What is the culture of the Persian Empire? Explore the civilization of the ancient Persian Empire

Speaking of Iran, I believe everyone will be familiar with it, but the political changes have kept this international country at the forefront, so that many people in the world imagine it as a mysterious country. But no one denies that the Persian civilization born in this land has influenced the world for centuries and once rewritten the history of the world. After thousands of years, she still shows her unique charm and constantly explains her existence to the world.

Iran is fascinating. Looking for the source of Zoroastrianism, the world's oldest religion, in the vast desert, Grand Bazaar can still find the figure left by the Hump Team on the Silk Road thousands of years ago. The ancient Persian city has retreated from the spirit of the intersection of soldiers, leaving countless gorgeous statues on the ruins in the sunset.

Perhaps the majesty of religion makes people outside the national boundaries flinch, but it is for this reason that people have too many misunderstandings about this country. Iran is full of contradictions, there is no absolute right or wrong, only you can tolerate and accept it.

A preliminary study of Iran

As a country that is not fully open, travel will encounter many thorny problems, and language is the biggest challenge. The official language of Iran is Persian, and English is not common in this country. There are almost no English signs on the streets, there are no English newspaper stations on the subway, and even it is difficult to find an English tourist map in the bookstore. It is necessary to have a travel book before departure. Persian has two spellings, one is similar to Arabic, which is very challenging for us; The other is spelled in Latin letters. Although it is not easy to read, you will never get lost in a travel book.

You must learn to read the Persian version of the numbers before you go out. It is almost impossible to see our commonly used Arabic numerals throughout Iran. The departure time, train number and telephone number on the train timetable are all in Persian. Therefore, according to my personal experience, make some preparations, and remember the nine letters of 1-9, which will make it much more convenient to travel, otherwise my brain will continue to fight numbers every day.

Although the United States and Iran seem to be enemies in the world political structure, the US dollar is still relatively common in Iran, and the face value of Iranian currency is very large, so many places will accept US dollar settlement when shopping. Regarding the exchange rate, the exchange rate between the black market and the Bank of China is often very different, and the exchange points of the same official exchange institution in the airport and the urban area are often far apart. I suggest you change a small part at the airport first, and then change the rest when you settle down in the city. Due to sanctions, international credit cards cannot be used in Iran. The implication is that you need to prepare enough cash, otherwise you will be in great trouble.

Shuttle between Iranian cities, planes, buses and taxis are very convenient, but don't expect too much from hardware facilities. Iranian planes are too old for trains, and former Soviet passenger planes that China has stopped using are still shuttling between cities in Iran. When I took the train, I felt back to the era of green leather cars, slow but nostalgic. Buses are the best means of transportation in Iran, and the time between cities will not be particularly long. Compared with airplanes and trains, long-distance buses are also more comfortable, especially buses between tourist cities, which are more or less convenient.

To sum up, if there is enough time, bus travel is undoubtedly the first choice, followed by train. As for the traffic in the city, most cities are relatively small and the scenic spots are relatively concentrated, which can be reached on foot. Although Tehran is a big city, the existence of subway has solved a big traffic problem. In addition, taxi carpooling is still common. As long as you can reach your destination smoothly, experiencing the feeling of flying in the city may be a major feature of Iran.

Religious taboos are actually the most important part of the trip. As a foreign traveler, you must abide by the rules of this country, but don't put too much psychological burden on yourself. For me, maybe this is another charm of Iran, a special experience that you can't find anywhere in the world. For foreign travelers, Iranians are more or less tolerant, but do not easily challenge taboos. Alcoholic beverages are absolutely forbidden in this country, and women's clothing has strict rules. A headscarf, knee-length long-sleeved shirts and trousers are essential for the journey.

Men have more freedom, but they must wear trousers in business situations. Do as the Romans do is actually the best choice. As for other taboos, such as men and women can't ride in the same carriage, and strangers can't talk in public, in fact, there is no need to be overly nervous in Iran. In addition, taking photos during the trip is more or less a challenge. Try not to take pictures around government or military buildings to avoid unnecessary trouble. If you encounter any problems, just show your passport and delete the photos. Generally speaking, Iranians are very friendly to China tourists.

Explore Persian footprints

Iran is rich in tourism resources, so it is most important to choose a favorite tourist route. For the first time travelers to Iran, I suggest that they should experience the splendor of Persian civilization and cross time and space between history and modernity. Visit the ancient Persian city of Shiraz from Tehran under the snow-capped mountains to the south, enjoy the elegant charm of Isfahan along the ancient Silk Road, and go to Yazd in the depths of the Gobi to find the source of Zoroastrianism. This is a Persian cultural tour with a strong cultural atmosphere and a relaxed mood.

