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The capital of Fars province, city of poets, wine
and flowers
Shiraz is the capital of Fars province, one of the most beautiful,
historical cities in the world. Farsi (Persian or Parsi) the
language of Ancient Fars (Pars), has become the official language
of Iran (Persia). |
Shiraz with more than 850,000 inhabitants situated in southwestern
Iran, in the inland around 200 km from the Persian Gulf, at an
elevation of 1,800 metres above sea level.
Different people have lived in the Fars province such as the Aryans,
the Samis and the Turks, who worked together to form the Iranian
culture.
| The first Capital of Fars, some 2500 years ago,
was Pasargad. It was also the capital of Achaemenid King Cyrus the
Great. The ceremonial capital of his successor, Darius I (or
Darius the Great), and his son Xerxes, was Persepolis. Today, only
the ruins of these two capitals remain. Stakhr was another capital
of Fars. It was established by the Sassanids and lasted until
Shiraz finally assumed the role of the regional capital. |
Shiraz is also the birthplace and resting place of the great
Persian poets Hafez and Saadi. There are two remarkable monuments in
Shiraz. One is dedicated to Hafez, the master of Persian lyrical
poetry. The other one is dedicated to Sa'adi, the author of the famous
Golestan, a book of sonnets called the Garden of Roses.
| According to Islamic historians, Shiraz came into
existence only after the Arab conquest of Iran. The Arab invasion,
in fact, contributed to its importance and by the 13th century,
Shiraz had grown into one the largest and most popular Islamic
cities of the era. Shiraz lies spread out like an immense garden
on a green plain at the foot of the Tang Allah-o-Akbar Mountains.
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The most interesting buildings in Shiraz are located in the old part
of the town. Among them are about a dozen mosques, some with
bulb-shaped domes, and others with pear shaped domes and cupolas.
These mosques are mostly scattered in among the old houses.
| The Masjid-e-Vakil (the Regent Mosque) has an
impressive portal containing faience panels in floral designs with
various shades and colors on each side. The northern iwan
(verandah) is decorated with shrubs and flowers, mainly rose
bushes. The ceiling in Mihrab Chamber (altar) is covered with
small cupolas resting on twisted columns. Vakil Bazaar, which is
close by, was built by Karim Khan Zand. Here silversmiths and
jewelers still apply their trades of exquisite inlay work. Persian
carpets and other traditional Persian handicrafts may also be
purchased in the Vakil Bazaar. |
About 50 km. Northwest of Shiraz, at the foot of the
rahmat Mountains, one encounters the vast platform and remains of
Persepolis, the grand ceremonial Capital built by Darius I (Darius the
Great) and his successors some 2500 years ago. Archeologists are still
combing through the debris and ashes that have covered Persepolis
since Alexander the Great destroyed it in 330 BC. Most of the
structures have already been revealed.
| Pasargad is located about 77 km away from
Persepolis. It was built by Cyrus the Great. Among the interesting
sites at Pasargad is a stone platform 80 m. long and 18 m. wide.
It is believed to have been the foundation of a palace. Close by
are the ruins of a building called the Prison of Solomon which was
probably a fire temple. |
The most important monument in Pasargad is undoubtedly
the tomb of Cyrus the Great. It has seven broad steps leading to the
sepulcher, which measures 534m. in length by 531m in width and has a
low and narrow entrance. When Alexander the Great looted and destroyed
Persepolis, he paid a visit to the tomb of Cyrus. It is recorded that
he commanded Aristobulus, one of his warriors, to enter the monument.
Inside he found a golden bed, a table set with drinking vessels, a
gold coffin, some ornaments studded with precious stones and an
inscription of the tomb, which reads:
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