1. POEM OF MY IRAN IN ENGLISH: Here is the poem of my Iran in English as composed by this author:
I asked myself to find out clearly
Where and whom I love most dearly?
The answers came in right after my demand
I love my country, my beautiful homeland
And over there, I love many places and all loyal flag-wavers
I love amid friends and family, those who are the freedom fighters.
From Harand or from Sahand to Nahavand
From Karaj or from the Toochal Peak to Damavand
From Arak, from Natanz, from Yazd, and from Tabriz
Into the houses made of sun-dried bricks in Nayriz
And over there, I love many places and all loyal flag-wavers
I love amid friends and family, those who are the freedom fighters.
From the Tomb of Cyrus or from the base of Persepolis
To Kangavar near the Temple of Anahita, the goddess of Values & Peace
From Nishapur or Quchan to the orchards of pomegranates in Saveh
From the road meanders over many steep hills to get to Ganaveh
And over there, I love many places and all loyal flag-wavers
I love amid friends and family, those who are the freedom fighters.
From the corners of Koran Gate in Shiraz
Heading to Dezful and Sanandaj up to Ahwaz
From the shores of Langeh to the heart of Lorestan
From the capital city of Tehran to Sari or to Golestan
And over there, I love many places and all loyal flag-wavers
I love amid friends and family, those who are the freedom fighters.
From Moghan, Gonbad, and Dasht-e Mishan
Up to the middle of the tight alleys in Kashan
From Shemiran towards the Four Gardens in Isfahan
From Mianeh into the gorgeous Garden of Mahan
And over there, I love many places and all loyal flag-wavers
I love amid friends and family, those who are the freedom fighters.
From Samangan to Kenareh through Chaloos
Over the green stones of the Mountains of Zagros
Under the starry sky of the city of Kerman
To reach the oil fields in the hills of Masjed Solaiman
And over there, I love many places and all loyal flag-wavers
I love amid friends and family, those who are the freedom fighters.
2. POEM OF MY IRAN IN PERSIAN: View the Persian text of My Iran
3. ABOUT VARIOUS LOCATIONS CITED IN THE ABOVE PORM: Here are some pertinent facts about the locations and places cited in the poem:
Harand: It is originally the name of a town in the central province of Isfahan, Iran. Harand is also an old city in Pakistan located in Rajanpur district of Punjab. According to some scholars, the name of the city in Pakistan was firstly Hari Nand, but now it is called Harand.
Sahand: It is a massive, heavily eroded stratovolcano (aka composite volcano) in northwestern Iran. At 3707 m (over 12000 ft), it is the highest mountain in the Iranian province of East Azarbaijan.
Nahavand: It is a city in Hamadan Province in Iran. Nahavand is located in south of Hamadan, east of Malayer and shouthwest of Borujerd. The city was a center of Sassanid Empire during Khosrow I, aka Khowsrow Anushiravan. It is the site of the Battle of Nahavand in 642 that completed the fall of the Sassanid Empire and the Islamic conquest of Iran.
Karaj: It is a city located in Tehran province, Iran. It is situated 20 km west of the capital city of Tehran, at the foot of Alborz mountains.The history of Karaj dates back many centuries. Undoubtedly, the most ancient historical monument in Karaj is the stone built Zoroastrian fire temple of Takht-e Rostam which dates back to the Sassanid Era (226-650 AD). The monument includes a stone pedestal measuring 64 meters by 63 meters and is located at the foothills of a mountain called Takht-e Rustam (See below also on Takht-e Rustam at Samangan in Afghanistan).
Toochal Peak: See Below, Shemiran.
Damavand: It is an ancient and historic city. The name Damavand appears in Sassanid texts as Dunbawand, and Parthian remains have been found there. It is close to Iran’s highest peak Mount Damavand, which has a special place in the Persian mythology. Mount Damavand is located in Mazandaran province and the nearest city to it is Larijan, Iran. View the article of First Iranian Legendary Heroes and Heroines written by this author.
Arak: Previously known as Soltan Abad, Arak is the center of Markazi province, Iran. The evolution of its name is from Soltan Abad Fortress, to Soltan Abad, to Iraq-e Ajam (Persian Iraq), and finally to its current name as Arak since 1938. During Reza Shah Pahlavi (ruled 1925-1941), main railways crossed along the city and later the south-north oil pipe line passed through the city leading to its rapid growth.
