Posted on 08/21/2004 2:34:39 AM PDT by BlackVeil
TEHRAN (MNA) -- During the latest season of excavations of the northern gate of Takht-e Suleiman, an ancient Zoroastrian fire temple located in northwestern Iran, the stamps of two seals were discovered which indicate that objects entered Takht-e Suleiman from other regions with special tags attached to them which seem to be advertisements.
They signify that an early form of advertising was being practiced during the Sassanid era (224-642 C.E.), Yusef Moradi, the head of the excavation team, said on Friday.
“The team began its excavations in early August and found the stamps of two seals at the upper levels of the soil layer of the northern gate of Takht-e Suleiman. The seals had different usages during the Sassanid era. Two stylized portraits of two members of the Sassanid royal family are depicted on them, which indicates that the presents and tribute given to these members of the Sassanid royalty from other places were stamped with these seals and were then given to the members of royalty. In fact, the stamps of these seals were used as a tag and utilized as a kind of advertisement between the sender and the receiver of the objects,” Moradi explained.
He added that there are some writings in the Pahlavi-Sassanid language on these seals which experts have not yet deciphered.
He believes that more stamps of the seals could be discovered if the excavation continues. These seals help archaeologists gain more knowledge about administrative and judiciary activities during the Sassanid era.
Ebrahim Heidari, the director of the Takht-e Suleiman project, had previously found many impressions of seals from this collection.
An operation to locate documents related to these artifacts is currently underway, and on completion of the work experts will begin comprehensive research on the discoveries, he added.
Takht-e Suleiman, which means the throne of Solomon, is the largest and the most beautiful Zoroastrian fire temple in Iran from the Sassanid era and its fire was kept lit their centuries. It is located in a mountainous area of northwestern Iran 42 kilometers north of Takab in West Azerbaijan province, and is one of the most interesting and enigmatic sacred sites in Iran.
Its setting and landforms must certainly have inspired the mythic imagination of the archaic mind. Situated in a small valley, at the center of a flat stone hill rising twenty meters above the surrounding lands, is a small lake of mysterious beauty. Brilliantly clear but dark as night due to its depth, the lake’s waters are fed by a hidden spring far below the surface. Places like this were known in legendary times as portals to the underworld and abodes of the earth spirits.
Ping
Thanks for the very interesting post...
I really dig this stuff... ;o)
I am so ignorant. Please enlighten me about what the hell "C.E. " stands for...
Islam has it's own dating system, which starts the history clock at the time of Muhammed's (May Peace Be Upon Him) trip to Mecca in 632 A.D., soon thereafter to begin the eventual wholesale slaughter, enslavement, mutilation, or at least disenfranchisement of those Christians throughout the Middle east who refused to convert.
A very interesting article. However, I wished they would have some how stopped all excavations in Iran till the fall of this regime.
Non of the found objects will remain in the country. They will export them true illegal routes and profit from them. Though in most cases Iran's treasures survive in better conditions in world museums than in Iran. At least more people will visit and see them.
My main concern is that in the meantime there are chances of them damaging our pre-Islamic history.
It's also the year 5764 on the Jewish Calendar...I don't know that there is an accepted abbreviation, though I understand they call it the "year of the world" which I suppose would be latinized to Anno Mundi and abb. "A.M.", which could cause humorous incidents:
"The excavation revealed that primitive pumps were in use at the wells of Beersheeba as early as 845 A.M."
"Wow, and it's only 9:05 now!"
Tag.
Official kneepads of the Clintonian Hegemony.
Wear with Pride all members of media syncophants!
Made in China.
GGG Ping.
You have stuned my beeber.
Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on, off, or alter the "Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list --
Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
The GGG Digest -- Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)
]The Iranians [Persians] who controlled the Persian Empire for hundreds of years and were slaughtered by Muslims were not Christians, but Zoroastrians.
I can do an impression of a seal if you'll throw me a fish.
I believe your 1382 is on the Persian Calendar, which applies to Iran, but not the rest of the muslim world.
"I wished they would have some how stopped all excavations in Iran till the fall of this regime.
Non of the found objects will remain in the country."
Excellent point.
So Madison Avenue didn't invent advertising. Hmmm.
BTTT
Any error is my own.
What, then, is the AH year in "the rest of the muslim world"?
Any error is my own.
What, then, is the AH year in "the rest of the muslim world"?
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