Persian LiteratureReported by:Junace RealRosalie CompetenteGaylord Bernne Ayawan

Persia•Iran, known since ancient times as Persia,

has had a long and turbulent history. Its location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia has resulted in many invasions and migrations. There is evidence that Iran played a role in the emergence of civilization as far back as 10,000 years ago.

Location & Geography• Iran is located in Southwestern Asia, largely on a

high plateau situated between the Caspian Sea to the north and the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman to the south. It is considered to be the 18th largest country in the whole world. Its area is 636,300 square miles.

• Its neighbours are, on the north, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkmenistan; on the east, Pakistan and Afghanistan; and on the west Turkey and Iraq.

• Iran's total boundary is 4,770 miles. Approximately 30% of this boundary is seacoast.

• The capital is Tehran.

The flag of Iran was officially adopted on July 29, 1980. The colors of the flag date to the mid-18th century; green represents Islam; white represents peace, and red means courage.The centered symbol is said to symbolize the five principles of Islam. According to sources, the white stylized script on the red and green panels, repeated 22 times, is the Islamic phrase Allahu Akbar, meaning"God is greater than to be described."The centered sword is representative of the country's strengtha

Meaning:• Three equal horizontal bands of green, white, and

red• The national emblem (a stylized representation of

the word Allah in the shape of a tulip, a symbol of martyrdom) in red is centered in the white band

• ALLAH AKBAR (God is Great) in white Arabic script is repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green band and 11 times along the top edge of the red band

• White - peace and honesty • Red - hardiness, bravery, strength & valour• Green - hope, joy and love

Currency

•The Persian unit of currency is RIAL (لایر) (IRR).

Climate & Seasons

•Iran's climate is one of extremes, ranging from subtropical to sub polar, due to the extreme variations in altitude and rainfall throughout the nation.

•The climate ranges from humid subtropical lowlands along the southern coast of the Caspian Sea to hot, dry deserts.

People

•The Persian people are part of the Iranian people who speak the modern Persian Language and closely akin Iranian dialects and languages.

•The origins of the ethnic Iranian/Persian peoples are traced to the Ancient Iranian people, who were part of the ancient Indo-Iranians and themselves part of the greater Indo-European ethnic group.

Population• Iran has a total population of about 75 million

people. Only Persians, the largest ethnic group, live in the developed farm areas and in the large cities of the northern and western plateau.

• The population is balanced (51% male, 49% female), extremely young, and urban. More than three-quarters of Iran's habitants are under thirty years of age, and an equal percentage live in urban areas.

• Iran is a multiethnic, multicultural society as a result of millennia of migration and conquest.

Clothing•Western clothing for both men and women was

popular until the Islamic Revolution of 1979. •Since then, women have been forced to cover

their hair and wear the Iranian chador, a long cloak, when in public. Iranian women wear very colorful chadors in some of the rural provinces.

•Most men wear slacks, shirts, and jackets. Some men, especially religious leaders, wear floor-length, jacket like garments, and cover their heads with turbans. Mountain-dwellers continue to wear their traditional clothing. For ethnic Kurdish men in Iran, this consists of a long-sleeved cotton shirt over baggy, tapered pants.

PERSIANDANCE COSTUME

PERSIAN COSTUME ANCIENTPERSIAN COSTUME

The men also wear the Pirahan, Shalvar, and Jameh combination, often with a wide belt called Kamarband, from which English gets the word "cummerbund“

Headdresses are also worn by men in traditional wear, known as the Sarband. The Persian style of Sarband is often wrapped with one end folded in a fan-shape at the top of the head, with a trailing piece of clothing which is thrown over the shoulder.

More costumes

More

Symbolism

•Iranian culture is rich in cultural symbolism, much of which derives from prehistoric times.

National Symbols

Animals

LION

PERSIAN LEOPARD

PERSIAN DEER

PERSIAN CHEETAH

•FLOWERS

TULIP

• FRUIT

POMEGRANATE

BIRD FOOD

NIGHTINGALE CHELO KABAB

Religion•The Persian civilization spawned three

major religions: Zoroastrianism, Manichaeism and Mazdakism.

•The overwhelming majority of Iranians (about 98%) are Shi'ah Muslim. Shi'ah, one of the two schools of Islam, is the state religion.

•The state religion in Iran is also Ithnaashara or Twelver Shi'ism, established by the Safavid Dynasty in the 17th century. This branch of Islam has many distinctive practices and beliefs that differ from the Sunni Islam practiced in most of the Muslim world.

•There are also smaller communities of Zoroastrians, Christians, Jews, and Baha'is.

• Baha'is are the largest non-Muslim religious minority in Iran. There exist Persians who are atheist and agnostic.

