Fars, the Cradle of Persian Civilization
December 16, 1998 - 0:0
In the previous issues of tourism page, we dealt with the interesting historical sites of Isfahan Province. From this issue onward, we will take up the tourist attractions and historical places of Fars Province. The province of Fars, which lies south of the province of Isfahan and west of the province of Kerman, is without doubt the cradle of Persian civilization.
It was once the land of the mighty Achaemenid kings. Farsi or Parsi, the language of ancient Fars (Pars), has become the official and literary language of Iran, i.e. Persian. The first capital of Fars some 2,500 years ago was Pasargadae, the capital of the Achaemenid ruler Cyrus the Great, while the ceremonial capital of his successors, Darius the Great and his son Xerxes, was Persepolis. Today only the ruins of these two capitals remain.
Yet another capital of Fars was Istakhr, established by the Sassanids, until Shiraz finally assumed the role of regional capital. Fars also comprises the outlying towns of Kazerun, one of the old halting place for caravans, Bushehr, Khark Island, Firuzabad, Lar, an old caravan center, Sarvestan, Darab, Nayriz, Abadeh, Estahban, Jahrom, Eghlid, Fassa, Marvdasht, Mamassani and Sepidan (Ardakan). According to Muslim authors Shiraz came into prominence only after the Arab conquest of Iran. The Arab invasion, in fact, sealed the fate of Shiraz because it soon became the springboard for attacks on centers farther north.
By the 12th and 13th centuries Shiraz had grown into one of the largest and most populous Islamic cities and its prosperity even rivalled that of Baghdad. It is a lovely city and lies spread out like an immense garden on a green plain at the foot of the Tang-e Allah-o-Akbar Mountain. The city's modern fabric has found a new beautiful outlook with large streets, modern buildings and a grand university.
Shiraz is the birth place of many great Iranian men of science and letters including Ibn Moghafa, Sibovaih, Sa'di, Ghotbeddin Shirazi, Molla Sadra and Gha'ani. Shiraz is about 900 kilometers away from Tehran at an altitude of 1540 meters above sea level. The Sights of Shiraz A thorough visit to Shiraz takes more than a few days. However, the sights to see in this pleasant and charming city may be summarized as follows: - * The Tombs of Poets The tombs of Hafiz and Sa'di located in the two worthy and pleasant gardens by the names of Hafiziyeh and Sa'diyeh are visited everyday by thousands of fans of Persian poetry and literature.
The tomb of Khaju, the 14th century poet is also located in Shiraz at Tang-e Allah-o-Akbar. - * The Holy Shrines The Magnificent holy shrine of Hazrat Seyed Mir Ahmad, son of Imam Mussa (PBUH) - the seventh Imam of the Shiite sect - better known as Shah-e Cheragh which is a major site of Shiite pilgrimage has lent a certain religious significance to Shiraz. There are also a number of other holy shrines in Shiraz including those of Hazrat Seyed Mir Mohammed - Shah-e Cheragh's brother, Hazrat Seyed Ala'eddiin, Hazrat Shah Mir Ali Hamzeh and Imamzadeh Ibrahim. Meanwhile Christian and Jewish minorities have their own churches and synagogues in Shiraz. - * The Gardens of Shiraz Shiraz has always been famous for its pleasant gardens, tall cypress trees and heart ravishing rose gardens.
The most well-known gardens of Shiraz are Bagh-e Eram with its enchanting building, Bagh-e Khalili, Bagh-e Farsi, Bagh-e Delgosha and Bagh-e Takht (Bagh Means garden in Persian). All of these gardens are holiday resorts for both the people of Shiraz and the tourists that come to this city. They are all remarkable examples of the art of Persian Gardening. -* Mosques, Schools and Mausoleums The city's status as a place where knowledge was disseminated; and its people's religious commitment have led to the building of major mosques and schools in Shiraz since a very long time ago.
Among these buildings are the ancient Jam'e Mosque that dates back to the time of Amr-e Leiss of the saffarid Dynasty, Masjed-e Vakil And its forty Masjed-e Nassirolmolk and Masjed-e Shiraz of the Qajar period, the splendid Khan School of the Safavid period, Vakil School, Mansouriyeh School, the Haft Tanan Mausoleum and the Chehel Tanan Mausoleum. -* Public Buildings There are many beautiful old public buildings in Shiraz. The Koran Gate (Darvazeh Ghor'an), Sara-ye Moshir , Bazaar-e Vakil, the Karim Khan Fortress (Arg) and the Narenjestan Building are just some of them.
-* Pre-Islamic Historical Monuments The highly significant Persepolis complex that dates back to the time of the Achaemenids, Naqsh-e Rustam (including the tombs of the Achaemenid kings, Sassanid epigraphs and reliefs, and the Zoroastrian Kaaba monument) in the vicinity of Shiraz; as well as Pasargadae, the site of Cyrus' tomb in Morghab Plain, are among the important sights of Shiraz and Fars.
