to the first international scholarly gathering devoted to the history and the cultural legacy of the American/Alborz College. Founded in 1899 by Dr. Jordan as part of a missionary enterprise, the College became the training ground for generations of Iranian intellectuals, scientists, and men of letters. - 9/21/09
The story of the Persepolis Fortification Archive at Stanford, California
Friends of Persepolis Fortification Archive�Project (PFAP) and�World Association of International Studies (WAIS) cordially invite you for an informative evening on Sunday, October 11, to hear the story of the Persepolis Fortification Archive - 9/14/09
Conference: Historiography & Iran in Comparative Perspective
The Persian speaking world has enjoyed a long tradition of historical writing which sought to situate the Iranian people within a particular narrative of descent and historical development. These narratives were to be challenged with the introduction of new historical methods from Europe in the late 19th century. By the late 20th century there was a dramatic increase in historical writing in Iran - 9/8/09
Ferdowsi Foundation loses hope, organizations do not cooperate
All the programs planned on the occasion of Ferdowsi's Shahnameh millennium were halted due to organizations' lack of cooperation, said general secretary of Iran's Ferdowsi Foundation Yaser Movahhedfar. - 9/8/09
Photos: Charity soup making in Qom
In month of Ramadan, muslims to practice self-discipline, self-control, sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate; thus encouraging actions of generosity and charity (Zakat). - 9/6/09
Videos: Iran of early 1970s
"A well- known French filmmaker, Albert Lamorisse, under the auspices of Iran's Ministry of Culture and Art, produced the poetic film "Lovers' Wind" (1969). Eighty-five percent of this dramatically visual film is shot from a helicopter, providing a kaleidoscopic view of the vast expanses, natural beauty, historical monuments, cities and villages of Iran. - 9/4/09
Photos: Cleanup and repair of Azadi (freedom) tower
During the 2009 Iranian election protests following the Iranian Presidential Election, protesters scaled the tower and spray-painted slogans of support for candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi in Farsi - 9/2/09
Mehregan 2009 Dedicated to Human Rights
The 14th Annual Persian Festival of Autumn (Mehregan) will be held at the Great Park in Irvine, California on Sunday, October 4, 2009 - 8/28/09
Photos: Bal Norouz (Gilani New Year) Traditional Ceremony
Bal Norouz, meaning the Norouz fire, is the start of Gilan New Year, in which fire lighting is one of its most important programs, and from long past the people would welcome the New Year by lighting fire. Lighting the fire, thanking God for his blessings and crops, and praying for the peace of the souls of the dead were parts of this ancient Iranian tradition. This ceremony coincides with harvesting in Gilan, a northern province in Iran. -Photos by Narges Tankberis, ISNA - 8/21/09
Iran's George Washington: Remembering and Preserving the Legacy of 1953
We approach the 56-year anniversary of the 1953 coup removing Mohammed Mossadegh as Prime Minister of Iran. Given the challenges that continue to confront the world to this day, it is important to revisit the lessons of this fateful event. An understanding of 1953 seems particularly poignant as the US and the international community grapple with the question of Iran amidst unprecedented levels of internal discord. -Sam Sasan Shoamanesh - 8/19/09
Photos: Vanak Church in Isfahan, Iran
This is the most important and famous historical church in Isfahan from the viewpoint of architecture and decorations values and wall paintings. This church has other names such as san sour or Amena Perkich that means savior. This splendid church was built in 1015 H / 1605 AD. It has a great dome, tall walls and vaults that is now the residence of Armenian caliphate of Iran and India. -Photos by Hossein Baharloo, ISNA - 8/18/09
Photos: Historical Houses in Kashan, Iran
Switzerland-based Iranian Saba Manuchehri has paid for the restoration of four Qajar era historical houses in Kashan. Manuchehri has purchased the old houses and the structures are currently under restoration, said manager of Kashan's Department of Historical House Renovation, Ali-Akbar Helli. - 8/16/09
Uppsala University ready to hold seminar on Iran's ethnic languages
Sweden's Uppsala University is planning to hold a seminar on Iranian folklore and the country's different ethnic languages in collaboration with the office of Iran's cultural attach� in Stockholm, some time in the future. - 8/5/09
Photos: Tehran's Saba Music Museum reopens
The museum has been closed since 2002 for renovation. The museum is located in the home where master musician Abolhassan Saba (1902-1957) lived and died. It houses a large collection of music instruments owned by Saba and a selection of donated instruments, letters handwritten by Saba, photos, personal items and a collection of dolls clad in Persian tribal costumes. - 8/4/09
Sassanid site becomes garbage dump
The Sassanid site of Barm-e Dalak has been turned into a garbage dump. Located in southeastern Shiraz in Fars Province, the site is home to two Sassanid bas-reliefs both carved on a small rock, the Persian service of CHN reported on Tuesday. - 8/4/09
Photos: Journalists criticize crude restoration of historical Khaju Bridge in Isfahan
The Isfahan Press Activists Society issued a statement on Sunday to censure the inept restoration underway on Khaju bridge, one of the most famous historical bridges built over the Zayanderud River in Isfahan. - 8/2/09
Military base hindering registration of Falakolaflak Castle on UNESCO list
Iran's endeavor to register the Falakolaflak Castle on the UNESCO World Heritage List is facing more hurdles due to a military base located on the perimeter of the Sassanid monument. - 8/1/09
Iranian-American Community Vital to Advance of Persian Studies
The diversity and range of Persian programs in the United States today reflect a variety of factors, including the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the end of the Cold War and the impact of a large and active Iranian-American community. -Howard Cincotta - 7/30/09
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