By Sadeq Dehqan
A researcher on Iranian monuments said that failure to include any Iranian edifice on the list of the World’s New Seven Wonders is overlooking the prominence of Iranian architecture and civilization. Addressing the 14th seminar on ’Safeguarding Iran’s Civilization and Culture’ held at the Conferences Hall of Tehran Cultural Artistic Complex, Omid Ataeifard added that Persepolis (Takht-e Jamshid) in Fars province is the largest monument in the world, which can be considered a museum of various branches of art.
Pillars of Takht-e Jamshid, which was also called 1,000-Pillars, 100-Pillars and 40-Menar, have always amazed mankind. They have been estimated to measure 20 meters high and weigh 20 tons. The pillars are located at a distance of six meters from each other, which is a unique feature of Iranian architecture, he said. Several years ago, a crane was used for transferring a capital of the pillar but this failed overturning the vehicle, he said, adding that this only leads one to wonder that at that era and with what knowledge were the capitals placed atop the 20-meter pillars.
Turning to Choghazanbil ziggurat in Khuzestan province, he further said that the monument is an architectural masterpiece in view of the fact that its stories were built on the floor and elevated in the form of a staircase. “Choghazanbil is estimated to be 60 meters high, but in my opinion, it is 100 meters high, as tall as the Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza, in view of the architectural style used at that time,“ he said, pointing out that 5,000-year-old potteries bearing designs of ziggurats have been found in Sistan-Baluchistan.
On another masterpiece in Iranian architecture, he referred to Taq-e Kasra (Csteiphon, the highest Iranian citadel from the Sassanid era now located in Iraq) as the biggest arched ’Taq’ in the world, adding that the structure was constructed in seven years involving 3,000 workers. It is 34 meters in height and seven meters in width. It boasted of an observatory with a rotating dome.
Commenting on the development of Iranian architecture, Ataeifard said that from its very inception, Iranian culture was out to discard nomadism and plundering and this caused advancement of Iranian architecture. Another researcher, Bijan Koushki, also said that the Iranian culture and architecture dates back to 10,500 years ago, when artifacts were discovered in the oldest Iranian settlement in the village of Ganj-Darreh of Kermanshah province.
A researcher on Iranian monuments said that failure to include any Iranian edifice on the list of the World’s New Seven Wonders is overlooking the prominence of Iranian architecture and civilization. Addressing the 14th seminar on ’Safeguarding Iran’s Civilization and Culture’ held at the Conferences Hall of Tehran Cultural Artistic Complex, Omid Ataeifard added that Persepolis (Takht-e Jamshid) in Fars province is the largest monument in the world, which can be considered a museum of various branches of art.
Pillars of Takht-e Jamshid, which was also called 1,000-Pillars, 100-Pillars and 40-Menar, have always amazed mankind. They have been estimated to measure 20 meters high and weigh 20 tons. The pillars are located at a distance of six meters from each other, which is a unique feature of Iranian architecture, he said. Several years ago, a crane was used for transferring a capital of the pillar but this failed overturning the vehicle, he said, adding that this only leads one to wonder that at that era and with what knowledge were the capitals placed atop the 20-meter pillars.
Turning to Choghazanbil ziggurat in Khuzestan province, he further said that the monument is an architectural masterpiece in view of the fact that its stories were built on the floor and elevated in the form of a staircase. “Choghazanbil is estimated to be 60 meters high, but in my opinion, it is 100 meters high, as tall as the Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza, in view of the architectural style used at that time,“ he said, pointing out that 5,000-year-old potteries bearing designs of ziggurats have been found in Sistan-Baluchistan.
On another masterpiece in Iranian architecture, he referred to Taq-e Kasra (Csteiphon, the highest Iranian citadel from the Sassanid era now located in Iraq) as the biggest arched ’Taq’ in the world, adding that the structure was constructed in seven years involving 3,000 workers. It is 34 meters in height and seven meters in width. It boasted of an observatory with a rotating dome.
Commenting on the development of Iranian architecture, Ataeifard said that from its very inception, Iranian culture was out to discard nomadism and plundering and this caused advancement of Iranian architecture. Another researcher, Bijan Koushki, also said that the Iranian culture and architecture dates back to 10,500 years ago, when artifacts were discovered in the oldest Iranian settlement in the village of Ganj-Darreh of Kermanshah province.
