A New Journey Through Iran’s Cultural History

Drents Museum in the city of Assen, the Netherlands, is hosting “Iran, Cradle of Civilization,” an exhibition of 196 relics discovered at 70 historical sites in Iran. The major archaeological exhibition  has been well-received and will run through November 18.

Cuneiform clay tablets, gold beakers, ornaments, bronze weapons and beautifully painted ceramics borrowed from the National Museum of Iran will guide visitors through the history of one of the oldest and most interesting cultures in the world, according to the website of the host museum, Drentsmuseum.nl.

Iran, Cradle of Civilization is divided into seven sections from Paleolithic age to the Islamic period. It takes visitors on a journey through Iran’s cultural history spanning a staggeringly long period from 10,000 BC until 1700 AD. From the very beginning - the earliest developments of agriculture and livestock farming - to the civilization of the Elamites, the Persian Empire and the Islamic period.

One by one the exhibited objects illustrate the highly developed culture, refinement and wealth of the successive Iranian kingdoms.

The powerful Persian Empire (550-330 BC), larger than the Roman Empire at its greatest expanse, features prominently in the exhibition. It is represented by the enormous victory relief from around 520 BC when King Darius the Great ordered a 66-meter high rock inscription at Behistun in western province of Kermanshah, along the ancient caravan route from Babylon to Central Asia.

With its inscriptions in three languages (Elamite, Old Persian and Babylonian) it magically records the foundation of the new Persian Empire. A replica of Behistun relief measuring 15x6 meters is on show at the exhibition.

Iran, Cradle of Civilization is the latest in a series of major international archaeological exhibitions with which the Drents Museum aims to distinguish itself.

One special contemporary element of the exhibit is organized in collaboration with a group of Iranians living and working in the Netherlands. They talk about what Iranian history and culture means to them personally. Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Team Melli striker; Iliyas Hoshyar, a hair stylist; Melody Deljoufard, a fashion designer; and entrepreneur Mahnaz Abbasi are in the group.