Shiraz
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| Shiraz شیراز Shīrāz |
|
| Nickname: Persian Cultural Capital City of roses City of gardens City of love |
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| Location of Shirāz in Iran | |
| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country | Image:Flag of Iran.svg Iran |
| Province | Fārs |
| County | Shirāz |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | Mehran E'temadi[1] |
| - City council | Mohammad Reza Bazrgar Cyrus Pakfetrat Mahmoud Pakshir Behzad Hajatnia Gholam Mahdi Haghdel Mahdi Khani Jalil Kheirat Zein Al-Abedin Arab Seyyed Abdorrasoul Miri Ahmad Reza Naghibzadeh[2] |
| Area | |
| - City | 340 km² (131 sq mi) |
| - Land | 340 km² (131 sq mi) |
| - Water | 0 km² (0 sq mi) 0% |
| Elevation | 1,500 m (5,200 ft) |
| Population (2005) | |
| - City | 1,755,955 |
| - Density | 5,164.5/km² (13,383.8/sq mi) |
| - Urban | 1,186,229 |
| estimate | |
| Time zone | IRST (UTC+3:30) |
| Website: http://www.shirazcity.org or http://www.shiraz.ir/ | |
Shiraz (Persian: شیراز Shīrāz) is the sixth most populated city in Iran and the provincial capital of Fars Province. Shiraz is located in the southwest of Iran on the Daryacheye Khoshk seasonal river. Shiraz has a moderate climate and has been a regional trade center for more than a thousand years.[3] Shiraz had an estimated population of 1,755,955 in 2005.
The earliest reference to the city is on Elamite clay tablets dated to 2000 BC,[4] when it was known as Tiraziš. Shiraz was the capital of Persia during the Zand dynasty from 1750 until 1781 as well as briefly during the Saffarid period. In the 13th century, Shiraz became a leading center of the arts and letters, thanks to the encouragement of its ruler and the presence of many Persian scholars and artists.
Shiraz is known as the city of poets, wine and flowers.[5][6] It is also considered by many Iranians to be the city of gardens, due to the many gardens and fruit trees that can be seen in the city. Shiraz has major Jewish and Christian communities. The crafts of Shiraz consist of inlaid mosaic work of triangular design; silver-ware; carpet-weaving, and the making of the rugs called Gilim and Jajim in the villages and among the tribes.[7] In Shiraz industries such as cement production, sugar, fertilizers, textile products, wood products, metalwork and rugs dominate.[8] Shirāz also has a major oil refinery and is also a major center for Iran's electronic industries. 53% of Iran's electronic investment has been centered in Shiraz.[9]
Contents |
[edit] Etymology
The earliest reference to the city is on Elamite clay tablets dated to 2000 BC, found in June of 1970, while digging to make a kiln for a brick making factory in the south western corner of the city. The tablets written in ancient Elamite, name a city called Tiraziš.[10] Phonetically, this is interpreted as /tiračis/ or /ćiračis/. This name became Old Persian /širājiš/; through regular sound change comes the modern Persian name Shirāz. The name Shiraz also appears on clay sealings found at a Sassanid ruin, east of the city, (2nd century A.D.)
[edit] History
[edit] Pre-Islamic
Shiraz is most likely more than 4000 years old. Cuneiform records from the great ceremonial capital of Persepolis show that Shiraz was a significant township in Achaemenid times.[11] The oldest sample of wine in the world, dating to approximately 7000 years ago, was also discovered on clay jars recovered outside of Shiraz.[12][13]
[edit] Islamic period
The city became provincial capital in 693, after the tazi Arab invaders conquered Istakhr, the nearby Sassanian capital. As Istakhr fell in to decline, Shiraz grew in importance under the tazi Arabs and several local dynasties.[14] The Buwayhids (945 to 1055) made it their capital, building mosques, palaces, a library and a city wall.
The city was spared destruction by the invading Mongols when its local ruler offered tributes and submission to Genghis Khan. Shiraz was again spared by Tamerlane when in 1382 the local monarch, Shah Shoja agreed to submit to the invader.[15] In the 13th century, Shiraz became a leading center of the arts and letters, thanks to the encouragement of its ruler and the presence of many Persian scholars and artists. For this reason the city was named by classical geographers Dar al-Elm, the House of Knowledge.[16] Many of the most important Iranian poets, mystics and philosophers were born in Shiraz and contributed to the fame of the city. Among them can be mentioned the poets Sa'di and Hafez the mystic Roozbehan and the philosopher Mulla Sadra.
