Ancient Persia

Demons in Ancient Iranian Literature

Iran Chamber Society: A Mythological Glance at Demons in Ancient Iranian Literature The Book of Kings (Shahnameh) has it that during the rule of the legendary king of Persian, Jamshid, demons worked as engineers and architects to build bathhouses, bridges and houses. As one can understand from Firdawsi's poems, demons were like humans or those wit...

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Iran Bull Head

This dark grey limestone bull head, over six feet tall, was one of a pair of statues which flanked the entrance to the Throne Hall at Persepolis. The body of the bull, which was carved in relief on the wall of the portico, was left at the site. In preparation for its installation in the gallery, the subfloor was reinforced, and "I" beams were insta...

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PAINTED BOWL

Many of the pottery vessels from the site of Tall-i-Bakun in the plain of Persepolis show a highly sophisticated use of negative designs in conjunction with more usual painted patterns. On this bowl, two patterns alternate in rhythmic sequence. One is a painted design of anthropomorphic inspiration with a "head" flanked by upraised "arms" facing bo...

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Persepolis - Unfinished Tomb of Darius III

Showing Partly Completed Reliefs on the Facade....

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Relief of Gobryas, Head and Inscription -Darius Tomb

IRAN: Naqsh-i-Rustam - Tomb of Darius I. Relief of Gobryas, Close-up of Head and Inscription Above, Top Register....

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History of Iran: Parthian Army

The Greco-Persian wars and Alexander's victories proved that light-armed troops could not stop heavy, well-trained, and brilliantly led infantry of the type of hoplites or phalanx. These could only be encountered with heavily armed and highly professional cavalry causing disorder in the massed ranks and then attacking them on vulnerable points with...

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The Battle of Marathon, 490 B.C.

The battle of Marathon is one of history's most famous military engagements. It is also one of the earliest recorded battles. Their victory over the Persian invaders gave the fledgling Greek city states confidence in their ability to defend themselves and belief in their continued existence. The battle is therefore considered a defining moment in t...

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Ancient Iranian Mythology - CAIS

Contains several articles of Ancient Iranian Mythology...

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Iran Double Bull Capital

Double bull capital from Persepolis, as restored by sculptor Donato Bastiani. This column capital once supported a roof beam in the Apadana of Darius I (521-486 B.C.)....

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The Battle of Carrhae

It was probably on the third or fourth day after he had quitted the Euphrates that Crassus found himself approaching his enemy. After a hasty and hot march he had approached the banks of the Belik, when his scouts brought him word that they had fallen in with the Parthian army, which was advancing in force and seemingly full of confidence. Abgarus ...

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