Iran History and LIterature

7/29/2019 Iran History and LIterature

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PERSIATHE IMMORTAL KINGDOM

Roman Girshman, Vladimir Minorski andRamesh Sangvhi

No ordinary teacher will ever reach,

He whom the passage of Timefailed to reach.



Ancient Persia

King‟s Eyes

Persepolis

Griffin

Ahura Mazda

Ahriman

Immortals

Battle ofGaugamela

Reference:http://www.funtrivia.com/en/subtopics/Ancient-Persia-228412.html



„When I entered Babylon I did not allow anyone to terrorise

Sumer and Akkad.

I kept in view the needs of Babylon

and all its sanctuaries to promotetheir well-being.

The citizens of Babylon,

I lifted their unbecoming yoke. Their

dilapidated dwellings I restored.

I put an end to their misfortune.‟





‘O Man Whoever Thou Art

and Wheresoever Thou Cometh:

For I Know Thou WiltCome:

I am Cyrus,Who Founded the

Empire of thePersians.

Grudge Me Not,Therefore,

This little Earth ThatCovers my Body.’

CYRUS THE GREAT



Cyrus… was „father‟

to the Persians; theHellenes, whom heconquered,

regarded him as„master‟ and „law-

giver‟, and the Jewsas „the anointed of

the Lord‟.



Achaemenian DynastyCYRUS THE GREAT DARIUS THE GREAT

“Persia became the hub of the greatest empire theworld had ever known…”



The Achaeminian empire unified the

whole of western Asia, which enjoyedadministration under central control,

good means of transport and

communication, and a perfectly

balanced system of tax collection… These…institutions of the Achaemenian

civilization were to have a lasting

impact on other countries.

Roman Ghirshman

THE CLASSICAL AGE



Achaemenid Empire



Some 2,500 years ago, Darius, Shahanshahof Iran, described his realm, the greatest

empire known to the world at that time,and the duties of its ruler in this way: “This is

my kingdom . . . The land of brave men andhansome horses. May Ahuramazda keep it

under His protection for evermore. O Thou,who rulest after me as king over this land., if

thou wishest to keep it lasting andprosperous, avoid falsehood and mete out

punishment to the liar. Be benevolent,forbearing and just.

HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY MOHAMMED REZA SHAH PAHLAVI, SHAHANSHAH OF IRAN



I AM DARIUS THEGREAT KING, KING

OF KINGS, KING OFCOUNTRIESCONTAINING ALLKINDS OF MEN, KINGIN THIS GREAT EARTHFAR AND WIDE, SONOF HYSTAPES, ANACHAEMENIAN, APERSIAN, SON OF A

PERSIAN, AN ARYAN,HAVING ARYANLINEAGE.



History of Iran (Overview)

Classical Period (Pre-Islamic Era) The Medes

The Achaemenian Dynasty

The Sasanian Era (Alexander the Great)

Medieval Period (Post Islamic Era Invasion of Iran by the Moslems

Taherids Dynasty till Qaznavids

Ghaznavid to the Mongol Period

Mongols to the Safavids

Safavids to the Qajarids

Qajarid to the Pahlavi Dynasti

Pahlavi Dynasti till the Islamic Revolution

Ref: Shabani, Reza. The Book of Iran: A Selecion of the History of Iran (2005)



MOHAMMED REZA SHAH

PAHLAVI

“In all centuries since, God has

protected this landfrom untold perils. It

still remains today aproud, flourishingand independent

country — a bastionof peace in this

troubled region of the globe.”



MOTHER OF

WINEABU ABD ALLAH RUDAKI

The mother of wine must besacrificed,

And her children seized and

cast into prison.But you won‟t be able to take

her children from herUnless you first trample her

underfoot and drag her

soul from herNor is it lawful to separate babeFrom its mother‟s breast, Until it has nursed a full seven

months,

From April until the end ofOctober…



Abu ‘Abd Allah Ja’far ibn Muhammad

One of the most important Iranian poets Founder of Perso-Tajik literature

Born in the village of Rudak in the districtof Panjakent in 858

Serving at the court of the Samanids ofBukhara (874-999)

First poet to use the newly devised Persianalphabet

ABU ABD ALLAH RUDAKI

Ref: Rudaki, et. Al, Anthology of selected Persian(Iran) Classis Literary Works. The CulturalSection, Embassy of Islamic Republick of Iran — Manila, Philippines (2007)



Rudaki had a pleasant voice, a talent thatconnected whim with the world. He traveledwith Bakhtiar all around the Kuhistak singing andcomposing.

He could have been blind from birth or have losthis vision gradually or suddenly.

His major themes include passage of time, oldage, the inevtableness of natural death, thefickleness of fortune, importance of the mattersof the heart, and the need to stay happy.

His life ended in wretched poverty in Rudak, 941

His poetry is simple in style, as court poetryshould be.





Abu ‘Abd Allah Ja’far ibn Muhammad

One of the most important Iranian poets Founder of Perso-Tajik literature

Born in the village of Rudak in the districtof Panjakent in 858

Serving at the court of the Samanids ofBukhara (874-999)

First poet to use the newly devised Persianalphabet





ABOLGHASSEM FERDOWSIIn both Asian and Western

Literature, Ferdowsi is considered one oththe greatest epic poets of all time. His

monumental work, the SHAHNAMEH (Epicof Kings) is unparalleled in its poeticrichness, while depicting the majesticglory that was ancient Persia (Iran). He is

considered in the academe of worldliterature as the Father of Modern PersianPoetry.



IN THE NAME OF MAH-LAQA

THE MERCIFUL, THE COMPASSIONATE

In the name of the Lord of both wisdom and mind

To nothing sublimer can thought be applied

The lord of whatever is named or assigned

A place, the Sustainer of all and the Guide,

The Lord of Saturn and the turning skiy,

Who causeth Venus, Sun, and Moon to shine,

Who is above conception, name, or sign,The Artist of the heaven’s jewelry!

Him thou canst see not thought thy sight thou strain,

ABOLGHASSEM FERDOWSI



For thought itself will struggle to attain

To one above all name and place in vain, sincemind and wisdom fail to penetrate

Beyond our elements, but operate

On matter that the senses render plain.

None then can praise God as he is. ObserveThy duty: ‘tis gird thyself to serve

He weigheth mind and wisdom; should he be

Encompassed by a thought that he hath

weighed?

Can he be praised by such machinery




Confess His being but affirm no more,Adore Him and all other ways ignore,

Observing His commands, thy source of might

It knowledge: thus old hearts grow young again,

But things above the Veil surpass in heightAll words: God’s essence is beyond our ken.



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Iran History and LIterature