AbouT EsfahaN

Esfahan or Isfahan (historically also rendered as Ispahan, Old Persian: Aspadana, Middle Persian: Spahān, Persian: اصفهان Esfahan), located about 340 km south of Tehran at 32°39′5″N, 51°40′45″ECoordinates: 32°39′5″N, 51°40′45″E, is the capital of Esfahan Province and Iran's third largest city (after Tehran and Mashhad). Esfahan has a population of 1,600,554 (2007 calculation).

Esfahan is located on the main north-south and east-west routes crossing Iran, and was once one of the largest cities in the world. It flourished from 1050 to 1722, particularly in the 16th century under the Safavid dynasty, when it become the capital of Persia for the second time in its history. Even today, the city retains much of its past glory. It is famous for its Islamic architecture, with many beautiful boulevards, covered bridges, palaces, mosques, and minarets. This led to the persian proverb Esfahān nesf-e jahān ast: "Esfahan is half of the world".

The Naghsh-e Jahan Square in Esfahan is one of the biggest city squares in the world and an outstanding example of Iranian and Islamic architecture. It has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The city also has a wide variety of historic monuments ranging from the Sassanid to the Safavid dynasties. Remaining Islamic architectural sites were built from 11th to the 19th century while older pre-islamic monuments date back to 1000 B.C.

The city is located in the lush plain of the river Zayandeh Rud, at the foothills of the Zagros mountain range. The city enjoys a temperate climate and regular seasons. No geological obstacles exist within 90 km north of Esfahan, allowing cool northern winds to blow from this direction. Situated at 1590 meters above sea level, it receives an average of 355 mm of rain per year, making it similar to Denver, Colorado in terms of altitude and precipitation. The temperature ranges between 2 and 28 degrees Celsius. The record high temperature was 42 degrees Celsius and the record low was −19 degrees Celsius.

Chehel Sotoon is a famous tourist attraction.

Entrance to Shah Mosque or Shah Jame' Mosque, the most glorious sign of flourishing architecture during the Safavid dynasty

Prehistory

The history of Esfahan can be traced back to the Palaeolithic period. In recent discoveries, archeologists have found artifacts dating back to the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze and Iron ages.

Elamite Empire

Ancient Esfahan was part of the Elamite empire. Under the name of Aspandana it became one of the principal towns of the Median dynasty, when Iranian Medes settled there. Subsequently the province became part of the Achaemenid Empire and after the liberation of Iran from Macedonian occupation by the Arsacids, it became part of Parthian Empire. Esfahan was the centre and capital city of a large province, which was administered by Arsacid governors. In the Sassanid era, Esfahan was governed by "Espoohrans" or the members of seven noble Iranian families who had important royal positions, and served as the residence of these noble families as well. Moreover, in this period Esfahan was a military centre with strong fortifications. There were large populations of Jews and Christians concentrated around Esfahan at this time. The city was occupied by Arabs after the final defeat of Iranians.

Islamic Era

Esfahan fell, temporarily, under the rule of Arabs until the Abbasid era, only being attended to by Al-Mansur. In the 10th century, under the Buwayhid Dynasty, Esfahan regained its importance. In the reign of Malik Shah I of the Seljuk dyansty, Esfahan was again selected as capital and commenced another golden age. In this period, Esfahan was one of the most thriving and important cities of the world. The famous Persian philosopher Avicenna lived and taught there in the 11th century.

The city was raided and most of its inhabitants were massacred by the Mongols in the 13th century, the raid followed by that of Timur in 1387.^[2] However, as the result of its suitable geographic situation, Esfahan flourished again especially during the Safavid dynasty, which developed considerably.

The Golden Age of Esfahan arrived in the 16th century under Shah Abbas the Great (1587-1629), who conquered it and made it the new capital of the Safavid dynasty. During the reign of Shah Abbas I, who unified Persia, Esfahan reached its pinnacle. Esfahan had parks, libraries and mosques that amazed Europeans, who had not seen anything like this at home. The Persians called it Nesf-e-Jahan, half the world; meaning that to see it was to see half the world, and also referring to it as a point where many cultures and nationalities meet and mingled. In its heyday it was also one of the largest with a population of over half a million;^[2] 163 mosques, 48 religious schools, 1801 shops and 263 public baths.

In 1722, it was raided by the Afghans after a long siege, which left much of the city in ruins. Although the Afghans were a primary cause of Esfahan's decline, this can also be attributed to the development of maritime commerce by European merchants from such countries such as the Netherlands. Esfahan's wealth originated in its role as a chief way station along the trans-Asia trade route (such as the Silk Road), but land trade dwindled as the cheaper sea routes increased in popularity for transporting commodities between Asia and Europe.

 Modern age

Today Esfahan, the third largest city in Iran, produces fine carpets, textiles, steel, and handicrafts. Esfahan also has nuclear experimental reactors as well as facilities for producing nuclear fuel (UCF). Esfahan has one of the largest steel producing facilities in the entire region, as well as facilities for producing special alloys.

At Esfahan uranium is converted into Uranium hexafluoride UF6, which in its gaseous form is spun at high speed in the centrifuges to extract the fissile isotope. Esfahan is Iran's only domestic source of UF6. According to IAEA Iran is building hardened bunkers under Esfahan to protect UF6 production.^[3]

The cities of Najafabad, Khaneh Esfahan, Khomeini-shahr, Shahin-shahr, Zarrinshahr, and Fulad-e Mobarakeh all constitute the metropolitan city of Esfahan. The city has an international airport and is in the final stages of constructing its first Metro line.

