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Persia: Ancient Soul of Iran

A glorious past inspires a conflicted nation.

/2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/1-persian-woman-714.jpg /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/iran-archaeology-60-01.jpg Photograph by Newsha Tavakolian /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/2-persepolis-tourists-714.jpg /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/iran-archaeology-60-02.jpg Photograph by Newsha Tavakolian /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/3-ruins-persepolis-714.jpg /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/iran-archaeology-60-03.jpg Photograph by Simon Norfolk B.C.), Persepolis awed dignitaries who came from the far ends of the largest empire of the age to present gifts.]]> /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/4-stone-statue-gate-714.jpg /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/iran-archaeology-60-04.jpg Photograph by Simon Norfolk lamassu were prominent figures in Mesopotamian mythology. The towering figures protect the inner doorway of the Gate of All Lands, which served as an entry hall into Persepolis.]]> /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/5-persepolis-ruins-475.jpg /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/iran-archaeology-60-05.jpg Photograph by Simon Norfolk /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/6-stone-griffin-475.jpg /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/iran-archaeology-60-06.jpg Photograph by Simon Norfolk /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/7-stone-stairway-714.jpg /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/iran-archaeology-60-07.jpg Photograph by Simon Norfolk /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/8-lion-wall-carving-475.jpg /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/iran-archaeology-60-08.jpg Photograph by Simon Norfolk /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/9-doorways-stone-714.jpg /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/iran-archaeology-60-09.jpg Photograph by Simon Norfolk /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/11-gold-sheep-475.jpg /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/iran-archaeology-60-11.jpg Photograph by Simon Norfolk /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/12-women-walking-714.jpg /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/iran-archaeology-60-12.jpg Photograph by Newsha Tavakolian /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/13-green-vase-475.jpg /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/iran-archaeology-60-13.jpg Photograph by Simon Norfolk B.C., Persians looked to the distant past for universal imagery. Bull icons appear on a chlorite vase from near Jiroft—where such items were crafted 2,000 years earlier.]]> /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/14-iran-ziggurat-714.jpg /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/iran-archaeology-60-14.jpg Photograph by Simon Norfolk B.C.) had built one of the world's early civilizations in southwestern Iran. At a high point of their power in the 13th century B.C., the mighty ziggurat in the city of Dur Untash towered over the realm. Partly restored, it is one of the largest ziggurats in the world. The Elamites' cultural influence continued after their world was absorbed by Persia.]]> /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/15-pottery-female-figure-475.jpg /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/iran-archaeology-60-15.jpg Photograph by Simon Norfolk B.C. It's now part of the collection of the National Museum of Iran, in Tehran. Iranian archaeologists working in the 1960s discovered the remnants of the Marlik civilization in a valley in the Elburz Mountains.]]> /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/16-tomb-scaffolding-714.jpg /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/iran-archaeology-60-16.jpg Photograph by Simon Norfolk B.C.), the first Persian emperor, while archaeologists strive to restore its roof. Admired as an early champion of human rights, Cyrus allowed religious diversity and respected the local customs of those he conquered.]]> /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/17-cliff-tombs-714.jpg /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/iran-archaeology-60-17.jpg Photograph by Simon Norfolk /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/18-group-kids-rock-714.jpg /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/iran-archaeology-60-18.jpg Photograph by Simon Norfolk A.D.]]> /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/19-arched-hall-714.jpg /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/iran-archaeology-60-19.jpg Photograph by Simon Norfolk A.D. 224. Such design elements were echoed later in classic Islamic architecture.]]> /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/20-gold-horse-vessel-714.jpg /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/iran-archaeology-60-20.jpg Photograph by Simon Norfolk A.D.]]> /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/21-figure-king-475.jpg /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/iran-archaeology-60-21.jpg Photograph by Simon Norfolk /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/22-men-restaurant-714.jpg /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/iran-archaeology-60-22.jpg Photograph by Newsha Tavakolian /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/23-boy-candles-714.jpg /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/iran-archaeology-60-23.jpg Photograph by Newsha Tavakolian /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/24-zoroastrian-ceremony-714.jpg /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/iran-archaeology-60-24.jpg Photograph by Newsha Tavakolian /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/25-boys-snowball-fight-714.jpg /2008/08/iran-archaeology/img/iran-archaeology-60-25.jpg Photograph by Newsha Tavakolian