Azadi Tower
Encyclopedia
The Azadi Tower previously known as the Shahyād Āryāmehr , is the symbol of Tehran
, the capital of Iran
, and marks the entrance to the city.
, won a competition to design the monument, which combines elements of Sassanid
and Islamic architecture
. Amanat, a Baha'i, was driven from the country by the revolution against the Shah of Iran and the removal of religious pluralism.
The Azadi Tower , previously known as the Shahyād Āryāmehr , is the symbol of Tehran
, the capital of Iran
, and marks the entrance to the city.
, won a competition to design the monument, which combines elements of Sassanid
and Islamic architecture
. Amanat, a Baha'i, was driven from the country by the revolution against the Shah of Iran and the removal of religious pluralism.
The Azadi Tower , previously known as the Shahyād Āryāmehr , is the symbol of Tehran
, the capital of Iran
, and marks the entrance to the city.
, won a competition to design the monument, which combines elements of Sassanid
and Islamic architecture
. Amanat, a Baha'i, was driven from the country by the revolution against the Shah of Iran and the removal of religious pluralism.http://www.cbc.ca/news/citizenbytes/2009/06/iran_monument_daughter_of_the_1.html It is part of the Azadi cultural complex, located in Tehran's Azadi Square in an area of some 50,000 m². There are several fountains around the base of the tower and a museum underground. The iconic Monument des Martyrs
in Algiers
(built, 1982) shows a strong influence by this monument, in its general design as well as its details.
Built with white marble stone from the Esfahan region, there are eight thousand blocks of stone. The stones were all located and supplied by Ghanbar Rahimi, whose knowledge of the quarries was second to none and who was known as "Soltan-e-Zang-e-Iran" (Sultan of Iran's stone). The shape of each of the blocks was calculated by a computer, and programmed to include all the instructions for the building's work. The actual construction of the tower was carried out, and supervised by Iran's finest master stonemason, Ghaffar Davarpanah Varnosfaderani. The main financing was provided by a group of five hundred Iranian industrialists. The inauguration took place on October 16, 1971.
, this "Gateway into Iran" was named the Shahyad Tower, meaning "Kings' Memorial", but was dubbed Azadi (Freedom) after the Iranian Revolution
of 1979. Originally intended to remind coming generations of the achievements of modern Iran under the Pahlavi dynasty
, it has become a symbol of the country's revival. It is 50 meters (148 ft) tall and completely clad in cut marble
.
http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/slideshow/photo//090615/481/383faf99533649c7bc4b9f2a555f322d/#photoViewer=/090615/481/383faf99533649c7bc4b9f2a555f322dhttp://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2009/06/15/19/654-The_Daily_Edit_0019.standalone.prod_affiliate.138.JPG
The entrance of the tower is directly underneath the main vault and leads into the Azadi Museum on the basement floor. The black walls, the pure, sober lines, and the proportions of the whole building create an intentionally austere atmosphere. Heavy doors open onto a kind of crypt where lighting is subdued. The shock is immediate. The lighting there seems to issue from the showcases placed here and there, each containing a unique object. Gold and enamel pieces, painted pottery, marble, the warm shades of the miniatures and of the varnished paintings glitter like stars among the black marble walls and in the semi-darkness of the concrete mesh which forms the ceiling of this cave of marvels. There are about fifty pieces selected from among the finest and most precious in Iran. They are in excellent condition and each represents a particular period in the country's history.
The place of honour is occupied by a copy of the Cyrus Cylinder
(the original is in the British Museum
). A translation of the cuneiform
inscription on the cylinder is inscribed in golden letters on the wall of one of the galleries leading to the museum's audio-visual department; opposite, a similar plaque lists the Twelve Points of the White Revolution
. Next to the Cyrus Cylinder, a magnificent gold plaque commemorates the presentation of the museum to the Shah by the Mayor of Tehran.