As early as the 11th century, several hundred thousand people inhabited Shiraz.[17] In the 14th century Shiraz had sixty thousand inhabitants.[18] During the 16th century it had a population of 200,000 people, which by the mid-18th century had decreased to only 50,000. Throughout the Safavid empire (1501–1722) Shiraz remained a provincial capital and Emam Qoli Khan, the governor of Fars under Shah Abbas I, constructed many palaces and ornate buildings in the same style as those built in the same period in Isfahan, the capital of the Empire.[19] After the fall of the Safavid's, Shiraz suffered a period of decline, worsened by the raids of the Afgans and the rebellion of its governor against Nader Shah; the latter sent troops to suppress the revolt. The city was besieged for many months and eventually sacked. At the time of Nader Shah's murder in 1747 most of the historical buildings of the city were damaged or ruined, and its population fell to 50,000, a quarter of that of the 16th century.[20]
Shiraz soon returned to prosperity under the enlightened rule of Karim Khan Zand who made it the capital of his reign in 1762. Employing more than 12,000 workers he constructed a royal district with a fortress, many administrative buildings, a mosque and one of the finest covered bazaars in Iran.[21] He had a moat built around the city, constructed an irrigation and drainage system, and rebuilt the city walls.[22] However, Karim Khan's heirs failed to secure his gains. When Agha Mohammad Khan, the founder of the Qajar dynasty, eventually came to power, he wreaked his revenge on Shiraz by destroying the city fortification and moving the national capital to Tehran.[23] Although lowered to the rank of provincial capital, Shiraz maintained a level of prosperity as a result of the continuing importance of the trade route to the Persian Gulf and its governorship was a royal prerogative throughout the Qajar dynasty.[24] many of the famous gardens, buildings and residences built during the nineteenth century, contribute to the actual outlook of the city.
Shiraz is the birthplace of the co-founder of the Bahá'í Faith, the Báb (Siyyid `Ali-Muhammad, 1819-1850). In this city, on the evening of 22nd May 1844, he first declared his mission as the bearer of a new divine revelation and for this reason Shiraz is a holy city for Bahá’ís and a place of pilgrimage. In 1910 a a pogrom of the Jewish quarter started after false rumours that the Jews had ritually killed a Muslim girl. In the course of the pogrom, 12 Jews were killed and about 50 were injured,[25] and 6,000 Jews of Shiraz were robbed of all their possessions.[26]
[edit] Islamic Republic
Shiraz had a primary role during the Islamic Revolution and its victory.[27] After the revolution, both during the Iran-Iraq war and in the construction era, Shiraz has always been on the forefront of the preservation and development of the teachings and beliefs of the Revolution.[28] In line with the great consideration that the Islamic Republic gives to historical monuments, the municipality of Shiraz and the related cultural institutions have promoted and carried out many important restoration and reconstruction projects through the city.[29] Among the most recent ones are the complete restoration of the Arg of Karim Khan and of the Vakil Bath as well as a comprehensive plan for the preservation of the old city quarters. Other noteworthy initiatives of the municipality include the total renovation of the Qor'an Gate and the mausoleum of the poet Khwaju Kermani, both located in the Allahu Akbar gorge, as well as the grand project of expansion of the mausoleum of the world famous poet Hafez.[30]
[edit] Geography
Shiraz is located in the south of Iran and the northwest of Fars Province. It is built in a green plane at the foot of the Zagros Mountains 1500 metres(5200 ft) above sea level. Shiraz is 919 Kilometres (571 miles) south of Tehran.[31] The city has a land area of about 340 square kilometres (131 square miles) which makes it the third largest city in Iran.[32]
A seasonal river flows through the northern part of the city called Rudkhaneye Khoshk which flows into the Maharloo lake.
