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| City &
Highlight Sightseeing ::
Museum ::
National Carpet Museum |
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IRAN NATIONAL
MUSEUM SPECIALS: |
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IRAN
NATIONAL MUSEUM : |
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INFORMATION YOU NEED: |
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The present
Iran National Museum complex was built 60
years ago.
The idea for the construction of a building
to house and protect the country's cultural
heritage came from Sani od-Doleh. In the
year 1295 of the lunar hegira (LH) calendar
, a part of the old building of the Ministry
of Sciences , located north of the Dar
ol-Fonoon Technical School , was allotted
for this purpose.
In 1297 LH ,
concurrent with the expansion of
archaeological excavations by Europeans in
Iran , the government of the time set up an
Antiquities Department within the Ministry
of Sciences. In later years , however , with
the increasing destruction of historical
sites , plunder of artistic works and
growing nationalistic sentiments , some
officials spearheaded the establishment of
the Association of National Works in 1304 of
the Iranian solar hegira calendar (1925) ,
with the objective of preserving cultural
relics.
Article 8 of the association's regulations
envisaged the construction of a museum and a
library in Tehran , to be run , according to
Article 11 , by the Antiquities Department
of the Ministry of Sciences.
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Article 11 also
foresaw the employment of a number of
experts to administer the museum. However ,
through the efforts of association members ,
the law for the protection of national works
was ratified and the government was tasked
with safeguarding the national heritage and
building a museum.
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In 1306 (1927)
, the then government decided to construct
the museum building and employed French
architect Andrea Godar as director of the
Archaeology Department. The building plan
was prepared two years later in 1308 (1929)
and the Tehran Municipality offered a plot
of land to Godar to be the museum site.
Construction activities kicked off on the
21st of Ordibehesht , 1313 , (10 May 1934)
following the order by the minister of
sciences.
The museum building , which was completed
three years later in 1316 (1937) , was
designed in accordance with its purpose. The
entrance was built like a dome , decorated
with dark red bricks that were typical of
Sassanian architecture. The land measured
some 5 ,500 square meters , with the
building occupying an area of 2 ,744 square
meters.
The main exhibition halls were in the
basement , as well as the first and second
floors. The administrative department was
housed on the northern side. The building
had an auditorium and a library located on
the southern side. The museum gradually
built up its collection , enriching its
treasures with new works of art and other
relics and artifacts.
Exhibition halls were divided into two
sections: pre-historic works and Lorestan
historical bronze ware. Before the Islamic
revolution , the museum closed for some
repairs and was re-opened after structural
refurbishment in 1359 (1980).
With the formation of the Cultural Heritage
Organization , the Antiquities Museum of
Iran was recognized as the principal museum
in the country. Following the inauguration
of the Islamic Era Museum in 1375 (1996) ,
the two were merged and came to be known as
the Iran National Museum.
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Visit
Planning:
Our normal hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
every Day of the year except Monday and
Religious Holiday.
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Visiting Hours in Spring
Summer
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Day
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Hour |
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SaturDay |
9-18 |
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SunDay |
9-18 |
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MonDay |
Closed |
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TuesDay |
9-18 |
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WednesDay |
9-18 |
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ThursDay |
9-18 |
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FriDay |
9-18 |
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Visiting Hours in Autumn &
Winter
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Day
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Hour |
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SaturDay |
9-17 |
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SunDay |
9-17 |
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MonDay |
Closed |
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TuesDay |
9-17 |
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WednesDay |
9-17 |
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ThursDay |
9-17 |
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FriDay |
9-17 |
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The exhibition gallery
and library are closed on Monday.
Basic admission:
25000 Rials for foreign tourists.
2500 Rials for iranian adults.
Free
admission for members of Association of
the Friends of Cultural Heritage and
ICOM with ID cards.
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The Iran
National Museum
According to evolutions in economic ,
social , cultural and technological
structures , human existence can be
divided into different periods. One
great human achievement is the invention
of writing , which is instrumental in
bringing about the historical era.
Written records of human activities
began around 4000 BC in Mesopotamia ,
Egypt and Iran - three important empires
of the world.
The pre-historic era , which covers the
longest period of human life , is
immensely important , as it forms the
basis for all developments that took
place in societies in different
historical eras. Among relics from
pre-historic societies , pottery is the
most notable. Because of their use in
trade exchanges , ceramic vessels are
the most obvious symbols of a particular
culture.
Pottery making is in fact one of
greatest strides achieved by societies
in the agricultural era. Ancient Iranian
pottery is chiefly red and decorated
with images in relief. Pieces discovered
on the rim of the central plateau in
Cheshmeh Ali (Rey) , Qareh Tappeh (Shahriar)
and Esmail Abad (Savojbolagh) date back
to 6000-5000 BC. Engraved dark red
pottery unearthed in southern and
southwestern Iran , including Susa ,
Ghaen (Nahavand) and Tal Bakun (Fars)
belong to 4000 BC.
With the onset of the Bronze Age in
early 3000 BC , Aryan tribes settled in
the northern Iranian plateau , bringing
with them a new culture , as reflected
with the use of grey clay in pottery.