Natanz: It is the center of a township of the same name in the Isfahan province of Iran. The bracing climate of Natanz and locally-produced fruits, especially its pears are well-known in Iran. The Natanz Nuclear Facility is located some 30 km from the town near a major highway.
Yazd: It is the capital of Yazd, a central province in Iran. The city of Yazd is located some 175 miles southeast of Isfahan. The city has a 3000 year long history, dating back to the time of the Median Empire, when it was known as Ysatis or Issatis. The present city name, however, may have been derived from Yazdegerd I, a Sassanid King. The city was definitely a Zoroastrian center during Sassanids. After the Islamic conquest of Iran, many Zoroastrians fled to Yazd from neighboring provinces. The city remained Zoroastrian even after the conquest by paying a levy, and only gradually did Islam come to be the dominant religion in the city.
Tabriz: It is the largest city in northwestern Iran. It is situated north of the volcanic cone of Sahand, south of the Eynali Mountain. It is the capital of East Azarbaijan province. Various scholars name the city as the possible site of the Biblical Garden of Eden. According to some sources, the name Tabriz derives from tap-riz (causing fever or heat to flow in Persian languages), from the many thermal springs in the area. The founding of Tabriz is wrapped by mystery and myth. Some documents speculate that In 791 AD, Zubaidah, the wife of Abbasid caliph Harun al-Rashid, rebuilt Tabriz after a devastating earthquake and beautified the city so much as to obtain the credit for having been its founder.
Nayriz: It is a city in Fars province located in the south of Iran.
Tomb of Cyrus: It is the burial place of Cyrus the Great (590 BC-530 BC) who was the founder of the Persian Empire under the Achaemenid dynasty. This empire thence expanded under his rule, as Cyrus eventually conquered the majority of Southwest Asia as well as much of Central Asia, from Egypt to the Indus River in the east, to create the most expansive nation the world had seen up until that era. The Tomb of Cyrus is also called as the Koorush Shrine or the mausoleum of Cyrus the Great. It is also called as the fortress of Tall-e-Takht or Throne Hill. View the article of First Iranian Capital City written by this author.
Persepolis: It was the ceremonial capital of the Persian Empire during the Achaemenid dynasty. Persepolis is situated some 70 km northeast of the city of Shiraz in the Fars province of present-day Iran. In contemporary Iran, the site is known as Throne of Jamshid (in Persian: Takht-e Jamshid). To the ancient Persians, the city was known as Pars, meaning the City of Persians. Persepolis is the Greek interpretation of that name (Perses polis = Persian City).
Kangavar: It is the name of a small district in the western province of Kermanshah in Iran, as well as the name of the town that is the district’s administrative capital. The district, which lies in the Kangavar river valley, is very fertile and contains 30 villages. Kangavar is located about 47 miles from Hamadan on the high road to Kermanshah. Today, the town is best known for the archaeological remains of Temple of Anahita.
Temple of Anahita: The Anahita Temples have been built in many Iranian cities like Kangavar, Bishapur (an ancient city in south of present-day Faliyan in Fars) and other places during different eras. An inscription from 200 BC dedicates a Seleucid temple in western Iran to “Anahita, as the Immaculate Virgin Mother of the Lord Mithra”. The Anahita Temple at Kangavar city of Kermanshah is possibly the most important one. It is speculated that the architectural structure of this temple is a combination of the Greek and Persian styles and some researchers suggest that the temple is related to a girl named Anahita (in Persian: Naheed), the daughter of Din Mehr, who enjoyed a very high status with the ancient Iranians. View the article of First Iranian Goddess of Productivity and Values written by this author.
Nishapur: It is a city in the Razavi Khorasan province in northeastern Iran. Nishapur is the home to many Iranian poets and cultural celebrities. The poet Omar Khayyam was born in Nishapur in 1048 and is buried a few miles outside the town. The 12th century poet and mystic Farideddin Attar, another native of Nishapur, is also buried nearby. And one of the greatest contemporary Iranian painters, late Kamalol Molk, is also buried in the same place.
Quchan: It is in the north-east of Iran in Razavi Khorasan province at an elevation 1149 meters above sea level north of the Shah Jahan Mountains. Quchan is also spelled as Ghoochan, which is a Persian term for Rams indicating it is a center of sheep husbandry.