[edit] Climate
Shiraz has a moderate climate with regular seasons.[33][34]
Shiraz contains a considerable number of gardens. These gardens have given a special feature to the city and really act as the lungs for it. Unfortunately many of these gardens are going to be dried for building apartments due to population growth in the city. The rainfall in recent years, during which atmospheric conditions have changed perceptibly, has been comparatively sufficient, and has reached 23 inches in a year, but the average rainfall is between 14 and 18 inches.[35]
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average temperature, C° | 6 | 8 | 11 | 18 | 23 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 25 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 18 |
| Average Maximum temperature, C° | 11 | 13 | 17 | 24 | 30 | 35 | 37 | 36 | 32 | 27 | 18 | 13 | 24 |
| Average Minimum temperature, C° | 1 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 16 | 20 | 23 | 22 | 17 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 12 |
| Average rain days | 4 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 24 |
[edit] Economy
Shiraz's economic base is in its provincial products, which include grapes, citrus fruits, cotton and rice.[36] Industries such as cement production, sugar, fertilizers, textile products, wood products, metalwork and rugs dominate.[37] Shirāz also has a major oil refinery and is also a major center for Iran's electronic industries. 53% of Iran's electronic investment has been centered in Shiraz.[38]
Agriculture has always been a major part of the economy in and around Shiraz. This is partially due to a relative abundance of water compared to the surrounding deserts. Shirāz is famous for its carpet production and flowers as well. It is also the origin of wine and as a result, the wine produced using the grapes from this region are given the name Shiraz in the city's honour.
The Shiraz Special Economic Zone or the SSEZ was established in 2000.[39]
[edit] Demography
Today, the city has an estimated population of 1,755,955.
Most of the population of Shiraz are Shi'a Muslims. Although most emigrated to the United States and Israel in the last half of the 20th century, particularly after the Islamic Revolution Shiraz is still home to a 6,000 strong Jewish community.[40] Along with Tehran and Esfahan, Shiraz is one of the handful of Iranian cities with a sizable Jewish population, and more than one active synagogue.
There are currently two functioning churches in Shiraz, one of which is an Armenian church, the other is an Anglican church[41] [42]
[edit] Culture
Shiraz is known as the city of poets, gardens, wine, nightingales and flowers.[43][44] The crafts of Shiraz consist of inlaid mosaic work of triangular design; silver-ware; carpet-weaving, and the making of the rugs called gilim and "jajim" in the villages and among the tribes.[45] The garden is an important part of Iranian culture. There are many old gardens in Shiraz such as the Eram garden and the Afif abad garden. According to some people, Shiraz "disputes with Xeres [or Jerez] in Spain the honour of being the birthplace of sherry."[46]
Shiraz is an important centre for Iranian culture and has produced a number of famous poets. Saadi, a 12th and 13th century poet was born in Shiraz. He left his native town at a young age for Baghdad to study Arabic literature and Islamic sciences at Al-Nizamiyya of Baghdad When he reappeared in his native Shiraz he was an elderly man. Shiraz, under Atabak Abubakr Sa'd ibn Zangy (1231-1260) was enjoying an era of relative tranquility. Saadi was not only welcomed to the city but was respected highly by the ruler and enumerated among the greats of the province. He seems to have spent the rest of his life in Shiraz. Hafiz, another famous poet and mystic was also born in Shiraz. A number of scientists also originate from Shiraz. Qutb al-Din al-Shirazi, a 13th century astronomer, mathematician, physician, physicist and scientist was from Shiraz. In his The Limit of Accomplishment concerning Knowledge of the Heavens, he also discussed the possibility of heliocentrism.[47]
[edit] Attractions of Shiraz
The more popular attractions of Shirāz include first and foremost the tombs of Hafiz, Saadi, and Khaju e Kermani (whose tomb is inside a mountain above the city's old Qor'an Gate). Other lesser known tombs are that of Shah Shoja' (the Mozafarid emir of Persia, and patron of Hafez), and Haft Tanan mausoleum, where 7 Sufi mystics are buried. The Tomb of Baba Kuhi sits atop a mountain overlooking the city, and the tomb of Karim Khan Zand is at the Pars Museum of Shiraz , one of the most historical buildings is the Kian this bulding was made around the time of cyrus the great and has been a populer torist attaraction ever since.
Among the mosques, the oldest is Atigh Jame' Mosque, which is one of the older mosques of Iran, followed by Vakil Mosque and Nasir al-Mulk mosque with their unique architecture. There are several shrines as well, the most famous one is known as Shah Chiragh ("the King of Lights").