Among the earliest testimonies of Iran's history on display here are square flagstone
s, gold sheeting, and terra cotta
tablets from Susa
, covered with cuneiform characters of astonishingly rigorous geometry. Potteries, ceramics, varnished porcelain
s (such as the beautiful seventh-century blue and gold dish from Gorgan
), an illuminated Koran, and a few exceptional miniatures highlight milestones in the country's annals up to the nineteenth century, which is itself represented by two magnificent painted panels from Empress Farah Pahlavi
's collection.
n firm, required 12,000 metres of film, 20,000 colour slides, 20 movie projectors, and 120 slide projectors. Five computers operated the entire system.
's famous Azadi Square
, or Freedom Square. Called Shahyad ' onMouseout='HidePop("19558")' href="/topics/Shah">Shah
s (Kings)") Square before the Iranian revolution, it was the site of many of the demonstrations leading to the Iranian Revolution
on 12 December 1979.
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
, the capital of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, and marks the entrance to the city.
Construction
The architect, Hossein AmanatHossein Amanat
Hossein Amanat is an Iranian-Canadian architect. He is best known for being the architect of the Azadi Tower in Tehran, Iran, and the Bahá'í Arc buildings in Haifa, Israel. He is a Bahá'í.- Practice :...
, won a competition to design the monument, which combines elements of Sassanid
Sassanid architecture
Sassanid architecture refers to the Persian architectural style that reached a peak in its development during the Sassanid era. In many ways the Sassanid dynastic period witnessed the highest achievement of Persian civilization, and constituted the last great Persian Empire before the Muslim...
and Islamic architecture
Islamic architecture
Islamic architecture encompasses a wide range of both secular and religious styles from the foundation of Islam to the present day, influencing the design and construction of buildings and structures in Islamic culture....
. Amanat, a Baha'i, was driven from the country by the revolution against the Shah of Iran and the removal of religious pluralism.
The Azadi Tower , previously known as the Shahyād Āryāmehr , is the symbol of Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
, the capital of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, and marks the entrance to the city.
Construction
The architect, Hossein AmanatHossein Amanat
Hossein Amanat is an Iranian-Canadian architect. He is best known for being the architect of the Azadi Tower in Tehran, Iran, and the Bahá'í Arc buildings in Haifa, Israel. He is a Bahá'í.- Practice :...
, won a competition to design the monument, which combines elements of Sassanid
Sassanid architecture
Sassanid architecture refers to the Persian architectural style that reached a peak in its development during the Sassanid era. In many ways the Sassanid dynastic period witnessed the highest achievement of Persian civilization, and constituted the last great Persian Empire before the Muslim...
and Islamic architecture
Islamic architecture
Islamic architecture encompasses a wide range of both secular and religious styles from the foundation of Islam to the present day, influencing the design and construction of buildings and structures in Islamic culture....
. Amanat, a Baha'i, was driven from the country by the revolution against the Shah of Iran and the removal of religious pluralism.
The Azadi Tower , previously known as the Shahyād Āryāmehr , is the symbol of Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
, the capital of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, and marks the entrance to the city.
Construction
The architect, Hossein AmanatHossein Amanat
Hossein Amanat is an Iranian-Canadian architect. He is best known for being the architect of the Azadi Tower in Tehran, Iran, and the Bahá'í Arc buildings in Haifa, Israel. He is a Bahá'í.- Practice :...
, won a competition to design the monument, which combines elements of Sassanid
Sassanid architecture
Sassanid architecture refers to the Persian architectural style that reached a peak in its development during the Sassanid era. In many ways the Sassanid dynastic period witnessed the highest achievement of Persian civilization, and constituted the last great Persian Empire before the Muslim...
and Islamic architecture
Islamic architecture
Islamic architecture encompasses a wide range of both secular and religious styles from the foundation of Islam to the present day, influencing the design and construction of buildings and structures in Islamic culture....
. Amanat, a Baha'i, was driven from the country by the revolution against the Shah of Iran and the removal of religious pluralism.http://www.cbc.ca/news/citizenbytes/2009/06/iran_monument_daughter_of_the_1.html It is part of the Azadi cultural complex, located in Tehran's Azadi Square in an area of some 50,000 m². There are several fountains around the base of the tower and a museum underground. The iconic Monument des Martyrs
Monument des Martyrs
The Martyrs Memorial is an iconic concrete monument commemorating the Algerian war for independence. The monument was opened in 1982 on the 20th anniversary of Algeria's independence. It is fashioned in the shape of three standing palm leaves which shelter the "Eternal Flame" beneath...
in Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
(built, 1982) shows a strong influence by this monument, in its general design as well as its details.
