PERSIA THE IMMORTAL KINGDOM Roman Girshman, Vladimir Minorski and Ramesh Sangvhi No ordinary teacher will ever reach, He whom the passage of Time failed to reach.
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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.
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Ancient Persia
King‟s Eyes
Persepolis
Griffin
Ahura Mazda
Ahriman
Immortals
Battle ofGaugamela
Reference:http://www.funtrivia.com/en/subtopics/Ancient-Persia-228412.html
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„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.‟
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‘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
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Cyrus… was „father‟
to the Persians; theHellenes, whom heconquered,
regarded him as„master‟ and „law-
giver‟, and the Jewsas „the anointed of
the Lord‟.
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Achaemenian DynastyCYRUS THE GREAT DARIUS THE GREAT
“Persia became the hub of the greatest empire theworld had ever known…”
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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
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Achaemenid Empire
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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
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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.
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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)
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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.”
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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…
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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)
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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 RUDAKI
Ref: Rudaki, et. Al, Anthology of selected Persian(Iran) Classis Literary Works. The CulturalSection, Embassy of Islamic Republick of Iran — Manila, Philippines (2007)
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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)
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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.
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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
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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
ABOLGHASSEM FERDOWSI
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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.
ABOLGHASSEM FERDOWSI
Ref: Rudaki, et. Al, Anthology of selected Persian(Iran) Classis Literary Works. The CulturalSection, Embassy of Islamic Republick of Iran — Manila, Philippines (2007)