[IRAN] Tehran - National Museum

14:39 Travel Bunny 0 Comments

Constructed in 1935, the National Museum of Iran contains some of the most precious and significant artefacts from ancient Persia, dating back to 5000 BC. It is the largest museum in Iran and is one of the few most prestigious museums of the world. 



A water raising machine by Taqi al-Din al-Rasid in the 10th Century at the Iran Science and Technology Museum.



The National Library and Achieves of Iran beside the National Museum.



Getting to the National Museum of Iran was easy for me as it was down the street from the Ceramic and Glass Museum. However, there were no signage pointing visitors to the National Museum. Actually, museums such as the National Museum, Iran Bastan Museum, Islamic Museum, Iran Science and Technology Museum and etc. including the National Library are in the same area, adjacent to one another.



The huge iwan styled main entrance of the National Museum of Iran. No signboard to say that this is the National Museum of Iran, but you won’t be able to miss this huge imposing building.



An official from the National Museum giving a brief guide of the items in the museum.



One of the main attraction of the Iran National Museum is the Salt Man who was naturally mummified in a salt mine for 1700 years. Discovered in the winter of 1993 by miners in a salt mine located at the foot hills facing the Chehrabad river on the southern part of the Hamzeloo village.



This Salt Man is actually the first person to be discovered at the mine. Till to date, a total of 6 bodies were found and since 2008, the mining permit was cancelled and the site was declared an archeological research center so more work can be done to look for and preserve other salt men. 



The head and left foot of Salt Man on display at the National Museum of Iran.



The bronze statue of a Parthian nobleman.



Unlike some museum which I have been to, the National Museum of Iran has description of the artifacts in both Farsi and English. I mean, English is the world’s most understood language!  



A head of stone of Queen Musa of the Parthian Empire during 2 BC.



A relief stone carving.



Statue of a mastiff found at Persepolis. Behind is a small column from Persepolis in the form of two bull protomes back to back. 



Main staircase from the southerlies of the tripylon (the palace with three gates) dated the 5th century BC. On the outer side of the staircase is a representation of Persians lancers and archers. On the inner side of the staircase is a ritual representation of Persain and Median clergy bringing various animals and food items for religious rites. Beside the staircase is as statue of a human head with large ears, horned headdress (a sign of divinity) and long beard.     



Achaemenid Empire regions map based on Dariush Statue information. The Achaemenid Empire (550-330BC) also known as the first Persian Empire was the largest empire in the ancient world.



Statue of Darius. Darius I was the third king of Persian Achaemenid Empire who ruled nearly half of the world’s population in 500 BC. He is also known as the King of Persia and a Pharaoh of Egypt. Darius ordered the first invasion of Greece.  



A map of the Persian Empire at its greatest extent.



Audience scene of King Darius I. It shows the emperor on the royal throne in the centre. Before and behind him are a number of Persian courtiers. The first person with a long beard behind Darius holding a lotus is presumably the crown prince. Behind him is a court official with a special kind of headdress covering his lower face and behind him is the bearer of the king followed by two immortals. In front of the emperor is the chilliarch (commander of the Achaemenid army) follower by two immortals. 



The description of the audience scene is clearly described together with a plan showing where this relic was discovered.



A human skull for a male age 20-40 years old, found in Lameh Zamin cemetery, dating back to Iron Age at display in the museum.



This bull statue was made from glazed terracotta. It was from the northeastern stairway at the ziggurat at Chogha Zambill. It was offered for the god Inshushinak, the deity who blessed the sacred place as a gift.



Pictures of the Ziggurat Chogha Zambil, an ancient Elamite complex in the Khuzestan province of Iran. Built about 1250BC by King Utash Napirisha to honour the great god Inshushinak. Chogha Zambilis the first Iranian site to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.  



A bronze carriage wheel dating back to the 2nd millennium BC at Chogha Zambil 



Some ancient pottery on display.



A modal of a house at Hajji Firuz




Chamaq Culture, the earliest Neolithic culture of the northeast region of Iran.



The chronology of the history of Iran.



Susa mass cemetery, a large area of the lowest step of mud brick platform was used to bury perhaps 2,000 individuals.



The burial that is on display here is reconstructed on the basis of the excavators’ description



Relics from ancient Persia.



After his victory over the Roman Emperor Valerian, Shapur emperor ordered a city to be built in route from Estakhr to Ctesiphon in area with pleasant weather. The court known as Mosaic Iwan is located adjacent to the ceremonial hall in the ancient city of Bishapur. The building floor is paved with these decorative mosaics.





I most definitely recommend visiting the National Museum of Iran while in Tehran. Two thumbs up!



There are actually many other museums surrounding the National Museum. Well, if you are interested and have the time, why not?



After visiting the museum, I went for lunch at a seemingly popular restaurant which was packed with locals.



The food was decent but the place was too crowded for me. We were literally sitting shoulder to shoulder. The food is not necessarily delicious just because of the crowd, it was crowded mainly because it was cheap!



Continued to explore the city on foot.



A unique designed mail box in the city.



Bank Sepah, the first Iranian bank which was established in 1925.



Visited a carpet shop at the Grand Bazaar.



More shopping at a nearby street of the hotel. After a long and tiring day, I retired back to the comfort of the hotel. This will be my last night in Tehran.