Action alert: Persepolis ruins in jeopardy

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karen
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Action alert: Persepolis ruins in jeopardy

Post by karen »

Hi all:Apparently the Iranian government is building a dam which will cause the ruins at Persepolis to be flooded. Details and online petition here -- http://www.petitiononline.com/Pasargad/ ... .html.Want to get a good look at what will be lost? University of Chicago excavated it -- here's their amazing collection of pictures: http://oi.uchicago.edu/OI/MUS/PA/IRAN/PAAI/PAAI.html. Amazing virtual reconstruction site: http://www.persepolis3d.com/frameset.html .Please pass this on to others who might be concerned.In preservation,
Karen
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Efstathios
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Re: Action alert: Persepolis ruins in jeopardy

Post by Efstathios »

How can a goverment of a state destroy one of the largestancient monuments that they have?It's like Iraque destroying Babylon,or Greece Parthenon.I mean, the iranians are the ones who claim that the are descentants of the ancient persians and are proud of it.And now they are jeopardising one of the biggest remaining monuments of their past empire?
"Hence we will not say that Greeks fight like heroes, but that heroes fight like Greeks."
Sir Winston Churchill, 1941.
S

Re: Action alert: Persepolis ruins in jeopardy

Post by S »

Greetings Karen,Thank you for posting this.
We can but try...Regards,
Sikander
atlas

Re: Action alert: Persepolis ruins in jeopardy

Post by atlas »

The link's not working for me. :-( I was keen to sign the petition, Persepolis is one of my places-to-see-before-I-die, so...
nickw

serious doubts... please don't take this for granted

Post by nickw »

Hi Companions ---This reminds me vividly of a petition letter addressed to the Brazilian government, which was even taken seriously by acclaimed authors like Kuki Gallmann, that circulated through Dutch circles of nature conservationists about four years ago --- and mysteriously reappeared about six months back --- apparently still very much alive on the internet and web- and email-conservations around the globe.That petition letter claimed the Brazilian government was on the brink of passing a resolution to cut down 50% of the Amazon rainforest. I did my research before I joined to press the requested "Sign Petition" button. There existed no official resolution like that in Brazilian government circles. The whole petition letter was a hoax --- but taken seriously by many intelligent people.Is this the same case here? I can't say. The only things I notice is that the two Iranian writers are talking about "Persepolice" (Persepolis), about the "Archimedean empire" (I never knew Archimedes had his own empire; Achaemenid is what is meant). This might be due to improper translation from Farsi. In the meantime, I inivite you to draw your onw conclusions before simply believing a petition on the web.This might be a genuine petition, but just as in historical research: check other sources too.Regards ---Nick
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amyntoros
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Re: serious doubts... please don't take this for granted

Post by amyntoros »

This is such a strange piece of news and I haven't been able to find any confirmation in any news articles on the web, however a quick search of Google news brought up the following :http://www.iranmania.com/News/ArticleVi ... fairsMoves to prevent Persepolis erosion in Iran Thursday, November 10, 2005 - -¬2005 IranMania.com
LONDON, November 10 (IranMania) - Solid teak wood will be used to cover the ancient monuments of Persepolis (Takht-e Jamshid) to prevent the erosion of stones by visitors walking on them, said ISNA.Architect Hassan Rahsaz told ISNA that the studies on protecting the cultural heritage site from erosion began in 1986 and the project was taken up in 2004-2005.The stairways and gates of Persepolis are being covered by Indian solid teak wood to preserve them from erosion and rain.Some 125,000 square meters of the surface on path used by visitors to Takht-e Jamshid will be covered with wood, he said.Asked about the restoration of Faratadara temple at Persepolis, the architect said that repair of the temple which is located 350 meters northwestern of Parse began one and a half years ago and about 1,600 square meters of the temple has been restored so far. Executive works will continue until the beginning of the rainy season.Part of a marble statue was unearthed from the temple in 2000 and another section was discovered this year, according to ISNA."Does it make any sense that the Iranians began a massive preservation project over a year ago and are still working on it, yet they have made plans to flood the whole valley in the meantime? I'm a little bit suspicious . . .Best regards,AmyntorosPS to Nick. I wrote this offline before coming here to post. I am totally in accord with your thoughts. :-)
Amyntoros

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karen
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More info

Post by karen »

For anyone who can read Arabic... there are links on this webpage: http://www.persepolis3d.com/save_pasargad.html .Let's see what I can find by googling... here is a piece dismissing the danger: http://www.iranian.com/History/2005/Sep ... e6/Another: http://www.iranzone.net/modules.php?nam ... tory&sid=8 .Best sourced/grounded -- from the Guardian -- http://www.guardian.co.uk/iran/story/0, ... 45,00.html .Obviously I should have done this beforehand. Persepolis doesn't seem to be in danger; Pasargadae seems a little less safe; parts of the Royal Road will certainly be flooded, still a loss. Construction of the dam has been delayed to allow archaeologists more time. Also the link didn't work for me either, but if you go on the Petition Online site and search for "Persepolis" it comes right up.Regards,
Karen
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Paralus
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Re: More info

Post by Paralus »

Well, thank the lord that's been resolved!For the life of me I couldn't understand Iran - even run by the "Mad Mullahs" (as some have it) - eradicating Darius' Paarsa.A cultural abomination to better the Taliban's Afghanistan ignorance should such ever occur. On which point, possibly several marine grunts might be made aware of just what it is they seem to have developed a predilection for writing such inanities as "Burko '05" on (or some such nonsense) on or about Babylon.
Paralus
Ἐπὶ τοὺς πατέρας, ὦ κακαὶ κεφαλαί, τοὺς μετὰ Φιλίππου καὶ Ἀλεξάνδρου τὰ ὅλα κατειργασμένους;
Wicked men, you sin against your fathers, who conquered the whole world under Philip and Alexander.

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