Zoroastrianism - ancient Persian religion: an ancient religion founded by the Persian prophet Zoroaster, the principal belief of which is in a supreme deity and a cosmic contest between two spirits, one good and one evil.Manichaeism - ancient dualist belief system: a religious doctrine based on the separation of matter and spirit and of good and evil that originated in 3rd-century Persia and combined elements of Zoroastrianism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Gnosticism.

Government

•Iran has made the transition in the last 25 years from a nominal constitutional monarchy to a democratic theocracy and now they are a Unitary state, Islamic republic.

Iran's complex and unusual political system combines elements of a modern Islamic theocracy with democracy.

Mohammad Reza Pahlaviand Farah Pahlavi, the lastShah and Empress of Iran

Ayatollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of Iran

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Social Stratification

• In Iran one can never judge a book by its cover. A traditional gentleman in ragged clothes, unshaven, and without any outward trapping of luxury may in fact be very rich, and as powerful as the mightiest government official; or he may be a revered spiritual leader.

• On the other hand a well-dressed gentleman in an Italian suit driving a fine European car may be mired in debt and openly derided behind his back.

The Relative Status of Women •Women have always had a strong role in

Iranian life, but rarely a public role. Their prominent participation in political movements has been especially noteworthy. Brave and often ruthlessly pragmatic, women are more than willing to take to the streets for a good public cause.

Folklore

•Many Muslims believe in jinns, spirits who can change shape and be either visible or invisible. Muslims sometimes wear amulets (charms) around their necks to protect themselves from jinns. Stories of jinns are often told at night, like ghost stories around a campfire.

Amulets

RITES OF PASSAGE• Marriage is the most important stage in a person's

life, marking the official transition to adulthood. There are two ceremonies in the marital tradition: the arusi (the engagement ceremony) and the agad (the actual wedding ceremony).

• Birthdays are particularly joyous occasions. Children have parties at which they eat and play traditional games. Elaborate gifts are usually given.

• Loved ones gather at the home of a recently deceased person to sit and quietly pray or reflect. Mourning lasts for forty days, and special dark clothing is worn to show grief for the deceased.

RELATIONSHIPS• Most people in Iran employ an elaborate system

of courtesy, known in Farsi as taarof. Polite and complimentary phrases are used to create an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect.

• Iranians, like many people of the Middle East, are very hospitable.

• Iranians are very demonstrative with their facial and hand gestures.

• An Iranian is expected to rise to her or his feet when any person of equal or greater age or status enters the room

LIVING CONDITIONS•Wooden houses are common along the

Caspian coast. •Square houses made of mud brick are found

on the slopes in the mountain villages. •Nomadic tribes in the Zagros Mountains live

in round, black tents made of goat hair. •The people of Baluchistan, in the southeast,

are farmers who live in huts. •Larger cities have many high-rise

apartments. •Some have modern supermarket complexes

that are several stories high.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Damavand3.jpg

FAMILY LIFE• The average size of the nuclear family has been

decreasing. Currently the average size is about six children per family.

• The father is the head of the Iranian household. • However, there is an unspoken recognition of the

mother's role and importance.• Within the family there is a general respect for

males and for those older than oneself. The young show respect toward older siblings.

• Aging parents are taken care of by their children until death. The elderly are honoured for their wisdom, and for their place at the head of the family.

FOOD• Iranian food has been influenced by Turkey, Greece,

India, and Arab countries. These influences can be seen in such dishes as shish kabob, stuffed grape leaves, spicy curry stews, and dishes made of lamb, dates, and figs.

• Iranians have a healthy diet centered on fresh fruits, greens and vegetables. Meat (usually lamb, goat, or chicken) is used as a condiment rather than as the centrepiece of a meal.

• Bread and rice are a must at an Iranian table.• Yogurt is a main part of the Iranian diet. • Tea, the national beverage, is made in metal urns

called samovars. • Pork and alcoholic beverages are forbidden in Islam.

EMPLOYMENT

•Industry employs about one-third of Iran's work force. Occupations include mining, steel and cement production, and food processing.

•About 40% of the work force is employed in agriculture. This category includes farming, raising livestock, forestry, and fishing.

SPORTS

•Iran's most popular sports are wrestling, weight lifting, football and horse racing.

RECREATION

•In rural areas, people are entertained by travelling groups of actors who recite poetry and perform plays.

•In urban areas, men enjoy spending their leisure time in teahouses, socializing and smoking the hookah, or water pipe. Women enjoy entertaining family and friends in the home. They often spend time engaged in crafts.

Hooka

Persian Literature

Persian literature is the jewel in the crown of Persian culture.

