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Sassanid Exhibition to Say Farewell to Cernuschi Museum. The exhibition of Sassanid Culture and Art at Paris’ Cernuschi Museum will come to an end next week and the artifacts on display at the museum for nearly three months will return home.
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About
Hamadan
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Hamadan Province
Hamadan or
Hamedan is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. Its center is
Hamadan city. The province of Hamadan covers an area of
19,546 km2. In the year 1996, Hamedan province had a
population of approximately 1.7 million people.
Other major cities of Hamadan province are: Twiserkan,
Nahavand, Malayer, Asad Abad, Bahar, Razan, Kabudrahang.
Geography
The province lies in an elevated region, with the 'Alvand'
mountains, running from the |
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North West to the south
west. These are part of the Zagros
mountain range of Iran.
Hamadan enjoys temperate warm summers and relatively cold winters.
Demographics
This province is home to four ethnic groups: Azeris (majority,
mainly in northern and eastern parts),Persians, Kurds and Lurs (in
western and southern parts).
History
Hamadan province is one of the most ancient parts of Iran and its
civilization. Relics of this area confirm this fact. Today's Hamadan
is what is left of Ecbatana, The Medes' capital before they formed a
union with the Persians. The poet Ferdowsi says that Ecbatana was
built by King Jamshid.
According to historical records, there was once a castle in this
city by the name of Haft Hessar (Seven Walls) which had a thousand
rooms and its grandeur equalled that of the Babylon Tower.
The structures of city are related to Diya Aku, a King of the Medes
from 700 BC. |
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According to Greek
records, this territory was called 'Ekbatan' and 'Hegmataneh' by
this King, thus transformed into a huge capital.
During the Parthian era, Ctesiphon became capital of Persia, and
Hamadan became the summer capital and residence of the Parthian
rulers. After the Parthians, the Sassanids constructed their summer
palaces in Hamadan as well.
In the year 633 when the war of Nahavand took place and Hamadan came
into the hands of the invading Arabs, at times it thrived and at
times it declined and witnessed hardships. During the Buwayhids, it
suffered plenty of damages. In the 11th century, the Seljuks shifted
their capital from Baghdad to Hamadan once again.
The city of Hamadan which was always assaulted by the rise and fall
of powers was completely destroyed during the Timurid invasion. But
during the Safavid era the city thrived once more. Thereafter, in
the 18th century, Hamadan surrendered to the Ottomans, but due to
the courage and chivalry of Nader Shah Afshari, Hamadan was cleared
of the invaders and according to the peace treaty between Iran and
the Ottomans, it was thus returned to Iran.
The city of Hamadan lay on the Silk Road and even in recent
centuries enjoyed good prospects in commerce and trade being on the
main road network in the western region of Iran.
Attractions
The Cultural Heritage of Iran lists 442 sites of historical and
cultural significance located in Hamadan, thus making the province a
rich one in terms of historical attractions.
Some of the most popular sites are:
1.
Tomb of Baba Taher the poet (Hamadan city)
2.
Ganj Nameh inscriptions of Darius The Great
3. Tomb of Esther and Mordechai
4. Alisadr (Ardeles) Cave (75 Kms, North of Hamadan)
5. Tomb of Avicenna (Hamadan)
6. Waterfall of Ganjnameh
7. Stone Lion of Hamadan
8.
Nature of Hamadan
Hamadan
Hamadan or Hamedan ( Persian:
همدان
, Kurdish: Ekbatan) is the capital city of Hamadan Province of
Iran.It had an estimated population of 550,284 in 2005.[1]
Hamadan is believed to be amongst the oldest Iranian cities and one
of the oldest in the world.
Hamadan is a green mountainous area on the foothills of the
3574-meter Alwand Mountain,in the mid west of Iran. The city is 1850
meters above sea level.
The special nature of this old city and its historic sites attract
tourists during the summer to this city, located approximately 400km
southwest of Tehran.
History
Hamadan has a distinguished place among all historical cities of
Iran and geographically located at 34°51′N 48°31′E.Some historians
believe that Hamadan's construction dates back to 3000 BC and
according to an inscription from the first Assyrian king , it is
attributed to 1100 BC.
Hamadan was established by the Medes, old Kurdish ancestors, and was
the capital of the Median Empire. It then became one of several
capital cities of the Achaemenid Dynasty and it has been referred to
by a variety of names throughout its long history, including
Ecbatana or Ekbetan (Median), Ecbatana (classical Greek rendition of
Hagmatana) and several corruptions or mispronunciations of the
previous two in subsequent centuries.
During the Parthian era, Ctesiphon was the capital of the country,
and Hamadan the summer capital and residence of the Parthian rulers.
After the Parthians, the Sassanids constructed their summer palaces
in Hamadan. In the year 633 the war of Nahavand took place and
Hamadan fell into the hands of the Muslim Arabs. At times it thrived
and at times it witnessed poverty.
During the Buwayhids , the city suffered much damage. In the 11th
century, the Seljuks shifted their capital from Baghdad to Hamadan.
The city of Hamadan, its fortunes following the rise and fall of
regional powers, was completely destroyed during the Timurid
invasion. During the Safavid era the city thrived. Thereafter, in
the 18th century, Hamadan was surrendered to the Ottomans, but due
to the courage and chivalry of Nadir Shah Afshar, Hamadan was
cleared of invaders and, as a result of a peace treaty between Iran
and the Ottomans, it was returned to Iran. Hamadan stands on the
Silk Road, and even in recent centuries the city enjoyed strong
commerce and trade as a result of its location on the main road
network in the western region of Persia and Iran.
Climate
Hamadan province lies in a temperate mountainous region to the
east of Zagros. The vast plains of the north and northeast of the
province are influenced by strong winds, that almost last throughout
the year. The various air currents of this region are: the north and
North West winds of the spring and winter seasons, which are usually
humid and bring about rainfall. The west-east air currents that blow
in the autumn and the local winds that develops due to difference in
air-pressure between the elevated areas and the plains, like the
blind wind of the Asad Abad region. Hamadan being in the vicinity of
the Alvand mountains has a cold, mountainous climate, with snowy
winters. In fact it is one of the coldest cities in Iran. The
temperature may drop below -30 °C on the coldest days. Heavy
snowfalls are common during winter. Summer is short, and the weather
is mild and pleasant and mostly sunny.
Culture
Hamadan is also home to many poets and cultural celebrities. The
city is also said to be among the world's oldest continuously
inhabited cities.
Handicrafts: Hamadan has always been well-known for handicrafts like
leather and ceramic work as well as for its beautiful carpets.
Iran's Cultural Heritage Organization lists 207 sites of historical
and cultural significance in the city of Hamadan alone.
Legend has it that the biblical Esther is buried in Hamadan.
The scientist and writer known in the west as Avicenna (Abu Ali Sina)
is buried in Hamadan.
The 11th century Persian poet Baba Taher is also interred in
Hamadan.
It is the birthplace of Badi` al-Zaman al-Hamadhani, author of the
Maqamat.
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