The splendour of Iran English 2001

"The splendour of Iran" provides an unprecedented insight into the traditions and contemporary life of one of the world's most ancient and enduring civilizations. The first comprehensive study of Persian culture since 1838, this book is unique in presenting the country's artistic and cultural inheritance through the words and eyes of Iranian scholars and photographers. Its 1500 specially commissioned photographs reveal all aspects of the country's cultural past and present, including images of previously unpublished artefacts and artworks. Vol.1 includes a survey of Iran's major prehistoric sites, before tracing the influence of ancient cultures on the Achaemenid and Sasanian empires: prehistoric Iran, elamite heritage, the Aryan legacy, imperial period, applied and decorative arts, courtly pastimes. Vol.2 focuses on the extraordinary achievements and developments in architecture following the advent of Islam. The Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque in Isfahan, the Ganj-Ali Baths in Kerman and the Golestan Palace in Tehran are just some of the magnificent religious and secular buildings. Vol.3 is an overview of manuscripts of the Koran, miniature paintings from the Shahnameh... (with frame)