Tehran, Tehran

Tehran is a city that cannot be ignored, not only because it is the political and cultural center of Iran, but also the focus of the world. Over the past 100 years, how many major events have happened here, rewriting the history of Iran and even the world. For most people, the city of Tehran is still known from history textbooks. The famous Tehran Conference during World War II changed the world, and its influence continues to this day.

Compared with other thousand-year-old cities, Tehran is relatively young and has a large population, making it the largest city in West Asia. Life in Tehran is very modern. Young people listen to American pop music with headphones, and girls' headscarves no longer tightly cover their beautiful faces and long hair. Occasionally meeting women in traditional Islamic robes and veils has become a rare sight on the street.

In fact, the life of Teherans is no different from ours. The subway transports people to every corner of the city. The most famous tourist attraction in Tehran is the Pahlavi Palace at the foot of the mountain. Walking along the stream in the forest for half a day seems to be back to the once luxurious royal era. The Freedom Tower, a white memorial tower commemorating the 2500th anniversary of the founding of the Persian Empire near Tehran Airport, is less historic but more elegant in the bustling city.

Milata, completed in recent two years, is a new symbol of Teheran and the sixth tallest tower in the world. It is said that it took decades to build this tower for various reasons, but at least Tehran has a good place to enjoy the night view of the city. I must remind you that it is very important to travel in such a politically, religiously and culturally sensitive country. In fact, many troubles can be avoided by choosing to give up the habit of "taking pictures of scenic spots".

Xilazi

Tehran sounds a bit heavy for political reasons. Shiraz's private garden may make you relax immediately and experience the romantic feelings of Islamic gardens with me. There are dozens of private gardens with a history of one hundred years in Shiraz that are open to the public. Due to the influence of Islamic culture, exquisite Islamic architecture and beautiful gardens, Shiraz is an out-and-out garden city in Iran. For foreigners, Shiraz's garden may not be so famous, but for those who like red wine, no one should ignore Shiraz as a grape variety. It is said that this grape is named after this city. More or less, wine culture adds a touch of romance to the city.

Of course, when it comes to Shiraz, we must mention Persepolis, which is the ruins of the ancient Persian city, two hours' drive from the city. This city means the capital of Persia in Greek. I was amazed by the wisdom of the ancients for a city built with stones and a complete drainage system. From the architectural modeling, we can see the shadows of ancient Roman and ancient Greek architecture, and the exquisite narrative murals left on the ruins seem to be integrated into the culture of ancient Egypt. I have to marvel that thousands of years ago, it has already become the intersection center of cultures of various countries, as if it were also the center of the world. Being in it, everything around you seems to take you back to the heyday of Persian civilization thousands of years ago.

yazd province

Yazd is an oasis town on the Gobi in central Iran. It's dry and hot, but it's quiet. The city is full of yellow mud bricks. Maybe you can't see the splendid Persian ruins here like other cities, but it is a sacred place in the hearts of Persians, and Zoroastrianism, one of the oldest religions, originated here. Driving through the vast Gobi desert, a clear spring gushed from the barren cliff, and several trees became the only vitality on this desert beach. It is hard to imagine that a religion originated here, but an endless stream of Zoroastrianism came here from all directions to worship. Several people who came from Tehran to pay homage met us halfway and learned from them that the true Persian descendants would stick to Zoroastrianism.

Isfahan

On the whole, Iran generally believes in Islam, but in fact, Iran is also a multi-faith country, and religion is not absolutely single, which is also the uniqueness of Isfahan. Thousands of years ago, Isfahan was an important post station on the Silk Road. Businessmen from the south to the north developed the city, and natural religions took root in this land. In Isfahan, Christian Armenians have their own living community, where people still go to church every week, still make wine with grapes in their yard and still celebrate Christmas. It sounds out of tune with the whole urban environment, but it is also the most attractive place of the city, at least we can describe it as tolerance.

The Grand Bazaar in the city center is like a maze. When you walk, someone will always tell you that the dilapidated old house in front of you is a caravan post station a hundred years ago or a caravan racecourse a thousand years ago. All this is common in the eyes of Isfahan people. A hundred years is just a number, but today's life seems to be not much different from yesterday. Zainde River has long dried up, but the 33-hole bridge still standing on the riverbed and the traditional artists singing under the bridge are still tirelessly telling the history of the city.

These four cities are only a window of Iranian Persian civilization, not all of them. Iran itself is actually a history book, which does not need to be read carefully, and tourists need to meditate.