Pieces from this period were found in
Yanik Tappeh , Hesar (Damghan) , and
Turang Tappeh (Gorgan). From mid-2000 BC
, Aryan culture spread to other parts of
the Iranian plateau. Aryan art is
characterized by plain designs on
pottery , relief and the combination of
sculpture with pottery.
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Seals and
Emblems
Seals and emblems are major cultural and
social elements , aiding the dating and
classification of archaeological
discoveries. Images engraved on seals
are not only artistic manifestations but
are also a key proof of the existence of
specialized industries , professions and
activities in ancient societies.
The use of seals marked a new era in
trade exchanges and spurred the growth
of ancient civilizations. These markings
on goods , vessels , and jars testified
to somebody's ownership of these items ,
with the seal also serving as the
signature of the owner. In the same vein
, royal edicts and important documents
were also stamped with the ruler's
emblem.
The most antique seals date back to 5000
BC and were made of sun-dried clay ,
gypsum and marble. Later , craftsmen
used iron , Yemeni stones , agate ,
lapis lazuli , tar , ivory , bronze ,
gold and silver in making seals. First
crafted as a stamp , seals were later
shaped as cylinders. The oldest seals
being kept at the Antiquities Museum of
Iran were uncovered at Seyalk Hill (Kashan)
, Hesar (Damghan) , Ghaen (Nahavand) and
Tal Bakun (Fars).
Designs on seals used to be simple and
initially bore geometrical signs. Later
, they became embellished with foliage ,
as well as animal and human figures.
Seals found from urbanized localities
reveal the classification of professions
, such as pottery making , cotton
spinning , weaving , baking , and the
making of musical instruments and
architectural work.
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Lorestan Bronze
Ware
The Bronze Age , which emerged from the
early third millennium BC in Iran ,
Mesopotamia , Egypt and Asia Minor , was
a remarkable development in the history
of human civilizations. Bronze , made of
copper and tin , is the oldest alloy
made by humans.
The Antiquities Museum of Iran is home
to a valuable collection of bronze ware
from Lorestan , made approximately from
the first millennium BC to the Median
era in 700 BC. The pieces were excavated
from central Zagross , Lorestan , Elam ,
and Kermanshahan. The most renowned
Lorestan bronze pieces were crafted in
the period between the old Iron Age and
the Median era.
Such artifacts are unique in design and
application. Relics unearthed from
individual or mass graves are related to
religious rites and funeral ceremonies.
A study reveals that warrior migrant
tribes that bred horses and herds
crafted the relics. The antique objects
, shaped by molding , casting and
hammering are typical of Lorestan art ,
with the pieces bearing exquisite animal
patterns |
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The Achaemenian
Era (550 BC-330 BC)
The Achaemenian period is one of the
golden eras in Iranian history from the
viewpoint of culture , economics ,
politics and social affairs. Aryan
tribes , the apparent heirs to the
Median dynasty , expanded their rule to
include territories from the Sind River
valley in Asia , to Egypt , Libya and
Ethiopia in Africa , and to the Aegean
Island and Macedonia in Europe.
Achaemenian culture , art and
civilization , therefore , evolved from
a conglomeration of nations that
consisted the Persian empire. These
nations included Babylonia , Assyria ,
Egypt , Elamite , Media , Aegia , Asia
Minor , the Iranian plateau and the Sind
River valley.
On display at the Antiquities Museum are
selected works from the Achaemenian era
, showcasing this period's architecture
, sculpture , and brickwork. Craftsmen
of the time were adept in embellishing
mud structures with glazed molded
bricks. The Persepolis terrace , and the
surrounding staircases and pillars are
wonderful masterpieces of Achaemenian
masters.
Meanwhile , metal artists of this period
were particularly inspired by Median
craftsmen , such as Marlik and Hassanlu
, in the shaping of gold , silver ,
bronze and iron.
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The Seleucid
Era (312 BC-250 BC)
The decadence of the Achaemenian dynasty
was simultaneous with the accession to
the throne of Philip II in Macedonia ,
north of Greece.
To fulfill his ambitions of establishing
a global Hellenic empire , Philip II
rallied support from the Greek army to
invade the Orient. But his death botched
his attempts of expanding his domain ,
leaving his young son , Alexander , to
carry on the work.
Though dying young in Babel in 323 BC ,
Alexander , however , achieved massive
territorial conquests in the Orient and
India. His successor , Seleucids , an
ex-commander , took control of the
Oriental territories until Mesopotamia.
In 312 , Seleucids founded the Seleucid
dynasty in Iran.
Artifacts from this period predominantly
came from the western rim of the Iranian
plateau and the Khuzestan desert. The
relics kept at the Antiquities Museum
belonged to Susa , Izeh (Chaharmahal
Bakhtiyari) , Dinevar (Kermanshahan) and
Mabad (Nahavand).
