The posts in this weblog are mainly about history, heritage, language, art, and culture of Persia (that is named Iran since 1934). Persia is, therefore, equal to Iran, and Persian is equal to Iranian. Note that Persian is a nationality not an ethnicity. Pars (or Fars) is the major ethnicity in Persia but there are also Persian Kurds or Arabs. Similarly, the official language in Persia is Persian (Farsi is the local name and may not be used internationally). For more details please read my posts.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Persian Empire in British Museum
From last year September 9th till January 8th this year, there was a wonderful exhibition in the British Museum called "FORGOTTEN EMPIRE the world of Ancient Persia." I went there, just before Christmas. It was amazing! The exhibition was the largest collection ever presented from the first Persian Empire (Achaemenids). Many items were from the British Museum itself, but many were also borrowed from the Louvre, and the National Museum of Iran (Persia).
Besides the interesting old Persian texts engraved on stones, huge columns, and beautiful jewelry, I was particularly fascinated by the statue of Darius the Great, and the Cyrus Cylinder (which I wrote about it before).
Something very special that I saw in the jewelry exhibition was a pair of gold bracelets (or armlets) with leaping lion-griffins. Just by looking at them you could imagine they were possibly the most valuable bracelets in the whole world. Interestingly, you can see the same bracelets carried by Lydians on a relief from the east side of the Apadana at Persepolis (that's the photo I put here).
What I should not forget to mention is the order of the items in the exhibition. It started with the amazing statue of Darius the Great, and followed by the items about the palaces, government and people. Then you could see the luxury of Persians including items about dining, and, of course, jewelry. When you were astounded from all those impressions, you would face the destruction of the Persian Empire by Alexander the Great. But, before you started feeling sad, a small collection would tell you that Persian Empire rose again 150 years after Alexander. But that was not all! At the very end of the exhibition, you faced the Cyrus Cylinder! It was such a wonderful feeling to see that although the Persian Empire destroyed by Alexander, the message of human right from Cyrus the Great is still alive, now more than ever.
It was said that many items from the second Persian Empire (Parthian / Sassanid Empire) are among the permanent collections of British Museum. It will be nice if the items from other museums are also collected, and one can visit a comprehensive exhibition of the second Persian Empire. For the third Persian Empire (Safavid Empire), you should give a visit to Esfahan, the capital city of that Empire. Later, I will also write about Esfahan. In fact, I have a lot to tell you about it.....
From last year September 9th till January 8th this year, there was a wonderful exhibition in the British Museum called "FORGOTTEN EMPIRE the world of Ancient Persia." I went there, just before Christmas. It was amazing! The exhibition was the largest collection ever presented from the first Persian Empire (Achaemenids). Many items were from the British Museum itself, but many were also borrowed from the Louvre, and the National Museum of Iran (Persia).Besides the interesting old Persian texts engraved on stones, huge columns, and beautiful jewelry, I was particularly fascinated by the statue of Darius the Great, and the Cyrus Cylinder (which I wrote about it before).
Something very special that I saw in the jewelry exhibition was a pair of gold bracelets (or armlets) with leaping lion-griffins. Just by looking at them you could imagine they were possibly the most valuable bracelets in the whole world. Interestingly, you can see the same bracelets carried by Lydians on a relief from the east side of the Apadana at Persepolis (that's the photo I put here).
What I should not forget to mention is the order of the items in the exhibition. It started with the amazing statue of Darius the Great, and followed by the items about the palaces, government and people. Then you could see the luxury of Persians including items about dining, and, of course, jewelry. When you were astounded from all those impressions, you would face the destruction of the Persian Empire by Alexander the Great. But, before you started feeling sad, a small collection would tell you that Persian Empire rose again 150 years after Alexander. But that was not all! At the very end of the exhibition, you faced the Cyrus Cylinder! It was such a wonderful feeling to see that although the Persian Empire destroyed by Alexander, the message of human right from Cyrus the Great is still alive, now more than ever.
It was said that many items from the second Persian Empire (Parthian / Sassanid Empire) are among the permanent collections of British Museum. It will be nice if the items from other museums are also collected, and one can visit a comprehensive exhibition of the second Persian Empire. For the third Persian Empire (Safavid Empire), you should give a visit to Esfahan, the capital city of that Empire. Later, I will also write about Esfahan. In fact, I have a lot to tell you about it.....
Labels: Art, Persian heritage, Persian history
¶ 9:35:00 pm