Over 2000 companies are working in the area using Esfahan's economic, cultural, and social potentials. Esfahan contains a major oil refinery and a large air force base. HESA, Iran's most advanced aircraft manufacturing plant (where the AN-140 aircraft is made), is located nearby.

Esfahan will host the International Physics Olympiad in 2007.

 Architecture

View of Ali Qapu Palace. 

Interior view of the dome, Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque.

 The entrance to Jamé mosque. 

Khaju Bridge over the Zayandeh rud.

Armenian Church.

The architecture of Esfahan is made up of eight traditional forms which taken together form the foundation in the same way that music was once based on a finite number of notes. These are modulated by the use of colors and textures to leaven the surfaces and are held together in an overall construction akin to that of a sonata in which connection leads to culmination through a transition space. To appreciate the skill of the architects and designers fully, it is necessary to have an appreciation of these fundamental concepts i.e. garden, platform, porch, gateway, dome, arched chamber, and minaret, although in the geometry and architecture of the buildings they are woven together to present a seamless whole. A full discussion of the underlying principles can be found in the paper entitled "The Alchemy of the Mosque", given to a joint meeting of the School of Architecture and the Islamic Society of the University of Manchester in 1997.

Historical sites

Squares and Streets

   Naqsh-e Jahan Square also known as "Shah Square" or "Imam Square" - 1602.

   Meydan Kohne (Old Square)

   Shahshahan Square

   Chaharbagh Boulevard - 1596.

   Chaharbagh-e-khajou Boulevard

Palaces

   Ali Qapu (The Royal Palace) - Early 17th Century.

   Talar Ashraf (The Palace of Ashraf) - 1650.

   Hasht-Behesht (The Palace of Eight Paradises) - 1669.

   Chehel Sotoun (The Palace of Forty Columns) - 1647.

Madressa (religious schools)

   Madreseye Sadr.

   Madreseye Shah ("Imam Jafar Sadegh" after revolution).

   Madreseye Khajoo.

Mosques

   Shah Mosque (it is called "Imam Mosque" after Iran's Revolution)

   Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque

   Esfahan Jame (Congregative) mosque[1]

   Friday Mosque

Caravanserais

   Shah Carvanserai

Bridges

   Pol-e Shahrestan (The Shahrestan Bridge) - 11th Century. sharestan bridge

   Shahrestan bridge

   Pol-e Khaju(Khaju Bridge) - 1650.khajoo bridge

   Si-o-Seh Pol (The Bridge of 33 Arches) - 1602.

   Pol-e-Joui or Choobi (Joui bridge).

Churches and Cathedrals

   Vank Cathedral - 17th century.Vank Cathedral

   Kelisaye Maryam (Maryam Church).

Other sites

   Atashgah Atashgah- a Zoroastrian fire temple.

   Buqe'h-ye Ibn-Sina (Avicenna's Dome) - 12th Century.

   The Tombs of Nizam al-Mulk & Malek Shah - 12th & 18th Century.

   New Julfa (The Armenian Quarter).

   The Bathhouse of Sheikh Bahai.

   Pigeon Towers - 17th Century.Pigeon_house

   Manar jonban

Sites endangered

Esfahan is highly under threat of losing its magnificent monuments. The major damages are imposed by the government, the municipality and individuals who seek to modernize this unique medieval city. Esfahan Metro which is under construction has already caused damage to many old landmarks in the city's old quarter. The city is also highly threatened by the profit-makers who are building modern shopping centers & business facilities right in the historic center of the city, instead of helping boost tourism. Many civilians are also building modern-style residential blocks in old Esfahan and also on the river banks which were once covered by gardens. Many people believe something must be done or else, in a few years the city will have barely any attraction except a number of bridges and a few mosques surrounded tightly by ugly towers. Unfortunately most people don't care for the visual sight and the identity of their lovely hometown.

An old master of hand-printed carpets in Esfahan bazaar.

Rug manufacture 

Main article: Isfahan rug

Esfahan has long been one of the centers for production of the famous Persian Rug. Weaving in Esfahan flourished in the Safavid era. But when the Afghans invaded Iran, ending the Safavid dynasty, the craft also became stagnant.

Not until 1920s, between two world wars, was weaving again taken seriously by the people of Esfahan. They started to weave Safavid designs and once again became one of the most important nexus of the Iranian rug weaving industry. Esfahani carpets today are among the most wanted in world markets, having many customers in western countries.

Esfahani rugs and carpets usually have ivory backgrounds with blue, rose, and indigo motifs. Rugs and carpets often have very symmetrical and balanced designs. They usually have a single medallion that is surrounded with vines and palmettos and are of excellent quality.

Famous people

Artists

  Alireza Eftekhari, 1956-, vocalist of popular and classical music

Political figures

  Ahmad Amir-Ahmadi, 1906-1965, military leader and cabinet minister of Iran

  Abdollah Noori, reformist politican and cleric

  Mohsen Nourbakhsh, 1948–2003, economist, Governor of the Central Bank of Iran

  Hossein Fatemi, 1919-1954, PhD, politican

Religious figures

  Allamah al-Majlisi, 1616-1689, Safavid cleric, Sheikh ul-Islam in Esfahan

  Ayatollah Yousef Sanei, 1927-, reformist cleric

  Ayatollah Rahim Arbab, 1847-XXXX, cleric, Ayatollah-al-ozma rank

  Ayatollah Mohammad Beheshti, 1928-1981, cleric, Chairman of the Council of Revolution of Iran

Sportsmen

  Moharram Navidkia, Captain of Sepahan Football Club

  Rahman Rezaei, famous