The citadel of Arg of Karim Khan sits adjacent to the Vakil Bazaar and Vakil Bath at the city's cental district.
The most famous of houses are Zinat-ol-Molook House and Gahavam's House, both in the old quarters of the city.
Afifabad Garden and The Museum of Weapons, Eram garden, and Delgosha Garden are some of the popular remaining Persian gardens from eras gone by.
Within a relatively short driving distance from Shiraz are the spectacular ruins of Persepolis, Bishapur, Pasargadae, and Firouzabad. The royal burials of Naqshe Rostam are located next to the ancient Kabeh Zartosht in nearby Marvdasht, and Maharloo Lake is a popular breeding ground for various bird species.
These are some of over 200 sites of historical significance as according to Iran's Cultural Heritage Organization.
Naqsh-e rostam.JPG
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Zendan karim khan1.JPG
18th century citadel of Karim Khan-e Zand. |
Baghe Eram Shiraz edit.jpg
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Rostam deev zendan karimkhan.JPG
Rostam slaying The Demon. 19th century mosaic mural at Karim Khan citadel. |
[edit] Sports
Shiraz is home to two football clubs in Iran's Premier Football League, Bargh Shiraz(Established in 1946) and Fajr Sepasi(Established in 1988). Shiraz has two Football(Soccer) stadiums; the Hafezieh stadium with 40,000 Capacity built in 1945 and the Mianrood stadium with , 70,000 Capacity built in 2005. Another stadium is due to be finished in 2008 and will have 100,000 Capacity.
[edit] Higher education
Today Shiraz University is the largest university in the province, and one of Iran's best academic centers. Other major universities in or nearby Shirāz are the Islamic Azad University of Shirāz, Shiraz University of Technology, and Shiraz University of Applied Science and Technology
The Shiraz Regional Library of Science and Technology is the largest provincial library serving the public.
[edit] Transportation
- See also: Shiraz International Airport
Shiraz International Airport serves as the largest airport in the south provincial region of Iran. It has direct flight connections to Dubai, Bahrain, and Qatar.
Shiraz is accessible via freeways to Isfahan,[49] and roadways to Bushehr and the Persian Gulf.
A metro system is being built in Shiraz by the Shiraz Urban Railway Organization. which will contains three lines. The length of the first Line will be 22.4 km,the length of the second line will be 8.5 km The length of the third line will be 16 km. 21 stations will be built in route one. The three lines when completed, will have 32 stations below ground and six above and one special station which will be connected to a railroad link under construction linking Shiraz with Isfahan.[50]
[edit] Sister cities
[edit] cities
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.shirazcity.org/mayors/mayors.html
- ^ http://www.shirazcity.org/scc/members.htm
- ^ http://www.iasbs.ac.ir/students/rkhabbaz/aboutme.html
- ^ Cameron, George G. Persepolis Treasury Tablets, University of Chicago Press, 1948, pp. 115.
- ^ http://www.iranchamber.com/cities/shiraz/shiraz.php
- ^ http://www.asemangasht.com/Shiraz.htm
- ^ http://www.shirazcity.org/shiraz/Shiraz%20Information/shiraz_history/Characteristics%20e.htm
- ^ http://www.i-cias.com/e.o/shiraz.htm
- ^ http://arshksco.com/seez.htm
- ^ Cameron, George G. Persepolis Treasury Tablets, University of Chicago Press, 1948, pp. 115.
