iran

With a long-standing and proud civilization, Persian culture is among the richest in the world. Two and a half millennia of inspiring literature, thousands of poets and writers, magnificent and impressive architecture, live customs dating back to Zoroastrians over 3000 years ago, and other unique characteristics of the nation are rivaled by only a few countries.

Throughout the history, this grand treasure of Persia was gradually transferred to eastern and western nations. Iran's significant contribution into the world civilization in many respects is indispensable. Many ceremonies of the ancient Persians are the basis of western celebrations.

Persia

An Iran City

a worker from Iran

                           

By 1920 nomadic pastoral tribes were over a quarter of Iran's population. Tribal pastures were nationalized during the 1960s. The National Commission of UNESCO registered the population of Iran at 21 million in 1963, of whom two million (9.5%) were nomads. Although the nomadic population of Iran has dramatically decreased in the 20th century, Iran still has one of the largest nomadic populations in the world, an estimated 1.5 million in a country of about 70 million. 

while Iranian Nomads go

Iranian Nomads

           



 But the modern age is also invading the culture of nomads and eroding it slowly. As these photos show, nomads life is increasingly being influenced by technology and consumerism. Some nomads now use modern appliances for heating and cooking, trucks for hauling cargo and bicycles for children. They've also turned to satellite TV for entertainment instead of engaging in the traditional storytelling.

Iranian Nomad children class

while Iranian Nomads work

                  

Traditional Persian residential architecture, is the architecture employed by builders and craftsmen in the cultural Greater Iran and the surrounding regions to construct vernacular houses. The art draws from various cultures and elements from both Islamic and pre-Islamic times.

a traditional Iranian house

 Being situated on the edge of deserts and arid regions, Persian (Iranian) cities typically have hot summers, and cold, dry winters. Thus Iran’s traditional architecture is designed in proportion to its climatic conditions, and more than often, the unique fabled artistic background of Persia makes up for the seemingly lack of natural resources and beauty. 

                                                                                               The existence of hundreds of traditional houses with handsome designs even today amidst ugly apartments in Iran's hasty modernization projects is testament to a deep heritage of Architecture.

an old iranian house which they use for hotel

 Iran's old city fabric is composed of narrow winding streets called koocheh with high walls of adobe and brick, often roofed at various intervals. This form of urban design, which used to be commonplace in Iran, is an optimal form of desert architecture that minimizes desert expansion and the effects of dust storms. It also maximizes daytime shades, and insulates the “fabric” from severe winter temperatures.

koocheh

abyaneh street

           


          Koochehs(streets) are narrow and  zigzag in Iran...

some iranian food

 Food in Iran is a fundamental part of Iranian heritage. Their ingredients reflect the geography of Iran, while the savor and colors accent the aesthetic tastes of Iranians. The cuisines are associated with so many social events -births, weddings, funerals; and many other ceremonies and rituals- that culinary traditions are intertwined with a country's history and religion.

Abgousht

padmicanlaf

                                                                                               
Iranian food is a very important and integral part of Iranians' life and culture, so important that its ingredients are very frequently used as metaphors for describing beauty. For example: "Moon-faced beauties have almond-shaped eyes, peachy complexions, pistachio-like mouths, pomegranate colored lips, hazelnut-like noses, red apple cheeks, and lemon-like breasts."

persian cookies

                                                                                          

an iranian traditional room

  The dazzling beauty and excellent quality of Persian carpets are well known all over the world. Undisputedly , this traditional fine art has always been a central core of Iranian history and culture within the past few thousand years.

iranian carpets

iranian carpetsand some other stuff

             they look awesome...

a İranian painting

a Persian miniatur

Oriental historian Basil Gray believes "Iran has offered a particularly unique [sic] art to the world which is excellent in its kind".
Caves in Iran's Lorestan province exhibit painted imagery of animals and hunting scenes. Some such as those in Fars Province and Sialk are at least 5,000 years old.

     

a Persian miniatur

a İranian miniatur

                       




     

a ceramic built

 Another eminent feature of Persian culture is art. In fact culture and art are two closely interwoven concepts forming the soul of human civilizations. Persian exquisite carpets, subtle soulful classic music, outstanding tile work of unique blue mosques, old influential architectural style and countless brilliant literary works are famous in the world.

blue mosque

ceramic on glass