Built with white marble stone from the Esfahan region, there are eight thousand blocks of stone. The stones were all located and supplied by Ghanbar Rahimi, whose knowledge of the quarries was second to none and who was known as "Soltan-e-Zang-e-Iran" (Sultan of Iran's stone). The shape of each of the blocks was calculated by a computer, and programmed to include all the instructions for the building's work. The actual construction of the tower was carried out, and supervised by Iran's finest master stonemason, Ghaffar Davarpanah Varnosfaderani. The main financing was provided by a group of five hundred Iranian industrialists. The inauguration took place on October 16, 1971.
History
Built in 1971 in commemoration of the 2,500th anniversary of the Persian Empire2,500 year celebration of Iran's monarchy
The 2,500 year celebration of the Persian Empire consisted of an elaborate set of festivities that took place October 12–16, 1971, on the occasion of the 2,500th anniversary of the founding of the Iranian monarchy by Cyrus the Great...
, this "Gateway into Iran" was named the Shahyad Tower, meaning "Kings' Memorial", but was dubbed Azadi (Freedom) after the Iranian Revolution
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
of 1979. Originally intended to remind coming generations of the achievements of modern Iran under the Pahlavi dynasty
Pahlavi dynasty
The Pahlavi dynasty consisted of two Iranian/Persian monarchs, father and son Reza Shah Pahlavi and Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi The Pahlavi dynasty consisted of two Iranian/Persian monarchs, father and son Reza Shah Pahlavi (reg. 1925–1941) and Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi The Pahlavi dynasty ...
, it has become a symbol of the country's revival. It is 50 meters (148 ft) tall and completely clad in cut marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
.
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Museum
 |
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The entrance of the tower is directly underneath the main vault and leads into the Azadi Museum on the basement floor. The black walls, the pure, sober lines, and the proportions of the whole building create an intentionally austere atmosphere. Heavy doors open onto a kind of crypt where lighting is subdued. The shock is immediate. The lighting there seems to issue from the showcases placed here and there, each containing a unique object. Gold and enamel pieces, painted pottery, marble, the warm shades of the miniatures and of the varnished paintings glitter like stars among the black marble walls and in the semi-darkness of the concrete mesh which forms the ceiling of this cave of marvels. There are about fifty pieces selected from among the finest and most precious in Iran. They are in excellent condition and each represents a particular period in the country's history.
The place of honour is occupied by a copy of the Cyrus Cylinder
Cyrus cylinder
The Cyrus Cylinder is an ancient clay cylinder, now broken into several fragments, on which is written a declaration in Akkadian cuneiform script in the name of the Achaemenid king Cyrus the Great. It dates from the 6th century BC and was discovered in the ruins of Babylon in Mesopotamia in 1879...
(the original is in the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
). A translation of the cuneiform
Cuneiform
Cuneiform can refer to:*Cuneiform script, an ancient writing system originating in Mesopotamia in the 4th millennium BC*Cuneiform , three bones in the human foot*Cuneiform Records, a music record label...
inscription on the cylinder is inscribed in golden letters on the wall of one of the galleries leading to the museum's audio-visual department; opposite, a similar plaque lists the Twelve Points of the White Revolution
White Revolution
The White Revolution was a far-reaching series of reforms in Iran launched in 1963 by the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Mohammad Reza Shah’s reform program was built especially to strengthen those classes that supported the traditional system...
. Next to the Cyrus Cylinder, a magnificent gold plaque commemorates the presentation of the museum to the Shah by the Mayor of Tehran.
