Iranian Armenian Christians gather at the Qareh Kelisa (Black Church) in Dasht-E-Chalran, 373 miles (600 kilometers) northwest of the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Saturday, July 29, 2000. Archbishop Nurvan Zakarian from France, right, Jasliq Aram First, se
Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran
Dating back to the 7th century, the Armenian Ensembles are the last cultural testimony to the cultural heritage of Armenians who resided in the area for centuries. They consist of the three monastic ensembles: St Thaddeus, St Stepanos, and the Chapel of Dzordzor. Saint- Thaddeus is presumed to be the location of the tomb of the apostle of Jesus Christ.
Fort of Bam and its Cultural Landscape
Bam and its Cultural Landscape
Located in south-eastern Iran, the Bam and its Cultural landscape is one of the earliest proofs of medieval construction and existence of life in the oasis. The existence of life in the area was possible due to underground irrigation canals built under the series of forts and castles; some of which are currently in ruins. Bam’s location was a strategic one in terms of trade back in the time.
Iran -- Behistun Inscription, describing conquests of Darius the Great in Old Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian languages.
Bistoun
The Bistoun is home to the bas-relief and cuneiform inscription ordered by Darius I, the ruler of the Persian Empire in 521 BC. The inscription is written in three languages, describing the battles Darius carried out to regain control over his empire. This is the only text that still exists which provides insight into the development of art and writing in that time period.
Iran -- Meymand is a village in Meymand Rural District, in the Central District of Shahr-e Babak County, Kerman Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 673, in 181 families.
Cultural Landscape of Maymand
Maymand is a valley located in the south of Iran. The area is self-contained and very arid. The people of the region are seasonal migrants as they move around the valley depending on the weather. The cultural landscape of the area is an example of a migration system that involves people moving rather than animals.
Golestan Palace, Tehran, Iran
Golestan Palace
Located in the heart of Iran’s capital Tehran, the Golestan Palace was the seat of the Qajar family which came to power in 1779. The palace incorporates Iranian and western architecture together, representing a new style which is still an inspiration to Iranian artists until today.
Iran -- Gonbad-e Qabus tower is a monument in Gonbad-e Qabus, Iran, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012.
Gonbad-e Qabus
The Gonbad-e Qabus is a 53m high tomb located in what used to be the ancient city if Jorjan. The tomb has a significant historical value as is the only remaining evidence of the city as it was destroyed by Mongol conquests in the 14th and 15th centuries. The monument proclaims the development of science and mathematics in the Muslim world at that time.
Krakow, Poland: UNESCO Committee inscribed Historic City of Yazd as The First Historic City in Iran.
Historic City of Yazd
The city lies in the middle of the Iranian plateau, displaying a prominent example of surviving under limited resources in the desert. The water supply of the city is accessed using a qanat system built underground. Unlike many traditional earthen towns, the city has escaped modernization and succeeded in conserving its traditional monuments.
Iran -- Isfahan masjed jameh (Friday Mosque).
Masjed-e Jame of Isfahan
The name of the Mosque translates to (Friday Mosque). Located in the historic city of Isfahan, the monument is the first Islamic building to portray the four iwan layout. It also serves as an antecedent for later mosque depictions as its innovative architecture inspired builders throughout the region. The mosque was constructed over a period of twelve centuries.
Supporters of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in the May 19 presidential election attend his campaign rally, in front of the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, in Isfahan, Iran, Sunday, May 14, 2017. The election is seen largely as a referendum on Rouhani's outr
Meidan Emam, Esfahan
Contradicting the usual style of urban Iranian ensembles, the Meidan Emam (Imam’s Square or Meidan Shah before revolution) located in the city of Esfahan is a distinguished square, being one of the largest city squares in the world and a prominent paradigm of Islamic and Iranian architecture. The most celebrated monuments of the site are the Royal Mosque, the Portico of Qaysariyyeh, the Mosque of Sheykh Lotfollah and the 15th century Timurid Palace.
Photo taken in October 1971 shows a general view of the ruined monuments of Persepolis. - UNESCO declared the ruins of Persepolis a World Heritage Site in 1979. (Photo by - / AFP)
Persepolis
Persepolis, is one of the greatest architectural complexes of the ancient world, built atop a huge limestone platform. It was the main royal residence and ceremonial center of the Achaemenid empire of Persia (550-330 BC), but was later burned and plundered by Alexander the Great in 330 BC. Ranging from the Eastern Mediterranean and Egypt to the Hindus River, the Achaemenid Empire was governed from this location. The remains of the city serve as evidence of the civilization that inhabited the city, providing evidence that they were the first culture to recognize cultural diversity and acceptance as it incorporated individuals of different ethnicties.
Iran -- UNESCO added eight pre-Islamic Iranian archeological sites to its World Heritage List. An undated handout photo made available by UNESCO on 30 June 2018 shows Sarvestan in Sassanid Archaeological Landscape of Fars region, Iran.
