Did you Know?

Ancient Persia represents a remarkable period of our history. It Influenced western culture through its influence upon Greek culture. It had considerable influence in the Bible (Daniel, Esther, Haggai, Esdras), and the religion of Persia at the time (Zoroastrianism) influenced the Judeo-Christian-Islamic traditions.

The society was unprecedented in its multicultural nature and tolerance. The stable and secure empire facilitated trade across a huge territory from India to Europe, from Africa to the Steppes. Its monuments were built by paid laborers and artisans from across the empire, without slavery. Women held positions of power and influence.

Even 2500 years ago, the land was already ancient. The early Mesopotamian civilizations of Akkad, Sumer, and Ur date back to 2900BC, and earlier settlements go back to the Late Neolithic. Ancient-rooted stories such as those of Noah and Gilgamesh (a king who ruled around 2700BCE) survive to this day.

Cyrus the Great (576 — August 530 BCE) was the founder of Achaemenid Persian Empire. He is credited with the world's first first bill of rights. The famous Cyrus Cylinder guaranteed freedom of religion, freedom to intermarry, and freedom from tyranny. A replica of the cylinder is kept at the United Nations, in New York, between the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council chambers.

Cyrus used Satrapies, a form of devolved government, to control his empire. He is credited with the return of Israelites to Judea & enabling the temple rebuilding in Jerusalem. He is the only ‘anointed’ gentile.

Darius the Great (549– 486/485 BCE) came to power by crushing a rebellion inspired by religious clerics (the Magi). Darius oversaw the largest extent of the Persian Empire. He expanded use of Satrapies, standardised weights & measures, reformed laws, and delivered on Cyrus’ pledge to Jerusalem.

Darius developed an extensive road and messenger network referenced even today in the New York City Post Office motto inscribed around its walls:

“Neither rain nor hail nor sleet nor snow nor heat of day nor dark of night shall keep this carrier from the swift completion of his appointed rounds”

from the historian Herodotus’ description of Darius' messenger network.

Darius oversaw the first ‘Suez’ canal: His navy could pass from the Mediterranean to the Nile to the Red Sea and then to Persia.

Darius founded the city of Persepolis.

