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Iran: Iran Art / Culture Profile 2012

2012/03/14

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Iran Art / Culture Profile 2012

To best understand Iran and its people, one must first attempt to acquire an understanding of its ancient culture. It is in the study of this area where the Iranian identity optimally expresses itself. Hence the first sentence of prominent Iranologist Richard Nelson Frye's latest book on Iran reads:

"Iran's glory has always been its culture."

Iranians were not only open to other cultures, but freely adopted to all they found useful. Thus an eclectic cultural elasticity has been said to be one of the key defining characteristics of the Persian spirit and a clue to its historic longevity.

Furthermore, Iran's culture has manifested itself in several facets throughout the history of Iran, as well as that of many Central Asian and west South Asian states like Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The article uses the words Persian and Iranian interchangeably, sometimes referring to the language and its speakers, and other times referring to the name of pre-20th century Iran, a nomenclature which survives from wester explorers and orientalists. Both are not the same however, and the cultures of the people of Greater Iran is the focus of this article.

Sports

* The game of Polo originated with Iranian tribes in ancient times and was regularly seen throughout the country until the revolution of 1979 where it became associated with the monarchy. It continues to be played, but only in rural areas and discreetly. Recently, as of 2005, it has been acquiring an increasingly higher profile. In March 2006, there was a highly publicised tournament and all significant matches are now televised.
* The Iranian Zoor Khaneh

Religion

Iran has been the birthplace of many of the world's most influential religions and religion in Iran has always had a direct impact on its culture. Zoroastrianism, Mithraism, Manichaeism, Mazdakism, Yazdanism, Bábí Faith and the Bahá'í Faith are some of the religions that originated there.

Today, the Shia version of Islam continues to have an immediate bearing on Iranian culture and identity.

Cuisine

In Persian mythology, Persian food is so delicious and tempting that Ahriman (the devil) uses it to corrupt the King of the land, causing two serpents to sprout from the King's shoulders, turning him into an evil tyrant; Zahhāk The Dragon King.

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