Recovered Achaemenid relief to go on tour across Iran

TEHRAN – A newly recovered Achaemenid-era (550-330 BC) bas-relief, which President Hassan Rouhani brought it back from the U.S. on September 27, will be put on show in a select of cities across the country.

U.S. returns exquisite Achaemenid relief to Iran

TEHRAN – On Tuesday, an exquisite Achaemenid-era relief, which is estimated to be worth $1.2-million, was handed back to Iran under a rule laid down by a U.S. court back in June.

 Excavation starts at Pasargadae

TEHRAN – A new round of archaeological excavation has recently commenced at the UNESCO-registered Pasargadae, southern Iran.

Prehistoric “Persian guard” on the way home

U.S. judge rules return of Achaemenid-era relief to Iran

TEHRAN – A U.S. judge said on Monday an Achaemenid-era (550-330 BC) bas-relief should be returned to Iran, where the object was originally stolen from some 80 years ago.

Dutch museum to host “Iran – Cradle of Civilization”

TEHRAN – “Iran – Cradle of Civilization”, an enormous loan exhibit dedicated to the history of Iran, will open its doors to the public on June 17 at the Drents Museum in Assen, the Netherlands.

Achaemenid-era vessels seized in Fars

TEHRAN – Iranian authorities have recently confiscated five Achaemenid-era vessels from a rural house in Marvdasht, southern Fars province.

Achaemenid-era objects seized in Fars

TEHRAN – Two relics dating from Achaemenid-era (c. 550–330 BC) have recently been confiscated in Marvdasht, southern Fars province.

Ganjnameh: A can’t-miss in Hamedan

TEHRAN – Prehistoric rock carvings of Ganjnameh is a can’t-miss destination when you are traveling to Hamedan, an ancient city in west-central Iran.

Disputed Persian artifacts one step closer to home

TEHRAN –Following years of ups and downs, the fate of some ancient Persian artifacts, on loan from Iran to the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago since the 1930s, was left in the hands of an international court, this time in favor of Iran.

British Museum considers holding exhibit in Tehran

TEHRAN – The British Museum is considering a plan to hold a joint exhibition of ancient relics at the National Museum of Iran, its director said in Tehran on Tuesday.

UNESCO-registered Pasargadae launches website

TEHRAN – Authorities of Pasargadae, a UNESCO World Heritage, have recently launched an official website for the magnificent royal complex in southern Iran.

Urgent restoration lifts threat to Achaemenid tomb

TEHRAN – A potential threat of physical harm to Xerxes the Great tomb has been lifted after an urgent restoration plan assured its safety measures.

Quake harms historical sites in western Iran

TEHRAN – A powerful 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck western Iran late on Sunday, causing relatively minor damage to several historic and heritage sites in Kermanshah and Ilam provinces.

U.S. court suspends auction of ancient Iranian relief

TEHRAN – A U.S. court has suspended an auction of a prehistoric Iranian bas-relief carving that was scheduled to go under the hammer at the Rupert Wace Ancient Art on Friday, CHTN reported.

Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System: A clue to human genius

TEHRAN - Inscribed on UNESCO World Heritage list in 2009 as a ‘masterpiece of creative genius’, the Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System in southwest Iran is a destination for history buffs, nature lovers and travelers who eyewitness how the prehistoric yet homogeneous hydraulic system works.

Naqsh-e Rostam: A must-see tourist hotspot in southern Iran

TEHRAN – A variety of spectacular massive rock–hewn tombs and bas-relief carvings at Naqsh-e Rostam has turned the ancient site to a must-see for holidaymakers traversing Iran. The Achaemenid necropolis is situated near Persepolis, itself a bustling UNESCO World Heritage site near the southern city of Shiraz.

Iranians observe Mehregan aiming to renew friendship

TEHRAN – Yesterday evening, clusters of Iranian Zoroastrians came together in various reunions across the country to celebrate Mehregan, an ancient Persian festival that marks friendship, affection and love.

By Afshin Majlesi

See Iran’s World Heritage sites in landscaped miniature park

TEHRAN – For ones who are always short of time but fascinated with rich Iranian cultural heritage - no matter what age they are - visiting Tehran’s Miniature Garden Museum, featuring replicas of the country’s most important historical landmarks and landscapes, is a must.

Bam citadel’s giant gateway regaining former glory

TEHRAN – Restoration work on the giant gateway of Arg-e Bam, a quake-stricken UNESCO-registered citadel in south-eastern Iran, will be completed in October, said the Bam and its Cultural Landscape project manager.

Open-air museum to be set up near Persepolis

TEHRAN – Iran’s heritage body aims to build an open-air museum on the ruins of a lately-unearthed archeological site adjacent to the legendary Achaemenid city of Persepolis, south of the country.

In Focus: Persepolis and its mesmerizing bas-relief carvings

Photo depicts a stone staircase dominated by magnificent bas-relief carvings at Persepolis, a UNESCO World Heritage site in southern Iran, July 15, 2017

Subterranean settlement holds secrets of life in west-central

A combination photo shows interlinked tunnels, rooms and corridors of Samen subterranean settlement that after more than a decade of excavations still keeps clues to ancient life in west-central Iran. Some human remains are also seen in the pictures released by entekhab.ir on April 10, 2017.

Fars province’s foreign tourist arrivals rise 42% y/y

TEHRAN – Fars province attracted over 165,000 foreign tourists in the first two months of the current calendar year (March 21 – May 21), up 42 percent from a year earlier, the provincial tourism chief announced on Monday.

Iranian goldsmiths show off skills at Florence Jewelry Week

TEHRAN – Several Iranian goldsmiths are promoting their delicate expertise at the Florence Jewelry Week, which opened on May 24 in the very heart of the Italian city, the “Oltrarno” district near Santo Spirito Square.

Iranology conference to offer chronological look at ancient land

TEHRAN – A comparative chronology table of Iran and the world will be unveiled during an academic conference which will be held at the Milad Tower in Tehran on May 1.

In praise of Noruz: A glimpse at myths encircling Iranian New Year

Like many other ancient traditions, Noruz is associated with heroes of myths and legends that revolve around such a cherished festival in the Persian calendar.

Under visitors’ eyes: Centuries-old Zeinodin Caravanserai

TEHRAN - For some visitors to Iran staying at or even a short visit to a caravanserai seems to be a must. The 16th-century Zeinodin Caravanserai, which is tastefully renovated, is amongst such time-honored roadside inns.

National Museum of Iran to host Louvre collection

TEHRAN – The National Museum of Iran plans to hold an exhibition of historical objects to be loaned from the Louvre under an agreement which was signed in 2016.

Achaemenid-era rampart unearthed in southern Iran

TEHRAN – A team of Iranian archeologists has recently uncovered portions of a stone wall dating back to the Achaemenid era (c. 550–330 BC) in Mashhad-e Morghab district, southern Fars Province.