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Did you know?	Ancient Persia built the first "Suez" Canal some 2300 years before the current one? Ancient Persia gave the world its first Bill of Rights? Ancient Persia didn't use slaves to build its monuments? Some women in Ancient Persia were powerful CEOs? The New York Post Office Motto comes from Ancient Persia? The "little Cherub" of today was originally a terrifying winged bull-man-monster from Ancient Persia (and before)? The Persian city of Persepolis was founded decades before the Greek Parthenon? The Persian Empire covered more than 3 million square miles, from Europe to India, from Africa to the Russian Steppes? Ancient Persia was the bridge that transmitted the scientific achievements of the ancients to Greece and ultimately to western Europe?
	Some more background...
About the title:	The title: "Jamshid and the lost Mountain of Light" comes from a legendary king and a royal diamond... The Persian poet Abolqasem Ferdousi wrote an epic "Book of Kings" or “ Shahnameh ” in the 10th Century. He based it on earlier texts. One of the early mythical kings in his poem is named Jamshid. Today, the Iranian name for Persepolis is “Takht-e-Jamshid”, which means “Throne of Jamshid”. Persepolis was one of the capitol cities of Ancient Persia, and its remains can be seen today. One of the diamonds in British crown jewels is the “Kuh-i-noor”, which means “Mountain of Light” in Farsi (Persian). Legend has it passed between Alexander and India after Persian conquest.
Why all the flowers?	The flowers are lotus flowers which had special significance in Ancient Persia. They represent purity because even though they grow from the mud they are clean, water does not touch the leaves. The 12-petal lotus flower appears everywhere in Persepolis, and that is why it appears in the book.
Why the bull and lion?	Lions and bulls appear in capitols and reliefs all over Persepolis. It may be that the bull represents winter and the lion represents summer. The Bull also represents the first animal in the world. It was white and bright as the moon, but it was killed by Angra Mainyu (the devil) and its seed was taken to the moon. Once purified, its seed gave rise to many animals and plants (from "Persian Myths” by Vesta Sarkhosh Curtis).
The influence of Ancient Persia today	Ancient Persia represents a remarkable period of our history. It Influenced western culture through its influence upon Greek culture. It had considerable influence in the Bible (Daniel, Esther, Haggai, Esdras), and the religion of Persia at the time (Zoroastrianism) influenced the Judeo-Christian-Islamic traditions. The society was unprecedented in its multicultural nature and tolerance. The stable and secure empire facilitated trade across a huge territory from India to Europe, from Africa to the Steppes. Its monuments were built by paid laborers and artisans from across the empire, without slavery. Women held positions of power and influence. Even 2500 years ago, the land was already ancient. The early Mesopotamian civilizations of Akkad, Sumer, and Ur date back to 2900BC, and earlier settlements go back to the Late Neolithic. Ancient-rooted stories such as those of Noah and Gilgamesh (a king who ruled around 2700BCE) survive to this day. Cyrus the Great (576 — August 530 BCE) was the founder of Achaemenid Persian Empire. He is credited with the world's first first bill of rights. The famous Cyrus Cylinder guaranteed freedom of religion, freedom to intermarry, and freedom from tyranny. A replica of the cylinder is kept at the United Nations, in New York, between the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council chambers. Cyrus used Satrapies, a form of devolved government, to control his empire. He is credited with the return of Israelites to Judea & enabling the temple rebuilding in Jerusalem. He is the only ‘anointed’ gentile. Darius the Great (549– 486/485 BCE) came to power by crushing a rebellion inspired by religious clerics (the Magi). Darius oversaw the largest extent of the Persian Empire. He expanded use of Satrapies, standardised weights & measures, reformed laws, and delivered on Cyrus’ pledge to Jerusalem. Darius developed an extensive road and messenger network referenced even today in the New York City Post Office motto inscribed around its walls: “Neither rain nor hail nor sleet nor snow nor heat of day nor dark of night shall keep this carrier from the swift completion of his appointed rounds” from the historian Herodotus’ description of Darius' messenger network. Darius oversaw the first ‘Suez’ canal: His navy could pass from the Mediterranean to the Nile to the Red Sea and then to Persia. Darius founded the city of Persepolis.
Women in Ancient Persia	Some women in Ancient Persia were powerful and held property. Several high-ranking leaders of workforce were women (eg Irdabama). There was no segregation of most of the workforce. Queen Atossa (one of Darius' wives) was extremely powerful. She determined that her son Xerxes would succeed Darius. The veil was sign of high status, a concept that no doubt evolved into Islamic hejab. Despite the role of women in Ancient Persian society, Persepolis shows no women, mothers of boys received twice the rations compared to mothers of baby girls, and the Emperor had many wives.
Legacy of Greek Propaganda	The legacy of Ancient Persia has recently been reevaluated and separated from Greek propaganda The classical view persists today of a Greek victory against tyranny (for example the odious film “300”) which ushered in the birth of modern western civilization. Remember that the victor writes history, and the Ancient Greeks despised Persians after the Persian Wars. In reality, the Greeks (Ionians) prospered in the Persian empire. Greek craftsmen worked in Susa and Persepolis, and some left graffiti! Asia minor melded Greek & Persian cultural influences. In Greece, Persian culture was associated with elite power and wealth. For example, Persian Luxury goods were enjoyed by Athenians, Persian Clothing was worn (but Greek women wore Persian men's fashions). The parasol & fly whisk used as symbols of power in Persia were imported. Persian money supported Sparta in Peloponnesian war, and Persia guaranteed settlement of disputes between Greek cities. Persia became a haven for Greek refugees (eg the democratic statesman Themistokles), and even Plato had a Persian student. Persia was, in effect, the America of the time.
Google Earth locations	Got Google Earth? (available at http://earth.google.com) links to Google Earth Placemark Files for locations featured in the book: Persepolis Susa Chogha Zanbil Ecbatana The Caves of Ali Sadr
Bibliography	"Forgotten Empire: The World of Ancient Persia" by J. E Curtis and N. Tallis. 2005. University of California Press. "A Taste of Persia ” by Najmieh K. Batmanglij. 2nd edition - 2006. Mage Publishers. "Ancient Persia” by Josef Wiesehöfer, translated by Azizeh Azodi. 2001 I.B. Tauris & Co Ltd. London, UK. "Persian Myths (Legendary Past Series)” by Vesta Sarkhosh Curtis. 1993 University of Texas Press. “Historical Atlas of the Ancient World” by John Haywood with Charles Freeman, Paul Garwood, and Judith Toms. 2001 MetroBooks. “Gilgamesh (Looking at Myths and Legends)” by Irving Finkel. 1998 British Museum Press, UK. "Gilgamesh: A New English Version" by Stephen Mitchell. 2006. Free Press. “Women in Ancient Persia, 559-331 BC (Oxford Classical Monographs)” by Maria Brosius. 1998 Oxford University Press Inc. New York. “Irania – Glory Of The Past volume 2: 3^rd Millennium BC – 7th Century AD”. Multimedia CD 1998 Vista Ara Cultural Institute, Tehran, Iran. “This diamond is forever” by Gurmukh Singh Sandhu, The Sunday Tribune of India. "The Persian Expedition (Penguin Classics)” by Xenophon, translated by Rex Warner. 1972 Penguin Books Ltd, London. "The Education of Cyrus (Agora Editions)” by Xenophon, translated by Wayne Ambler. 2001 Cornell University Press, Ithaca, New York. "The New English Bible with the Apocrypha" : The books of Daniel, Haggai, 1 Esdras, and Esther (apocryphal chapters).