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London - Manal Amir

It is unique as many of the displayed items are shown for the first time outside Iran. The exhibited collection wasgathered from different places; some from the British Museum's own collection while some of the items on display

were brought from Tehran and Paris.

Forgotten Empire Forgotten Empire The British Museum in London is

Hosting a Magnificent Exhibition aboutAncient Persia

The exhibition sheds light on many aspectsof the ancient Persian Empire which wasone of the greatest empires in the ancientworld stretching from the Near East toGreece. Six galleries narrate theestablishment of the empire, its growth anddecline.

Interaction ofcivilizationsThe first gallery gives a general introductionto the empire through its art, architecture anda collection of antiquities. This exhibition sheds light on the period ofKing Darius (C. 486 BC); the greatestPersian emperor, descended from theAchaemenid dynasty, under whom theempire reached its zenith. A magnificent statue of King Darius, made inEgypt, welcomes visitors to the first gallery.It shows Darius wearing a Persian coat witha dragger in his belt. The base of the statuecontains 24 cartouche that represent thediverse ethnicities of the empire’s people;Egyptians, Meads, Persian etc. In the frontand back of this statue’s base is an image ofHapi; the Egyptian God of the Nile. There isalso a hieroglyphic inscription that shows theinteraction between the two civilizations,which enriched Persian art and architecture.The statue of Darius stands proudly oppositea big map that shows the borders of his vast

empire at its peak, when it stretchedfrom North Africa to India and from theAral Sea to the Persian Gulf. The diversity of Persian territories wasreflected on four images of four mencarved in stone who symbolisedifferent ethnicities. The first image is ofa Persian, another of a Mead, and theother two of an Ethiopian and Seljuk. Thetwo main ethnic groups were the Persiansand the Meads.

Islamic Tourism – Issue 20 – November-December / 2005 For more information, visit our website www.islamictourism.com

Exhibitions

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Gold drinkingvessel, Hamadan

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One of the interesting antiquities exhibited inthis gallery is a big stone on which storiesand legends about religions and Gods areinscribed; the human search since eternityfor truth and salvation. Most of theinscriptions during this period were in thethree main languages of the empire: OldPersian, Elimat, and Babylonian

Palaces of KingsThe next gallery brings one’s attention to theluxurious palaces of the Persian emperorsespecially Darius (486- 465 BC). It reflects aunique and diverse architecture as Dariusbrought workmen from different corners ofhis Empire: Assyria, Asia Minor, Egypt andIndia, to build his magnificent palace atPersepolis.A huge carved stone is placed at theentrance to this gallery which shows a royalhero stabbing a monster. Alongside this piece of architecture standsanother large carved stone brought from thePersian palace in Persepolis. It showspeople going about their daily lives.

A statue of a guard dog stands in the middleof the gallery; it is made of metal and placedon a stone base guarding the remains of theEmpire.The largest item in this gallery is a massivebell; it is a base of columns brought fromDarius Palace at Persepolis. There is a big screen at the end of this galleryfeaturing a graphic reconstruction of Dariuspalace based on remains which are stillfound at the site of the palace in Persepolis.There are lots of sculptures and drawings onstones scattered around the gallery. At the door that leads to the next gallerythere is another huge stone which shows twosoldiers wearing Persian coats. They belongto the Persian army that once had more

Exhibitions

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Islamic Tourism – Issue 20 – November-December / 2005 For more information, visit our website www.islamictourism.com

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Gold griffin-headed armlet from the Oxustreasure, Tadjikistan

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Glazed brick relief panel, Susa, South-West Iran

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than 10,000 soldiers. These two soldiers areholding arrows that point to the next gallery;the "Royal Table".The Royal Table gallery displays royal

Persian tableware: gold and silver drinkingvessels, jugs and bowls of different shapesand sizes. It reflects the luxurious and lavishlife style of the royals, which is also portrayed

in another stone that shows a local Arab rulerlying in bed holding two vessels similar tothe ones displayed.

Control of Empire The next gallery shows how this empire,once the largest on the face of earth, wascontrolled. Persian culture emphasised theimportance of horses and horsemanship, notonly for the daily transport and running of theEmpire, but also for military purposes.Persians were keen to teach their childrenthe art of horsemanship at an early age. Theimportance of horses can be sensed in themany gold, silver and metal horse sculpturesin this gallery.There are also a number of currencies fromthe period of Darius: all the displayed coinsshow the king holding a bow. The coin wascalled daric, and may well have beennamed after King Darius or darayan, thePersian name for gold. The next gallery exhibits some of theempire’s treasures and jewelry. Goldearrings, necklaces and bracelets worn notonly by women but also men. Much of thejewelry was never worn and was just forshow inside the palaces.

The Persians, like their Egyptianscounterparts, took some of these

luxurious aspects with them tothe after life. In the middle of

the gallery is a bronze bath,dating back to 400BC,that reconstructs a burialfound by a Frencharchaeologist lastcentury. Inside the bathwas a skeleton wearinga lot of jewelery:

necklaces, bracelets andtwo symbols of the after

life; a silver bowel, two jarsand two coins.

End of Empire The last gallery narrates the fall of the

empire, which was brought to an end byAlexander the Macedonian, whose marbleportrait bids farewell to visitors.

* All photos are supplied by Hannah Boultonof the British Museum, © BM.

Exhibitions

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Islamic Tourism – Issue 20 – November-December / 2005 For more information, visit our website www.islamictourism.com

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Silver foundation plaque of Darius I. Featuresthe same text in Old Persian, Elamite andBabylonian, in Persepolis

Pair of gold earrings, Pasargadae

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