- ^ http://ahang.rabbani.googlepages.com/shiraz-a7
- ^ http://www.fallsliquormart.com/shiraz_wine.htm
- ^ http://www.shiraz.eu/
- ^ http://www.shirazcity.org/shiraz/Shiraz%20Information/shiraz_history/History%20e.htm
- ^ http://www.shirazcity.org/shiraz/Shiraz%20Information/shiraz_history/History%20e.htm
- ^ http://www.isocarp.net/Data/case_studies/730.pdf
- ^ http://www.biochemiran.com/congress9/page.php?slct_pg_id=93&sid=1&slc_lang=en
- ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=x5-voc6nzmkC&pg=PA74&lpg=PA74&dq=shiraz+economy&source=web&ots=WyN8EiOluj&sig=WWP1W5Euf3clCoCQZnm1lFBr4Zg#PPA74,M1
- ^ http://www.shirazcity.org/shiraz/Shiraz%20Information/shiraz_history/History%20e.htm
- ^ http://www.shirazcity.org/shiraz/Shiraz%20Information/shiraz_history/History%20e.htm
- ^ http://www.shirazcity.org/shiraz/Shiraz%20Information/shiraz_history/History%20e.htm
- ^ http://www.shirazcity.org/shiraz/Shiraz%20Information/shiraz_history/History%20e.htm
- ^ http://www.shirazcity.org/shiraz/Shiraz%20Information/shiraz_history/History%20e.htm
- ^ http://www.shirazcity.org/shiraz/Shiraz%20Information/shiraz_history/History%20e.htm
- ^ Littman (1979), p. 14
- ^ Littman (1979), p. 12
- ^ http://www.shirazcity.org/shiraz/Shiraz%20Information/shiraz_history/History%20e.htm
- ^ http://www.shirazcity.org/shiraz/Shiraz%20Information/shiraz_history/History%20e.htm
- ^ http://www.shirazcity.org/shiraz/Shiraz%20Information/shiraz_history/History%20e.htm
- ^ http://www.shirazcity.org/shiraz/Shiraz%20Information/shiraz_history/History%20e.htm
- ^ http://landofaryan.tripod.com/shiraz.htm
- ^ http://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%B4%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B2
- ^ http://landofaryan.tripod.com/shiraz.htm
- ^ http://www.ataland.com/Pages/City/IranCityInfo.aspx?id=38
- ^ http://www.shirazcity.org/shiraz/Shiraz%20Information/shiraz_history/Characteristics%20e.htm
- ^ http://www.i-cias.com/e.o/shiraz.htm
- ^ http://www.i-cias.com/e.o/shiraz.htm
- ^ http://arshksco.com/seez.htm
- ^ http://www.kishtpc.com/Freetrade%20ZONES.htm
- ^ http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article273178.ece
- ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/elsewhere/journalist/story/0,,1674164,00.html
- ^ http://www.iranchamber.com/monuments/historical_churches_iran.php
- ^ http://www.iranchamber.com/cities/shiraz/shiraz.php
- ^ http://www.asemangasht.com/Shiraz.htm
- ^ http://www.shirazcity.org/shiraz/Shiraz%20Information/shiraz_history/Characteristics%20e.htm
- ^ Maclean, Fitzroy. Eastern Approaches. (1949). Reprint: The Reprint Society Ltd., London, 1951, p. 215
- ^ A. Baker and L. Chapter (2002), "Part 4: The Sciences". In M. M. Sharif, "A History of Muslim Philosophy", Philosophia Islamica.
- ^ http://arcms.sums.ac.ir:8080/sas85/CENgeneralInfo.jsp
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highways_in_Iran
- ^ http://www.shirazmetro.ir/p-path.php
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chongqing
- ^ http://www.nicosia.org.cy/english/lefkosia_twins.shtm
- ^ http://www.climate-zone.com/climate/iran/celsius/shiraz.htm
[edit] External links
- New photos from historical Shiraz
- The first rain in shiraz at 2007 fall
- Official Website (Persian)
- Fal e Hafez Complete database of Hafez poems and Fals.
- Welcome to Shiraz
- Tombs of Hafiz and Sa'adi
- Shiraz photos, attractions, hotels
- Shiraz Chamber of Commerce
- More pictures of Shiraz
| Preceded by Ray | Capital of Iran {{{years}}} | Succeeded by Ghazni |
| Preceded by mashhad | Capital of Iran 1750–1794 | Succeeded by Tehran |
The architecture of Iran and historical Persia | ||
|---|---|---|
| Elements | Bazaars • The Persian Garden (hayāt) • Windcatchers • Shabestan • Kucheh • Talar • Iwan • Howz • Panjdari • Hashti • Andaruni • Biruni (persian architecture) • Dalan e Vorudi • Qanat • Kariz • Gonbad • Ab anbar • Yakhchal • Caravanserais • Robats • Burj • Khaneqah • Tekyeh • Sahn • Imamzadeh • mosques | Image:Khayam.jpg |
| Notable traditional cities | ||
| History and theory | ||
| Lists | ||
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