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CAIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL & CULTURAL NEWS OF IRANIAN WORLD© |
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Ganj-Nameh Left Unprotected
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02 July 2006 |
LONDON,
(CAIS) -- Restaurants and entertainment centers
constructed in the vicinity of Ganj-Nameh (Ganj-Nāmé)
ancient site, have changed the historic atmosphere of this ancient site and
endangered the cultural and natural landscape of the area. Adding to these
existing problems is a project to construct a cable car in the vicinity
of Ganj-Nameh; a fact concerning cultural heritage experts who are pushing to
convince the authorities of Iran’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization
(ICHTO) to stop such destructive measures.
Historical
site of Ganj-Nameh is a masterpiece in the heart of the mountains where two
Achaemenid inscriptions carved on the rocks are located; something Iranians have
always felt proud of throughout the history. This ancient site is located in the
nearby mountains of the city of Hamadan with a waterfall right next to it,
adding to the beauty of the scene. Unfortunately, this archeological site is in
danger as this place has changed into an entertaining center, where thousands of
people go every day to enjoy themselves, while no protection is sought.
As a visitor, at the first glance, the scenery gives one a binary feeling:
admiration and concern. It seems these two unique inscriptions are not protected
properly and they are just about falling apart. Construction of a large number
of restaurants and other entertaining centers, and above all the project for
constructing a cable car near this historical site have not only resulted in
lots of damages to the cultural and natural landscape of this historical site,
but they also have endangered the future of one of the most unique historical
sites of Iran and a symbol of national pride.
Nowadays, the project for launching a cable car in the vicinity of this
historical site has became one of the main concerns of cultural heritage experts
who have warned about the future of this ancient site.
In order to preserve the historical site of Ganj-Nameh and prevent the expansion
of other entertainment projects including launching of a cable car in the area,
the experts of the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department of Hamadan province
have asked the president of ICHTO to stop such projects and the activities of
these restaurants and transfer them to another place.
“In a meeting which was held with the presence of representatives from the
Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department of Hamadan province and the cable car
project administrators in Hamadan, the experts of cultural heritage expressed
their concern about the negative consequences of constructing restaurants,
parking lots, and sport arenas in the vicinity of Ganj-Nameh historical-natural
site and have asked for relocation of these places. However, the final decision
should be made by the president of ICHTO,” said Mohammad Rahim Ranjbaran,
research deputy of the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department of Hamadan
province.
Construction of cable cars in the vicinity of Ganj-Nameh historical site was
started by the approval of the former president of ICHTO, despite the
oppositions by the experts of ICHTO and their warnings about the negative
consequences of this action.
While the company who is in charge of performing the project of Ganj-Nameh cable
car claims that since the project will be implemented at a distance of 350
meters from the mountain on which the two inscriptions are carved and that the
poles of the cable cars are not close to the inscriptions to cause any harm to
them, the experts of the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department of Hamadan
province argue that the shakes which will be caused by setting these polls will
pose serious hazards to the inscriptions and might cause cracks to appear in
them.
According to the experts, this project will also put in risk the untamed
environment of Ganj-Nameh historical-natural site, although it had already been
endangered to some extent by constructing more entertaining centers such as
restaurants.
The Achaemenid inscriptions of Ganj-Nameh are located 5 kilometers southwest of
Hamadan, the city which was once the capital of the first Iranian dynasty, the
Medes (728-550 BCE) before they formed a union with the Persians. They are
carved artistically on granite on the side of Alvand Mountain in three ancient
languages of Aryan (Old Persian), Neo-Babylonian and Neo-Elamite. One of these
inscriptions was ordered by Darius the Great (521-485 BCE) and the other by HIS
SON Xerxes (485-465 BCE). However, both start with praising the creator, Ahura
Mazda
and describe the lineage and deeds of the mentioned king of kings.
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News Source: CHN Please note the above-news is NOT a "copy & paste" version from the mentioned-source. The news/article above has been modified with the following interventions by CAIS: Spelling errors; -Rectification and correction of the historical facts and data; - Providing additional historical information within the text; -Removing any unnecessary, irrelevant & repetitive information.
All these measures have been taken in
order to ensure that the published news provided by CAIS is coherent,
accurate and suitable for academics and cultural enthusiasts who visit
the CAIS website.
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"History is the Light on the Path to Future" |
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Encyclopaedia Iranica
The British Institute of Persian Studies "Persepolis Reconstructed"
The British Museum
The Royal Asiatic Society
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