From Mashad to Shiraz

Middle East » Iran
October 19th 2007

Published: November 5th 2007

Crossed the border from Turkmenistan to Iran on the 15th October. A much easier undertaking compared to the previous one, except now the ladies had to cover their hair with scarves and wear long shirts/coats. First stop was Mashad where the ladies in the group hit the shops to purchase long robes or manteaus (knee-length coats) and head scarves. Considering that the only form of self-expression fa... Read Full Entry

Photos are below

Photos: 35, Displayed: 21

Column carvings

This distinctively shows where the sands of time covered and preserved the original intricate black stone carvings in the bottom half of the column.

Central Palace Staircase

Apadana Staircase

Bas reliefs depicting the bearing of gifts and tribute from royal courtiers and delegations from subject nations to the King of the Achaemenid Empire.

The Indians are coming...

With a tiger or two for the King

Gift of camels and spices

From one of the Middle East subject nations

Some good plonk won't go to waste

Apadana Palace

All that's left of the Welcoming Chamber, but the massive height of the columns gives you an idea of the grandeur that greeted the King's important guests.

Doorway to Xerxes' Palace

Relief showing the King in formal dress leaving the palace, followed by two attendants.

Palace of 100 Columns

With the Tomb of Artaxerxes II on the hillside

Zoroastrian symbol

Naqsh-e Rostam

Rock tombs of 3 Persepolis Kings believed to be Darius I, Artaxerxes I and Xerxes 1. Similar to Petra in Jordan.

Tomb of Darius II

The 4th tomb in Naqsh-e Rostam

Amazing stone reliefs

Pasargadae dig

We came across this joint Italian-Iranian archaeological team in Pasargadae, who are determining the different timelines of the empire of Cyrus the Great and his successors.

22nd September 2008

joão antonio
non-member comment

congratulations!!!
gesine cheung, your page blog about iran is a fantastic history class. thanks for taking me out of my ignorance. happiness for you. joão antonio

2nd April 2010

David Oates
non-member comment

Trip to Iran
Nice site; great pictures. I went on the same route as you in 2009 and then went to Yazd, Isfahan and Tehran. 8 of us in a group but only me (English) and 2 Americans were fingerprinted. Ozzies and kiwis were not. What did you think of the people? I found them so very very friendly and generous. Waves, greetings, bear hugs, bread, apples and fruit.

2nd April 2013

srajnendrappa
non-member comment

Beautiful .
Thank u for the display

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