Sassanid Archaeological Landscape of Fars Region
The landscape consists of eight archaeological sites situated in three geographical areas in Iran. Dating back to 224 to 658 AD, the landscape belongs to the Sassanian Empire. The landscape is considered proof of the exertion of Achaemenid and Parthian cultural traditions along with Roman art.
Iran -- Shahr-e Sukhte also spelled as Shahr-e Sukhteh and Shahr-i Shōkhta, is an archaeological site of a sizable Bronze Age urban settlement, associated with the Jiroft culture.
Shahr-i Sokhta
The ancient city of Shahr-i Sokhta, meaning Burnt City, is one of the earliest and most prominent examples of early city urban planning and the emergence of complex societies. Dating back to 3200 BC, researchers found that the city was occupied until around 1800 BC, when climate change forced its inhabitants to relocate.
Iran -- Sheikh Safi al-Din Khānegāh and Shrine Ensemble
Sheikh Safi al-din Khanegah and Shrine Ensemble in Ardabil
The microcosmic city was built between the 17th and 18th century, being one of the most prominent Sufi belief monuments in the world. The city incorporates the seven stages of Sufi mysticism carefully. The cite has been carefully preserves and contains unique traces of medieval Islamic architecture.
UNESCO Sazeh Shushtar
Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System
Etched back to the time of Darius the great in the 5th century BC, the Shushtar Hydraulic system is a gem of its kind. The system was used to administer water to the city of Shushtar using a series of tunnels. The system is considered phenomenal as it portrays remarkable accomplishments of that time. The system is also currently in use till this day.
Iran -- Dome of Soltaniyeh, The central magnet of Soltaniyeh's several ruins is the Mausoleum of Il-khan Öljeitü in Soltaniyeh city, Zanjan Province.
Soltaniyeh
The Mausoleum of Oljaytu located in the Iranian city of Soltaniyeh is one the main features remaining from the ancient city constructed in 1302-12. The monument is significant example of the evolution of Persian architecture. Its alluring features make it the first example of the double shelled dome in Iran.
Iran -- Ancient Apadana Palace in Susa in Khuzestan Province, Susa, 10Apr2009
Susa
Located in south-west Iran, the uncovered archeological mounds of Susa are in an area with importance in the Middle East. Susa acted as an important center of commerce, administration and religion as early as the late 5th millennium BC. Susa arises as a meeting point of two of the world’s greatest civilizations; the Mesopotamian and Iranian Plateau.
Iran -- The Bazaar of Tabriz is a historical market situated in the city center of Tabriz, Iran. It is one of the oldest bazaars in the Middle East and the largest covered bazaar in the world. It is one of Iran's UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex
Tabriz Historic Bazaar, located in a strategic point on the Silk Road, has been one of the most important international places of trade due to its well-developed trading connections, routes and tax exemptions between the 12th to 18th century. The Bazaar is a complex of interconnected buildings and structures which are relatively compact.
UNESCO Takht Sulaiman
Takht-e Soleyman
Positioned in a volcanic mountain region, the archeological site holds the Zoroastrian sanctuary built in the 13th century and the Temple of Sasanian period built in the 7th and 7th centuries. The ensemble is a notable paradigm of the continuation of a cult related to fire and water. The site is directly associated with one of the earliest monotheistic religions in the world.
Germany/Iran - Iran.Ancient Culture between Water and Desert, Ziqqurat of Chogha Zanbil middle Elamite 13th century BCE Province Khuzestan, Southwest Iran.
Tchogha Zanbil
Remaining as one of the best-preserved monuments of its type outside Mesopotamia, the ruins located in ancient Elam (today Khuzestan province in southwest Iran), the archeological site is an exclusive documentation of the development of architecture in the Elamite period (1400-1100 BC.) The city was never fully completed and was inhabited by a few people until the Assyrian empire destroyed it.
Iran: Kermanshah. Taq wa San or Taq-e Bostan (Kurdish: تاق وه سان, "arch of stone")(Persian: طاق بستان, "arch of the garden")[1] is a site with a series of large rock relief from the era of Sassanid Empire of Persia, the Iranian dynasty which ruled wes
The Persian Garden
Consisting of nine gardens, picked out from various regions of Iran, the Persian Garden is a prominent example of the cultural networking achieved by utilizing natural and human elements as it displays an advanced system of irrigation and ornamentation. The garden’s design has influenced the art of garden design in many parts of the world including the Middle East, India and Europe.
Iran -- Baladeh Qanat in Iran.
The Persian Qanat
The Persian Qanat system consists of eleven qanats which run through the arid regions of Iran. The system is still functioning and in place, allowing fair and sustainable water sharing and circulation. The Persian Qanat system is an outstanding example of technological advancements made by human during the occupation of arid and semi-arid regions.