Among the earliest testimonies of Iran's history on display here are square flagstone
Flagstone
Flagstone, is a generic flat stone, usually used for paving slabs or walkways, patios, fences and roofing. It may be used for memorials, headstones, facades and other constructions. The name derives from Middle English flagge meaning turf, perhaps from Old Norse flaga meaning slab.Flagstone is a...
s, gold sheeting, and terra cotta
Terra cotta
Terracotta, Terra cotta or Terra-cotta is a clay-based unglazed ceramic, although the term can also be applied to glazed ceramics where the fired body is porous and red in color...
tablets from Susa
Susa
Susa was an ancient city of the Elamite, Persian and Parthian empires of Iran. It is located in the lower Zagros Mountains about east of the Tigris River, between the Karkheh and Dez Rivers....
, covered with cuneiform characters of astonishingly rigorous geometry. Potteries, ceramics, varnished porcelain
Porcelain
Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between and...
s (such as the beautiful seventh-century blue and gold dish from Gorgan
Gorgan
Gorgan Some east of Gorgan is the Golestan National Park. The city has a regional airport and several universities. Gorgan Airport was opened in September 2005.-Etymology:...
), an illuminated Koran, and a few exceptional miniatures highlight milestones in the country's annals up to the nineteenth century, which is itself represented by two magnificent painted panels from Empress Farah Pahlavi
Farah Pahlavi
Farah Pahlavi is the former Queen and Empress of Iran. She is the widow of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran, and only Empress of modern Iran...
's collection.
Audio/Visual Theatre
The original show, devised in 1971, was replaced in 1975 by a new one which invited visitors to discover Iran's geographic and natural diversity along with its fundamental historical elements. The landscapes and works of art, the faces and achievements, calligraphied poems and technical undertakings, the life and hopes of a population were shown through its ancient miniatures as well as through the smiling studiousness of Iran's new generation of children. This creative "Sound and Light" performance, devised by a CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
n firm, required 12,000 metres of film, 20,000 colour slides, 20 movie projectors, and 120 slide projectors. Five computers operated the entire system.
Azadi Square
Azadi tower is situated in the middle of TehranTehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
's famous Azadi Square
Azadi Square
Azadi Square is a city square in Tehran, Iran.It has an area of about 50,000 m2, plus adjacent areas, and is the largest square in Tehran and the second largest in Iran, being smaller than Naqsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan....
, or Freedom Square. Called Shahyad ' onMouseout='HidePop("19558")' href="/topics/Shah">Shah
Shah
Shāh is the title of the ruler of certain Southwest Asian and Central Asian countries, especially Persia , and derives from the Persian word shah, meaning "king".-History:...
s (Kings)") Square before the Iranian revolution, it was the site of many of the demonstrations leading to the Iranian Revolution
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
on 12 December 1979.
Junctions
- Saidi ExpresswaySaidi ExpresswaySaidi Expressway is an expressway in western Tehran. It starts from Azadi Square and passes Fath Square, Qazvin Street, Yaftabad Street and Zam-zam Square. Then it goes to southwest towards Azadegan Expressway and Saveh Road....
- Karaj Special RoadRoad 32 (Iran)Road 32 is a road in Northwestern part of Iran. It starts from Tehran and it runs from Tehran to Tabriz along Freeway 2 and from Tabriz to Bazargan, Turkish border....
- Mohammad Ali Jenah ExpresswayMohammad Ali Jenah ExpresswayMohammad Ali Jenah Expressway is a short expressway in Tehran that connects Second Sadeghiye Square to Azadi Square. It is named after the renowned Muslim statesman and founder of Pakistan, Mr Muhammad Ali Jinnah....
-
Azadi StreetAzadi StreetAzadi Street is a trunk route in Tehran, Iran connecting Azadi Square to Enqelab Square....
Video
See also
- List of city squares by size
- TowerTowerA tower is a tall structure, usually taller than it is wide, often by a significant margin. Towers are distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires....
- Milad Tower
- List of towers
- Iranian architectureIranian architectureIranian architecture or Persian architecture is the architecture of Iran . It has a continuous history from at least 5000 BCE to the present, with characteristic examples distributed over a vast area from Turkey to North India and the borders of China and from the Caucasus to Zanzibar...