TEHRAN--National Iranology Conference of Zanjan province will be held focusing on history, culture, and arts of Soltaniyeh city at the Soltaniyeh World Heritage Base.

According to Miras Aria, Leila Mohammadi, director of the Iranology Foundation Zanjan Branch, stated on Thursday that the national conference will be held in cooperation with the Tehran’s Iranology Foundation, Zanjan Governor-General's Office and Governor's Office, Soltaniyeh Islamic City Council and Soltaniyeh Municipality, Payam Noor University, the Education Department, Zanjan Cultural Heritage Department, and the Soltaniyeh World Heritage Base.

She added that the purpose of holding the scientific and cultural event is to introduce the historical, cultural, and artistic potential of Soltaniyeh city.

She also said that Soltaniyeh, as one of the most important historical cities of Iran, has a brilliant history in the field of Islamic architecture and Iranian civilization.

Mohammadi stated that  the conference provides an opportunity to review the place of the city in the history of Iran and the Muslim world.

She stated: “Researchers and university professors will present their works on topics such as archaeology and history of Soltaniyeh county, historical, urban and rural geography,  architecture and urban planning from the past to the present, Soltaniyeh's place in the history of Iran and the Muslim world, environment and sustainable development, popular culture, dialect and literature, local customs and traditions, handicrafts, traditional occupations, education, cultural and scientific centers, indigenous sports and religious rituals during the conference.”

Mohammadi added that the variety of topics shows the cultural and civilizational scope of Soltaniyeh and its importance in understanding the historical Iran.

She added that the scientific event will be held at Soltaniyeh World Heritage Base in coming September.

Soltaniyeh monument is where Mohammad Khodabandeh better known as Oljaitu, the eighth Ilkhanid dynasty ruler from 1304 to 1316, is laid to rest. The mausoleum is highly recognized as an architectural masterpiece particularly due to its innovative double-shelled dome and elaborate interior decoration. The very imposing dome stands about 50 meters tall from its base.

According to UNESCO, the Mausoleum of Oljaitu is an essential link and key monument in the development of Islamic architecture in central and western Asia. Here, the Ilkhanids further developed ideas that had been advanced during the classical Seljuk phase (11th to early 13th centuries), during which the arts of Iran gained distinction in the Islamic world, thereby setting the stage for the Timurid period (late 14th to 15th centuries), one of the most brilliant periods in Islamic art.

Meaning ‘Town of the Sultans’, Soltanieh was briefly the capital of Persia’s Ilkhanid dynasty (a branch of the Mongol dynasty) during the 14th century.

KD