Alphabet

•Persian alphabet was highly Arabized and written in a modified Arabic script.

•It was written since the 9th century with a slightly extended form of the Arabic alphabet and with many Arabic loanwords.

Language

•Iran's official language is Farsi, which is also known as Persian. Farsi is also spoken in parts of Turkey and Afghanistan.

• Many Iranians understand Arabic, the language of the Koran (the sacred text of Islam).

•They also speak Azerbaijani, Kurdish, Lori, Gilaki, Mazandarani, Balochi & Turkmen.

Poetry•Poetry is a very important part of Persian

culture. Poetry is used in many Persian classical works, whether from literature, science, or metaphysics.

•Persian poetry is always rhymed. •Persian cultivated four unique types of

poetry: Qasideh, Masnavi, Qazal and

Ruba'i(epic).

• Iranian poets have penned some of the most wonderful, moving poetry in the history of humankind. The great poets Firdawsī, Hāfez, Sa'adī, and Jalāl ad-D n ar-R m and a host of others are an intimate part of the life of every Iranian.

•The most famous of Iranian poets was Firdawsi (AD 940–1020), who wrote Iran's national epic, the Shahnameh (Book of Kings). Another internationally known Iranian poet was Omar Khayyam (eleventh century AD). He became famous when Edward Fitzgerald, a British writer, translated 101 of his poems in the book The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.

سی سال این در بردم رنج بسیپارسی بدین کردم زنده عجم

For thirty years, I suffered much pain and strife

with Persian I gave the Ajam verve and life

—Ferdowsi (935–1020)

پیکرند يک اعضای آدم بنىگوهرند يک ز آفرينش در که

آورد درد به عضوى چوروزگار

قرار نماند را عضوها دگرOf one Essence is the

human racethus has Creation put

the baseOne Limb impacted is

sufficientFor all Others to feel the

Mace—Saadi (1184–1283)

CULTURAL HERITAGE• The culture of Iran is a mix of ancient pre-Islamic

culture and Islamic culture. Iranian culture has long been a predominant culture of the region, with Persian considered the language of intellectuals during much of the 2nd millennium, and the language of religion and the populace before that.

• Iran is known for its magnificent mosques and other architecture, commissioned by rulers throughout history.

• One of the most fascinating items of Iranian artwork is the "Peacock Throne," on which all of Iran's kings starting from the eighteenth century sat. The throne bears more than 20,000 precious gems.

Architecture•Persia’s Architecture was mostly designed

by Persia’s kings. King Darius designed many of Persia’s buildings, a few including the terrace of Persepolis, main royal audience hall, the Apadena, Persia’s largest building, and several palaces. However, although Darius designed most of these buildings, he did not live to see his drawings made into reality. He died before many of the buildings were completed and his son, Xerxes, finished all of them.

ARTS•Persian miniature paintings illustrating

Iranian epics and classic stories are among the world's great art treasures. These miniatures depicted both humans and animals.

•The most notable Persian artwork is seen in the masterful WOVEN CARPETS.

MUSIC

•Persian classical music is one of the most elaborate and inspiring artistic forms ever created.

KAMANCHEH- bowed string instrument, traditionally kamanchehs had three silk strings. The strings are played with a variable-tension bow: the word "kamancheh" means "little bow" in Persian.

TOMBAK/TONBAK- is a goblet drum from Persia. The tonbak is normally positioned diagonally across the torso while the player uses one or more fingers and/or the palm(s) of the hand(s) on the drumhead, often (for a ringing timbre) near the drumhead's edge. Sometimes tonbak players wear metal finger rings for an extra-percussive "click" on the drum's shell. Tonbak virtuosi perform solos lasting ten minutes or more.

NEY- is an end-blown flute originating from Iran that figures prominently in Middle Eastern music. In some of these musical traditions, it is the only wind instrument used. The ney has been played continuously for 4,500–5,000 years, making it one of the oldest musical instruments still in use.

SANTUR- is a Iranian hammered dulcimer. It is a trapezoid-shaped box often made of walnut or different exotic woods. The Iranian classical santur has 72 strings, 18 sets of four.

TAR- long-necked, waisted instrument.The word tar itself means "string" in Persian.

HARP- is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard.

Cinema• Iranian cinema has thrived in modern Iran, and

many Iranian directors have garnered worldwide recognition for their work. Iranian movies have won over three hundred awards in the past twenty-five years including Oscars.

•Persian culture can be defined through its films, as Persian cinema has attained a substantial amount of international and critical acclaim through such films as Children of Heaven and Taste of Cherry, which give both insights into the current state of Persian culture and profound depictions of the general human condition.

City Theater of Tehran, the largest auditorium in Western Asia