Saveh: It is a city in the Markazi province of Iran. Saveh is located around 100 km southwest of Tehran. Kaveh Industrial City, one of the largest industrial cities of Iran, is located in Saveh. According to Persian mythology, the Magi who visited the infant Jesus traveled from Saveh, and were buried among its ruins. Referring to Saveh as Saba, the Venetian trader and explorer Marco Polo (1254-1324) described the tombs of the Magi in his book, and wrote that, “In Persia is the city of Saba, from which the Three Magi set out and in this city they are buried, in three very large and beautiful monuments, side by side. And above them there is a square building, beautifully kept. The bodies are still impact, with hair and beard remaining”. Saveh is also said to have possessed one of the greatest libraries in the Middle East, until its destruction by the Mongols during their first invasion to Iran (1220-1235).
Ganaveh: It is a city in Bushehr province of Iran. The Bushehr province is in the south of the country, with a long coastline onto the Persian Gulf.
Koran Gate: It is called as Darvazeh Ghoraan in Persian. This Gate is located at the northeastern entrance of Shiraz on the way to Marvdasht and Isfahan, between Baba Kouhi and Chehel Magham Mountains. The Gate was first built during the reign of Azod-o-Douleh (ruled 949-983) of Buyyid dynasty (in Persian: All-e Buyeh). By the time of the Zand dynasty, it had sustained a lot of damage, so it was renovated and a small room on top was added, in which were kept two hand-written Korans. In 1937 the two Korans were taken from the gate and were taken to the Pars Museum in Shiraz, where they remain today. The gate is presently considered as a part of a city park.
Shiraz: It is the fifth most populated city in Iran and the capital of Fars province. Shiraz has a moderate climate and has been a regional trade center for more than a thousand years. The earliest reference to the city, as Tirazis, is on Elamite clay tablets dated to 2000 BC. Shiraz was the capital of Iran during the Zand dynasty from 1750 until 1781. Shiraz is mostly known as the city of poets like Saadi and Hafez, wine and flowers. It is also considered by many Iranians to be the city of gardens and orchards, due to the many gardens and fruit trees that can be seen in the city.
Dezful: It is a city in the Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran. The name Dezful has been derived from the two Persian words Dej (fortress) + Pol (bridge), that in combination may mean as the Bridge to the Fortress or a Fortified Bridge. Some research evidences indicate that the bridge was built during Sassanid King Shapur I (241-272) and it is the oldest fully functioning bridge in the world.
Sanandaj: It is the capital of the province of Kurdistan in western Iran. As in most other parts of Iran, carpet weaving is one of the most significant handicrafts of Sanandaj. Wood work and jewelry and ornaments are among other main handicrafts of this region.
Ahwaz: It is the capital of the Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran. It is built on the banks of the Karun River and is situated in the middle of the province. Ahwaz was built either by the founder of Sassanid dynasty Ardashir I (224-241) in 230 or by his grandson Hormizd I (272-273). The town’s name either combined Ardashir’s name with the Zoroastrian name for God, Ohrmazd, or with the name of Hormizd. During the Sassanids, an irrigation system and several dams were constructed, and the city prospered. The city replaced Susa, the ancient capital of Susiana, as the capital of what was then called Xuzestan or Khuzestan.
Langeh: It is a city in the Hormozgan province in the south of Iran. It is in the coastline of Persian Gulf being called also as Bandar Langeh. The province has 14 islands located in the Persian Gulf, and 1000 km of coastline. It should be noted that Hormozgan has eleven major cities, namely Bandar Abbas (capital city of the province), Bandar Lengeh, Haji Abbad, Minab, Qeshm (Ghesm), Jask, Bastak, Bandar Khamir, Gavbandi, Roudan and Abumusa.
Lorestan: It comprises a province and a historic territory of western Iran amidst the Zagros Mountains. The major cities in this province are Khorram Abad (the capital city of Lorestan), Borujerd, Aligoodarz, Dorood, Koohdasht, Azna, Alashtar, Noor Abad, and Pol-e Dokhtar.
