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73 Million Year Old Fossil Discovered

runak-gravandiAccording to a report from Azad University of Kermanshah, Runak Gravandi, a doctorate student and a member of geology department, has succeeded in discovering a kind of 73-million-year old fossil, in the neighborhood of Kermanshah (Western part of Iran)

 
Runak Gravandi, while commenting on her discovery, said, “ While executing scientific research in the areas near Kermanshah I discovered a few sample of coral fossils, as well as some non-coral ones.” She acknowledged, “In order to validate this discovery, I contacted Professor Mohammad al-Jamil, a famous geologist at Cairo University. After examining the samples and the relevancy of information about them, he agreed that the fossils are 73 million years showing that Kermanshah was a part of a shallow see during that period.”

Persepolis is in danger

Persepolis Erosion 1Persepolis is in danger of extinction.* 

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Pictures by: Farzad Aryan

Due to the intentional negligence of the authorities with no attempt to stop the natural wear and tear of the site, Persepolis is eroding rapidly.

Newest pictures show how humidity and the growing lichens are threatening the ancient bas-reliefs.

*Persepolis was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire (ca. 550–330 BCE). Persepolis is situated 70 km northeast of the modern city of Shiraz in the Fars Province of modern Iran. The earliest remains of Persepolis date from around 515 BCE. UNESCO declared the citadel of Persepolis a World Heritage Site in 1979.

(Click on the photo to see a close up of the damage)

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An on-going intentional negligence

An official report by the IRI Cultural Heritage News Agency clearly shows that there is an intentional policy not to pay any attention to the ancient sites belonging to the pre-Islamic era of Iranian history. It has been almost three decades since the Islamic Revolution of 1978 and such sites have been left to natural wear and tear and human-caused destruction mostly by religious zealots and un-scientific operations under the banner of “development”.
Every year, by the arrival of winter, Persepolis, the most important and worldly-known ancient sites of Iran, as well as other outstanding sites, suffer from more natural and human-caused destruction. The unprotected stone structures are exposed to rain and snow and many of them clearly show signs of fatigue and obliteration.
The report emphasizes that, against all the protests and advice of the experts, and after 33 years of Persepolis having been registered by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, nothing has been done to stop the deterioration of the structure. The same situation applies to Pasargad, the capital of Cyrus the Great and where his mausoleum is situated. This site was recognized as a World Heritage site 8 years ago and it has been exactly during this time-frame that a dam has been erected and operational near the site, with its obvious consequences.
The two ancient sites used to be a center of attraction for tourists from all over the world before the Islamic revolution. But since then, all tourist facilities are removed and even those who go for a visit despite the harsh political treatments find no usable facility.

 

The sad situation of Arc of the Garden (Tagh-e-Bostan) in Iran

Tagh-e-Bostan is a magnificent site of ancient history in the western Iranian plateau. Reza Kamali from Tehran reports that 7 years ago, immediately after the advent of a popular movement to apply for the recognition of the site by the UNESCO as a World Heritage, a series of unexpected operations began to happen in and on the vicinity of this site with the clear aim of its destruction and stopping such recognition.

All sorts of so-called “development projects” were introduce, including the construction of a rail-road and erecting a large dome on a near by religious site that altered the whole scenery of Tagh-e-Bostan eliminating the chances of the site to be recognized as a World heritage.

Keeping the main parts of the site exposed to natural elements was another neglecting policy.

When finally last year the Cultural Heritage Organization declared that it has decided to apply to UNESCO and intends to “prepare” the site for that reason, it turned the whole site into a construction site and brought in machinery and untrained work force – a situation that resembled a mining operation rather than repairing an ancient site. Then the surprising part of the story was the revealed. The Organization declared it never had the intention of sending the Tagh-e-Bostan file to UNESCO.

Immediately all the previous reports and news items relevant to Tagh-e-Bostan was removed from the Internet sites controlled by the government.

The devastation inflicted on Tagh-e-Bostan is so extensive that even if an authority would decide to apply for recognition by the UNESCO, it will not pass the criteria used to select a site for that purpose.

 

 

Christmas & Yaldâ

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By: Zia Fatherazi

Mithraism (the worship of the Persian Sun-God Mithra) was introduced to Rome during the first Century BC. It spread throughout the Empire and many Mithraic temples were built in Italy and other countries controlled by Rome.  

The main festivity of Mithraism was the night of the winter solstice (longest night of the year), celebrating the assumed birth of Mithra, A popular festival which was observed throughout the Empire. 

In 312, Constantine the Great invaded Italy and moved to Rome. Having had a vision of the Cross-against the sun, on the eve of his victory, he became a supporter of the Christianity. In 313, he issued the Edict of Milan granting freedom and equality of religions in the Empire. He also recommended that the Christians should celebrate Christ’s Birth on the same day as that of Mithra’s since they also considered Christ to be “Light of the World”. Some conservative Christians didn’t agree and the Orthodox Church like the Armenians celebrate only the 6th of January, the Epiphany day. In addition, Constantine changed the holy day of the week from the Judaic Sabbath to Sunday. 

According to the Julian calendar (devised in 46 BC) at the time, the Vernal Equinox fell on March 25 and the Winter Solstice coincided with December 25. Christmas and Mithra’s birth were therefore celebrated on December 25.  The first Christian Council held in Nicaea in 325 decided to set March 21 as the date for Vernal Equinox on the ground of calendar inaccuracies and its lag of 4 days. As a result the Winter Solstice was moved to December 21 but the Council didn’t change the date of Christmas.

During the following years, Christianity was declared as the official religion of the Empire and in 391 Pagan worship was prohibited. All Mithraic temples were destroyed and there remained not a single prayer book or document that could explain their rites, beliefs and traditions. 

Very much like the Halloween celebrations in the United States, most Iranians celebrate the Winter Solstice on the evening of December 21 as the eve of Yaldâ (Birth) – a traditional festival without reference to its origin. 

 

“Cylinder” of Cyrus the Great goes on exhibition on major US cities.

According to a report by British Museum, upon an agreement between Cultural centers and museums in the US, the “Cylinder” of Cyrus the Great will be available for viewing in exhibitions in Washington DC, Houston, New York City, San Francisco and LA.
This is the first time that Americans can see this important artifact on their soil, though a replica of the Cylinder is permanently on exhibit in UN building in New York City.

The name of the exhibition is “Cyrus Cylinder in ancient Pars” and it also includes sixteen other artifacts of historical importance. The exhibit is meant to show the contribution of Iranians during the reign of Achmenians in the Middle and Near East from 550 BC onwards.