Exploring its use (and misuse) over the centuries as political propaganda, loot, and even fodder in the...
Persia
Cyrus conquered the Medes and established one of the largest empires of the ancient world, the Persian...
Safavid art and architecture reflected the adoption of a Shi’a identity. Introduction to the Safavid Dynasty: Rise...
Briefly introducing the Sasanian Empire through a handful of key monuments. The Royal Hunter A rider pulls...
From their earliest days of the Achaemenid Empire, the Persians introduced a number of novel concepts in...
The early Achaemenid kings may or may not have been adherents of Zoroastrianism but that religion would...
Ancient Persian (pre-Islamic) women had almost equal rights with men and, in many instances, more freedoms and...
The general consensus is that it is genuine, dates from the Achaemenid Period, and is representative of...
Persian art and architecture was influenced early on by the older civilizations of Elam and Susiana. Introduction...
While Cyrus seems to have accepted the crown of Media, by 546 BCE, he had officially assumed...
It is often referenced as a Zoroastrian heresy because it departed significantly from central Zoroastrian beliefs. Introduction...
Zoroastrianism was adopted by the Achaemenid Empire, the Parthian Empire, and found its fullest expression under the...
Ancient Persia had the same interest in what happens after death as any culture in the present...
A wide-ranging new Getty book examines the role of text and image across cultures over the thousand-year...
Iran’s traditional music carries messages of beauty, joy, sorrow and love to the world. Introduction Weaving through...
The Achaemenid Empire was a period of artistic growth that left an extraordinary architectural legacy. Introduction Achaemenid...
Persepolis has a long and complex history, designed to be the central city of the ever expanding...
How the early Persians worshipped their gods is unknown except that it involved fire and outdoor altars....
Dogs played a major role in religious rituals as recorded by Zoroastrian texts. Introduction Dogs have been...
Introduction The mythology of any civilization reflects its core values, greatest fears, and highest hopes and so...
Training for the army began at the age of 15 (five for Persian nobility). Introduction The ancient...
Persian governors and the satrapy system established the paradigm recognizable in the present day of a central...
Cyrus drew on earlier models of Akkadian and Assyrian administration and greatly improved them. Introduction The government...
The conquered areas of Elam, Media, Lydia, Babylonia, Egypt, and several eastern Iranian tribes were more or...
Inscriptions ranging from the first Persian king, Cyrus, through Artaxerxes reveal elements in common in both Babylonian...
The Persian Army became a multi-cultural force consisting of a fusion of soldiers from Persia or the...
Even if a treaty by this name was never drawn up, it is true that there was...
Throughout history, Iran was always a cradle of science, contributing to medicine, mathematics, astronomy and philosophy. Introduction...
After looting its treasures, Alexander burned the great palace and surrounding city to the ground, as Xerxes...
Figure 1: Greek Colonization of western Asia Minor / Image by Alexikoua, Wikimedia Commons The development of...