Tehran: It is the capital and largest city of Iran, and the administrative center of Tehran province. Tehran is one of the largest metropolitans of the world, and it is the country’s largest economic center and the base for its large and small modern technological and industrial establishments. Located on the slopes of the mountains and at the foot of the magnificent Mount Damavand, it has been the country’s capital city for about 200 years. The first mention of Tehran in an old geographical text is made in the 10th century Massalekol Mammalek (The Ways of States) by Estakhri. It was just a village before the Safavid era. Mojamol Boldan (A Lexicon of Cities) discusses the Village of Tehran in detail. Later, one frequently comes across the name of this village with many farms, gardens and orchards, due to its plenty of water and moderate weather. By the Mongols’ invasion and the consequent severe devastation the city of Ray received, most of the Ray’s people took refuge to this village. This was the start point for the growth of Tehran, and gradually this village that was famous for its fine fruits and beautiful gardens, underwent new developments. Shah Tahmaseb, one of the Safavid Kings, chose Tehran as administrative center for the Safavid dynastry, which resulted in constructing many big governmental buildings, castles and gates. At the time of the Zand dynasty, it was a small town that was significant from a military point of view. The first of the Qajar kings, Agha Mohammad Khan, named Tehran as the country’s capital in 1789. Nevertheless, the capital’s development started at the time of Pahlavi dynasty particularly during Mohammad Reza Shah (1941-1979).
Sari: It is the provincial capital of Mazandaran, located in the north of Iran, between the northern slopes of the Alborz Mountains and southern coast of Caspian Sea. The city was founded during the Sasanids Empire.
Golestan: It is a Caspian province in the north-east of Iran. Its capital is Gorgan. View the article of First Iranian Defensive Wall, the Great Wall of Gorgan, written by this author.
Moghan: Aka Dasht-e Moghan is located in the northwest of Ardabil (Ardebil) province. The province is in the north-west of Iran, bordering the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Iranian provinces of East Azarbaijan, Zanjan, and Gilan. Moghan is one of the greatest centers of sheep husbandry in Iran. Dasht-e Moghan’s Bileh Savar area is also considered to have two oil blocks with estimated reserves of more than 4 billion barrels of oil. According to news reported by Press TV on April 7, 2008, Iran and a Ukrainian company will sign an agreement for exploration of oil in Bileh Savar area.
Gonbad: Referring to Gonbad-e Kavoos, it is a city in the province of Golestan in Iran. The city is famous for a historic brick tower by the same name.
Dasht-e Mishan: It is a city in the Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran. Dasht-e Mishan (in English: the Plain Field for Ewes) is also one of the important centers of sheep production in the region. The reliable research works have revealed that sheep domestication, sheep husbandry, and the carpet weaving using the sheep wool were all originated in Iran. Names like Dasht-e Mishan and Ghoochan, etcetera, may be the evidences for that claim. View the article of First Iranians who introduced the Art of Carpet Weaving written by this author.
Kashan: It is a city in the province of Isfahan, Iran. Archeological discoveries in the Sialk Hillocks which lie 4 km west of Kashan reveal that this region was one of the primary centers of civilization in pre-historic ages. The etymology of the city name comes from the Persian term Kashi, which translates into the English word Tile.
Shemiran: It is also called as Shemiranat located north of Tehran on the slopes of Alborz Mountains and includes various areas like the central part, Fasham, Ushan, Meygoon, Lavassanat and Galanduak. Located among the central Alborz range they have a beautiful natural setting with a highland cold weather that makes them an ideal summer resort for the people of Tehran. There are several remains of Qajar monuments in these areas. The most important tourism sites of Shemiranat are the lake of Lateyan dam, Twin Falls (in Persian: Aabshar-e Doghuloo}, the sking sites of Darband, Shemshak and Toochaal, as well Darband valley and Toochal Peak.
Four Gardens: It is called as Chahar Bagh in Persian and it is an avenue in Isfahan, Iran, constructed in the Safavid era. Shah Abbas I was the king who changed his capital from Qazvin to Isfahan and decided to pour all the countries artistic wealth into that central spot of Isfahan. It connects north of city to south and is about 15 kilometers long. Chahar Bagh has also come to mean any rectangular or square garden of four symmetric sections, as for the Gardens of Paradise at the Taj Mahal in India. Read more on the Gardens of Paradise in the history of Iran in the article of First Iranian Capital City written by this author.
Isfahan: It is the capital of Isfahan (Esfahan) province and Iran’s third largest city after Tehran and Mashhad. Isfahan is a traditional center of the textile industry of Iran. It was the capital of Iran in 11th century and also from 1590 to 1722 during Safavids. Isfahan flourished from 1050 to 1722, particularly in the 16th century under the Safavid dynasty. Even today, the city retains much of its past glory. It is famous for its unique architecture, with many beautiful boulevards, covered bridges, palaces, mosques, and minarets. This led to the proverb of Isfahan is half of the world (in Persian: Isfahan nesf-e jahan ast). The Naghsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan is one of the biggest city squares in the world and an outstanding example of Iranian architecture. It has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The city also has a wide variety of historic monuments ranging from the Sassanid to the Safavid dynasties.
