Iran's rich history stretches back to about 8000 BCE, when the first settlements appeared in western Iran and the Caspian sea.
Ceremonial bowl with Zoroastrian themes, approx. 1875. Iran. Silver alloy with zinc and copper. Acquisition made possible by the Zarthosti Anjuman of Northern California, Rati Forbes, Betty N. Alberts, and members of the board of the Society for Asian Art in honor of Past President Nazneen Spliedt, 2009.25.
The Cyrus Cylinder, 539–538 BCE. Iraq, Achaemenid period (550–330 BCE). Baked clay. © Trustees of the British Museum.
Translation of the Cyrus Cylinder
Asian Art Museum Storyteller, Leta Busyhead, tells a story about Cyrus the Great and the Cyrus Cylinder in the Cyrus Cylinder and Ancient Persia exhibition at the Asian Art Museum (August 9–September 22, 2013).
Dr. Touraj Daryaee, Howard C. Baskerville Professor in the History of Iran and the Persianate World and the Associate Director of the Dr. Samuel M. Jordan Center for Persian Studies & Culture at the University of California, Irvine discusses Alexander the Great and Persian culture and ideas at the Cyrus Cylinder Teacher Workshop at the Asian Art Museum on August 12, 2013 in conjunction with the Cyrus Cylinder and Ancient Persia exhibition (August 9–September 22, 2013).
Map
Background Information on the Achaemenid Empire
John Curtis, Keeper of Special Middle East Projects at the British Museum, discusses the Cyrus Cylinder at the Asian Art Museum.
