Culture

PayvandNews – Nearly one decade of archaeological surveys at Kaldar cave has concluded that parts of this western Iranian shelter date more than 63,000 years. “After a decade of studying the cultural evidence yielded from the three seasons of archeological excavations at Kaldar Cave, the recent results show that a Paleolithic layer in the middle of this the cave is …

Radiofarda – Iran’s “ancient sport” — or “varzesh bastani” — a traditional form of athletics that combines elements of Islam and ancient Persian beliefs, has long been a male-only domain. But not so much anymore. In recent years, an increasing number of women have taken on the discipline. The sport is also referred to as “varzesh pahlavani,” meaning the sport …

RFL/RE – Mohammad Ali Keshavarz, a legendary actor in Iranian film, theater, and television, has died at the age of 90 in Tehran. Keshavarz was hospitalized in early June with a kidney problem, after which he was placed in the intensive care unit due to a lung infection. The prominent actor had been ill since 1990 and hospitalized several times. …

PayvandNews- If you are looking for a natural place to be amazed, you should take a trip to Zanjan Province in Iran and see the colorful Aladaghlar Mountains. ”Ala” in Azeri Turkish language means colorful and ”Dag” means mountain. The Aladaglar rainbow mountains and hills are tucked into the northwest of Iran, 25 kilometers in the northeast of Tabriz between …

PayvandNews – Archaeologists have found prehistoric rock drawings near Natanz in central Iran which give clues about the rise of human presence that is rooted in 14,000 years of history.  Existing findings prove that human life goes back to 6,000 years in the region. “A 14,000-year-old evidence of human social life has been identified by experts who examining rock carvings being found …

PayvandNews – A music video inspired by Persian poet Sadi’s famous poem “The Sons of Adam Are Limbs of Each Other” has been released with the voice of Iranian vocalist Alireza Qorbani in collaboration with several Italian singers and overseas musicians during the pandemic. The music video has been released to promote the message of peace and friendship, the Italian …

PayvandNews – With the aim of expressing appreciation for the medical staff from around globe, the Iran’s National Instruments Orchestra performed “The Avicenna Suite” by maestro Farhad Fakhreddini. The work has been recorded and edited by cell phone at home. Iran National Orchestra plays Hossein Dehlavi’s “Sabokbal” piece in quarantine to appreciate Iran’s health protectors. Presented by: Roudaki Artistic Cultural Center.

Radiofarda – Digging a deep grave to bury a COVID-19 victim in a tiny northern Iranian village has revealed remnants of a soldier and some artifacts buried with him from the Parthian era (247 BC – 224 AD). The discovery was accidentally made when a digging machine brought the remnants of a skeleton and some artifacts to the surface. Mehdi …

bostonglobe.com – We might be chafing at the stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 crisis, but Iranian auteur Jafar Panahi has for years endured a similar but far graver confinement and made the most of it. In 2010 an Iranian court punished his outspokenness with a six-year prison term, later reduced to house arrest, plus a 20-year ban on making movies. Since then …

PayvandNews – Some cultural heritage enthusiasts say that hundreds of stone lions, which were placed on top of the tombstones of brave and courageous people of Bakhtiari tribe in the past, are now on the verge of oblivion and even fading away. Bakhtiari nomads regard such stone statues, locally called ‘Bard Shirs’ as a symbol of bravery, valor, and characteristics …