Mianeh: It is a city in East Azarbaijan province, Iran, situated in a valley. The original name of the city was Miyanej. Mianeh is one of the region’s oldest cities and its foundations date back to the pre-Islamic era of Iran and the emergence of the Kingdom of Medes or Median Empire (728BC-549BC).
Mahan: It is a city in the Kerman province, Iran. Mahan is well-known for the tomb of Shah Nematolah-e-Vali, poet, sage, Sufi and founder of an order of dervishes. The tomb has twin minarets covered with turquoise tiles from the bottom up to the cupola. Mahan has also some of the most beautiful minarets and gardens in Iran. In his book of Ten Thousand Miles in Persia, the British scholar General Sir Percy Sykes named the Garden of Mahan (in Persian: Bagh-e Maahaan) as one of the most attractive gardens of the world.
Samangan: It is a beautiful forest or jungle near Noshahr and Chaloos in the province of Mazandaran, a Caspian province in the north of Iran. Samangan is also a village in the city of Torbat-e Jam in Razavi Khorasan province, Iran. According to late scholar Dehkhoda, there is also the town of Samangan in Ahwaz. Samangan is also the name of a city and capital of Samangan province in northern Afghanistan. Over there, it is known for its ancient ruins including notably the Takht-e Rustam.
Kenareh: It is a picturesque seashore road along the coasts of Caspian Sea in the north of Iran.
Chaloos: Also transliterated as Chalous and Chalus is a city in Mazandaran province, in Iran. The neighbor cities of Chaloos are Noshahr in the east, Tonekabon in the west in Mazandaran province and Tehran province in the south.
Zagros: The Zagros Mountains make up Iran’s largest mountain range. They have a total length of 1500 km from western Iran, on the border with Iraq to the southern parts of the Persian Gulf. The mountain range ends at the Straits of Hormuz.
Kerman: It is the capital city of Kerman province in the south-east of Iran. It is believed that Kerman has been founded as early as the 3rd century by Ardeshir I, founder of the Sassanid dynasty. Kerman is noted for its rugs, shawls, brass work, and brass handicrafts. The starry sky of Kerman at nights is also very beautiful and poetical.
Masjed Solaiman: It is a city in the Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran. Read all about this city in the article of First Iranian City where the Large Oil Field Explored written by this author.
REFERENCES:
ICCIM Website (2008): Online Notes on Tehran, Shemiranat, Toochal Peak.
Online Dictionary of Dehkhoda (2008): Loghat-Naameh-ye Dehkhoda, Online Notes on Samangan.
Parsi Khabar Website (2007): Online Note on Takht-e Rostam is pride of Karaj.
Press TV Website (2008): Online News on Ukraine to explore Iran’s Moghan oilfield.
Razm Ara, H. A. (1951): Farhang-e Joghraphiyai-e Iran, in Persian, ed., Tehran, Iran.
Saadat Nouri, H. (1984): Safar Nameh-e-General Sir Percy Sykes (in Persian), a Translation of Ten Thousand Miles in Persia by General Sir Percy Sykes, ed., Loheh Publications, Tehran, Iran.
Saadat Nouri, H. (1976): Safar Nameh-e Wilson (in Persian), a Translation of South West Persia: Letters and Diary of a Young Political Officer 1907-1914 by Arnold Talbot Wilson, ed., Vaheed Publications, Tehran, Iran.
Saadat Noury, M. (2008): Online Article on the First Iranian City where the Large Oil Field Explored.
Saadat Noury, M. (2008): Online Article on the First Iranian Legendary Heroes and Heroines.
Saadat Noury, M. (2008): Online Article on the First Iranian Capital City.
Saadat Noury, M. (2008): Online Article on the First Iranian Goddess of Productivity and Values.
Saadat Noury, M. (2008): Online Article on the First Iranian Defensive Wall.
Saadat Noury, M. (2008): Online Article on the First Iranians who introduced the Art of Carpet Weaving.
Wikipedia Encyclopedia (2008): Online Notes on Various Locations in Iran.