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Parthian (Arsacide)
Era (250 BC-224 AD)
In 250 BC , an Aryan tribe led by
Arsacide revolted in northeastern Iran ,
conquered Parthian towns and put an end
to Seleucid and Greek dominance on
Iranian territory. Main developments of
the era included the replacement of
Greek language and writing with Arsacide
Pahlavi; revival of Achaemenian systems
in government administration;
revitalization of ancient Iranian
religions and beliefs , particularly
compilations of the Avesta , the
religious book of Zoroastrians; and ,
the gradual restoration of genuine and
traditional vernacular Iranian elements.
Plaster molding , which was a key
element of Arsacide architecture and
sculpture , evolved during the Sassanian
dynasty and the Islamic era. Parthian
also boasted of advanced metalworking
shops where they crafted giant statues
and images. Pottery was another art
medium used by the Parthian. Arsacide
pottery were chiefly found in the
southwest , north and northeast of Iran.
Compared to the Achaemenian era ,
Parthian potters employed remarkable
techniques , particularly in the
construction of the baking furnace and
the application of glaze on their
vessels.
Parthian pottery mostly came from
northwestern and southwestern Iran , in
particular Susa , Izeh (Chaharmahal
Bakhtiyari) , Germei (Moghan) and the
Temple of Anahita (Kangavar).
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Sassanian Era
(224 AD-651 AD)
Under Sassanian rule , the Persian
territory was somewhat like a
semi-autonomous state , governed by the
Arsacide kings. Babak's son , Ardeshir ,
the military commander of the Persian
army , capitalized on the chaotic feudal
system to overthrow the Arsacide
dynasty. Aided by Zoroastrian clerics ,
he revolted against Ardavan V , thus
putting an end to the Arsacide empire.
Ardeshir , the son of an Anahita Temple
priest in Estakhr , established the
Sassanian dynasty and made Ctesiphon his
capital.
Similar to the arts of the Achaemenian
and Arsacide eras , Sassanian art also
depicted royal grandeur. Due to greater
interaction with other cultures ,
Sassanian art was largely influenced by
the Occident , especially the Eastern
Roman Empire (Byzantine).
The many talents of Iranian artists
flowered during Sassanian rule and was
manifested in silver gilded vessels ,
worsted fabrics , tinsel , exquisite
plaster moldings and paintings , and
mosaic floorings similar to Byzantine
works in Antioch. Works from this period
kept at the Iran National Museum , were
discovered in archaeological sites in
Bishapur Palace (Fars) , Bisotoun
(Kerman shah) , Germei (Moghan) ,
Damghan , Susa , Fars , Gilan and
Khorasan.
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The Islamic Era
Islamic treasures consist of various
pieces crafted from the early years of
the Islamic era to the 14th century LH.
The displayed works fall into different
categories. The first floor of the
Islamic Era Museum is home to
handwritten copies of the Holy Qur'an ,
set in a totally spiritual atmosphere
with other complementary elements of a
mosque , such as a praying vault.
There are also other handwritten books
from the Timurids era to the time of the
Safavid s. Notable among this collection
is Ferdowsi's Shahnameh (Book of Kings)
, Sa'adi's collection of poems and prose
, Nezami's Khamseh (The Five) , as well
as the collections of poems of Hafez and
Amir Alishir Navaee. Most of the books
are in Nastaliq script and embellished
with miniatures drawn by Timurids and
Safavid artists.
There are rows of scientific books in
the fields of medicine , astronomy ,
geography and philosophy in another part
of the Islamic Era Museum. The oldest
book is the Dastur ol-Loghah (Grammar)
dating back to the 5th century LH.
This section is decorated with fine
calligraphy and miniature paintings
bearing Shiraz , Herati , Indian ,
Mongol and Isfahan patterns.
The four main sections of the first
floor have been categorized as follows:
Illuminating
facilities
Astronomical equipment and works
Glassware
Wax pieces (such as writing materials)
Aside from these , the first
floor also has three main halls
containing hand-woven carpets and
fabrics , pottery and metalwork. The
first hall contains the oldest Islamic
era fabrics discovered in the town of
Rey , which was a former hub of textiles
in the early Islamic centuries.
During the Safavid era , the art of
weaving reached its climax. Various
kinds of fabrics , such as velvet ,
tinsel and block-printed materials ,
were produced. In the meantime , a
handful of other beautiful arts , such
as braiding and quilting , emerged. The
second hall displays an array of
ceramics made through molding , glazed
painting , and enameling. The second
hall has pottery pieces belonging to the
town of Rey , Kashan and Gorgan. The
last hall showcases metalwork , set
according to their historical evolution
and style. Metals in the Islamic era
were shaped by engraving , grating ,
silver printing and gold printing.
The second floor of the Islamic Era
Museum accommodates fine pieces of
stucco moldings , metalwork and pottery
made in different Islamic periods. The
4th century LH booth contains wonderful
Kufic writings. Generally , the second
floor illustrates the evolution of
different artistic mediums , such as
pottery , glassblowing and metalworking
of the 6th and 7th century LH;
architecture of the Ilkhanid and
Timurids eras; paintings , carpets and
fabrics of the Timurids and Safavid
eras; and , the ornamental arts of the
Qajar era , including enameling ,
gilding , encrustation and inlaying.
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