It was once the land of the mighty Achaemenid kings. Farsi or Parsi, the language of ancient Fars (Pars), has become the official and literary language of Iran, i.e. Persian. The first capital of Fars some 2,500 years ago was Pasargadae, the capital of the Achaemenid ruler Cyrus the Great, while the ceremonial capital of his successors, Darius the Great and his son Xerxes, was Persepolis. Today only the ruins of these two capitals remain.
Yet another capital of Fars was Istakhr, established by the Sassanids, until Shiraz finally assumed the role of regional capital. Fars also comprises the outlying towns of Kazerun, one of the old halting place for caravans, Bushehr, Khark Island, Firuzabad, Lar, an old caravan center, Sarvestan, Darab, Nayriz, Abadeh, Estahban, Jahrom, Eghlid, Fassa, Marvdasht, Mamassani and Sepidan (Ardakan). According to Muslim authors Shiraz came into prominence only after the Arab conquest of Iran. The Arab invasion, in fact, sealed the fate of Shiraz because it soon became the springboard for attacks on centers farther north.
By the 12th and 13th centuries Shiraz had grown into one of the largest and most populous Islamic cities and its prosperity even rivalled that of Baghdad. It is a lovely city and lies spread out like an immense garden on a green plain at the foot of the Tang-e Allah-o-Akbar Mountain. The city's modern fabric has found a new beautiful outlook with large streets, modern buildings and a grand university.
Shiraz is the birth place of many great Iranian men of science and letters including Ibn Moghafa, Sibovaih, Sa'di, Ghotbeddin Shirazi, Molla Sadra and Gha'ani. Shiraz is about 900 kilometers away from Tehran at an altitude of 1540 meters above sea level. The Sights of Shiraz A thorough visit to Shiraz takes more than a few days. However, the sights to see in this pleasant and charming city may be summarized as follows: - * The Tombs of Poets The tombs of Hafiz and Sa'di located in the two worthy and pleasant gardens by the names of Hafiziyeh and Sa'diyeh are visited everyday by thousands of fans of Persian poetry and literature.
The tomb of Khaju, the 14th century poet is also located in Shiraz at Tang-e Allah-o-Akbar. - * The Holy Shrines The Magnificent holy shrine of Hazrat Seyed Mir Ahmad, son of Imam Mussa (PBUH) - the seventh Imam of the Shiite sect - better known as Shah-e Cheragh which is a major site of Shiite pilgrimage has lent a certain religious significance to Shiraz. There are also a number of other holy shrines in Shiraz including those of Hazrat Seyed Mir Mohammed - Shah-e Cheragh's brother, Hazrat Seyed Ala'eddiin, Hazrat Shah Mir Ali Hamzeh and Imamzadeh Ibrahim. Meanwhile Christian and Jewish minorities have their own churches and synagogues in Shiraz. - * The Gardens of Shiraz Shiraz has always been famous for its pleasant gardens, tall cypress trees and heart ravishing rose gardens.
The most well-known gardens of Shiraz are Bagh-e Eram with its enchanting building, Bagh-e Khalili, Bagh-e Farsi, Bagh-e Delgosha and Bagh-e Takht (Bagh Means garden in Persian). All of these gardens are holiday resorts for both the people of Shiraz and the tourists that come to this city. They are all remarkable examples of the art of Persian Gardening. -* Mosques, Schools and Mausoleums The city's status as a place where knowledge was disseminated; and its people's religious commitment have led to the building of major mosques and schools in Shiraz since a very long time ago.
Among these buildings are the ancient Jam'e Mosque that dates back to the time of Amr-e Leiss of the saffarid Dynasty, Masjed-e Vakil And its forty Masjed-e Nassirolmolk and Masjed-e Shiraz of the Qajar period, the splendid Khan School of the Safavid period, Vakil School, Mansouriyeh School, the Haft Tanan Mausoleum and the Chehel Tanan Mausoleum. -* Public Buildings There are many beautiful old public buildings in Shiraz. The Koran Gate (Darvazeh Ghor'an), Sara-ye Moshir , Bazaar-e Vakil, the Karim Khan Fortress (Arg) and the Narenjestan Building are just some of them.
-* Pre-Islamic Historical Monuments The highly significant Persepolis complex that dates back to the time of the Achaemenids, Naqsh-e Rustam (including the tombs of the Achaemenid kings, Sassanid epigraphs and reliefs, and the Zoroastrian Kaaba monument) in the vicinity of Shiraz; as well as Pasargadae, the site of Cyrus' tomb in Morghab Plain, are among the important sights of Shiraz and Fars.