Posted on 09/07/2005 9:09:47 PM PDT by Khashayar
LONDON (Reuters) - Iran, at loggerheads with the West over its nuclear ambitions, has put tension to one side and lent a treasure trove of artefacts from Ancient Persia to a new exhibition at the British Museum.
Organisers were concerned the exhibition may not happen at all after hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected the Islamic state's president in June.
"We certainly were worried for a time that we wouldn't receive any objects," said curator John Curtis. "But happily that wasn't the case, and everybody decided to go ahead with the exhibition."
"Forgotten Empire: the world of Ancient Persia," which opens to the public on Friday for a four-month run, gathers Ancient Persian artefacts from Iran, France and Britain never before seen together -- and some never shown in public at all.
The aim, said Curtis at a preview on Wednesday, is to reshape Western views of one of the ancient world's greatest empires whose history was largely written by the Greeks after Alexander the Great overran it in 330 BC.
"Although the history of Ancient Persia is not forgotten in Iran and the Middle East, it is largely forgotten in the West. We want to correct that," he said.
TREASURE TROVE
The exhibition gives a taste of the sophistication, structure and wealth of the empire including detailed frescoes and carvings, parts of monumental sculptures, gold and silver ornaments, jewellery, engravings and snippets of history.
There are also lavish plates, cups and dishes to underscore the point that Ancient Persian cooking was famed -- a reputation that survives to this day.
Founded in 550 BC under King Cyrus, at its height the Ancient Persian empire covered 7.5 million square kilometres (2.9 million sq miles) and stretched from North Africa to the Indus Valley and Central Asia to the [Persian] Gulf.
It was vastly rich, religiously tolerant and well organised -- so much so that when Alexander the Great overran it and sacked its great cities like Persepolis he left intact most of its administrative structures.
One of the highlights of the exhibition is the Cyrus Cylinder, an iconic inscribed tablet described as the world's first human rights charter that literally sets in stone religious tolerance and respect for human dignity.
Persian Empire Ping!
BUMP
BUMP
One of the highlights of the exhibition is the Cyrus Cylinder, an iconic inscribed tablet described as the world's first human rights charter that literally sets in stone religious tolerance and respect for human dignity.
The leaders of Iran should take a look at this.
The leaders of my homeland have no interest, whatsoever, in these stuff!
MUCH better than that other review...
Hmmm... reminds me we're overdue to visit our favourite restaurant -- Persian, of course. The chef is marvelous!
Perhaps the British Museum should not give these things back when the exhibit is over.
They're safer here in the West where we take care of such things. We've already lost so much of the world's heritage to the destructive Islamic fundamentalists who resent even history itself for being unIslamic.
Thus says the Lord to Cyrus His anointed, Whom I have taken by the right hand, To subdue nations before him. And to loose the loins of kings; To open doors before him so that gates will not be shut. Isaiah 45:1
Thus says the Lord to Cyrus His anointed, Whom I have taken by the right hand, To subdue nations before him. And to loose the loins of kings; To open doors before him so that gates will not be shut. Isaiah 45:1
First Charter of Human Rights (snip)
Now that I put the crown of kingdom of Iran, Babylon, and the nations of the four directions on the head with the help of (Ahura) Mazda, I announce that I will respect the traditions, customs and religions of the nations of my empire and never let any of my governors and subordinates look down on or insult them until I am alive. From now on, till (Ahura) Mazda grants me the kingdom favor, I will impose my monarchy on no nation. Each is free to accept it , and if any one of them rejects it , I never resolve on war to reign. Until I am the king of Iran, Babylon, and the nations of the four directions, I never let anyone oppress any others, and if it occurs , I will take his or her right back and penalize the oppressor.
And until I am the monarch, I will never let anyone take possession of movable and landed properties of the others by force or without compensation. Until I am alive, I prevent unpaid, forced labor. To day, I announce that everyone is free to choose a religion. People are free to live in all regions and take up a job provided that they never violate other's rights.
No one could be penalized for his or her relatives' faults. I prevent slavery and my governors and subordinates are obliged to prohibit exchanging men and women as slaves within their own ruling domains. Such a traditions should be exterminated the world over.
I implore to (Ahura) Mazda to make me succeed in fulfilling my obligations to the nations of Iran, Babylon, and the ones of the four directions.
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