'Glory of Persia' Shines in South-Korea

LONDON, (CAIS) -- The 7000 years of Iranian civilisation and history will be displayed in the “Glory of Persia” exhibition, which will be held in Seoul and Daegu from April 22 to August 31, the Korea Times reported.

The National Museum of Korea will host 204 unique historical relics from 5000 BCE to the end of the Sasanian dynastic era in 651 CE.

After the Seoul exhibit, the showcase will go to the Daegu National Museum from September 29 to December 21.

Most of the artefacts have been provided by the National Museum of Iran and the Reza Abbasi, Azarbaijan, and Persepolis museums.

“It is a good opportunity to see the Iranian artefacts borrowed from the five Iranian museums in Korea as part of efforts to strengthen cultural ties with Iran,” Kang Sung-il, director general of the Education and Culture Cooperation Bureau of the museum, said in a press conference Tuesday.

He went on to say that the exhibit will include performances, academic seminars and festivals related to Iranian culture.

The museum has been preparing for the exhibition for the last three years.

“Many Iranian people are interested in Korean culture as ‘Jewel in the Palace’, a Korean drama, recently hit Iranian airwaves and garnered huge ratings. It is very encouraging for cultural ties between the two nations”, Kang added.

The exhibit also includes 18 artefacts excavated in Gyeongju, the capital of the Silla Kingdom (57 BCE-935 CE), which traded with Iranian merchants through the Silk Road. According to historical records, Koreans may have traded with them because some Iranian artefacts have been recovered from Silla tombs.

The exhibit will be on display in two halls. In the first, gold and silver wares will be shown, along with other accessories under the title of “Persian Gold”.

Gold ware from Hamedan, including an Achaemenid rhyton in the shape of a winged lion from 500-400 BCE, a gold cup with lion heads from 1300-1200 BCE, a goblet decorated with animals from 1250-1150 BCE and various seals that indicate social status and golden and silver coins created during the Achaemenid and Sasanian dynasties will show the high-quality, sophisticated and delicate craftsmanship of Iranians.

In the second exhibit hall, there will be earthenware designed to store grain and Lorestan bronze from ancient times to the Sasanian dynasty.

Bracelets, footwear, jugs, and bowls from Silla Kingdom will also be on display. Visitors can see how the ancient kingdom exchanged culture with ancient Iran.

Aside from the exhibit, the museum will feature Iranian food and performances during the exhibit.

The museum will also provide audio guides to visitors and documents explaining the exhibit through video clips.

Extracted From/Source: Mehr News [*]