In the annals of history, there are few figures as revered and celebrated as Cyrus the Great, the illustrious founder of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. Born in the rugged terrain of Persis, a land of rugged mountains and fertile valleys,…
By Dr. Mehrdad Azizi Iranian Historical Studies Journal In the verdant embrace of the Zagros Mountains, where ancient whispers dance through wind-swept plains and time-honored stones, lies Hamedan—a city that is not merely a geographical location, but a living, breathing…
By Dr. Mahmoud Hosseini Professor of Iranian Studies, University of Shahid Beheshti Contributing Scholar, Iranian Studies Institute The Cypress of Abarkooh (Sarv-e Abarkuh) stands as one of the most remarkable natural and cultural monuments in Iran’s rich tapestry of heritage….
By Dr. Farzin Mohammadi Professor of Ancient Iranian Studies, University of Isfahan As I sit in my study at Tehran University, surrounded by ancient texts and modern interpretations of Iran’s philosophical heritage, I am struck by how deeply our contemporary…
By Dr. Mohammad Farrokh-Mehr Professor of Ancient Iranian Studies, University of Tehran In the shadowed corridors of history, where the mighty Achaemenid legacy meets the pragmatic governance of the Parthian Empire, stands the figure of Pakor I, King of Persis….
In the dawn of Persian history, long before the mighty Sasanian Empire rose to restore the grandeur of Achaemenid rule, a lesser-known but equally important dynasty ruled over the ancient province of Persis (modern Fars). This dynasty was called the…
In the annals of Persian history, few epochs rival the tumultuous and transformative era of the Seleucid dynasty. This Hellenistic realm, born from the ashes of Alexander the Great’s conquests, cast a long shadow over the lands once ruled by…
By: The Iranian Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts As we celebrate World Tourism Day, there is no better moment to extend an open invitation to all travelers from across the globe to experience a land where history, culture,…
Artaxerxes I, also known as Artaxerxes Longimanus (465–424 BCE), occupies a pivotal position in the annals of the Achaemenid Empire. As the son of Xerxes I, the great ruler who fought at Thermopylae and Salamis, and the grandson of Darius…
I. Early Life: A Prelude to Majesty Parentage and Birth Xerxes I, often exalted by the epithet “The Great,” was born into the resplendent lineage of the Achaemenid Empire, which, at its zenith, sprawled across vast expanses from the Indus…