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Documentary Works www.Mahan.aero Proprietor : Mahan Air Co. Under the Supervision of Editorial Board and Policy Council Central Office: 4th Floor, Mahan Air Tower, Azadegan St., Karaj High-way, Tehran,iran P.O.Box: 14515411 Tel: (+98 21) 48386734 www.mahan.aero Telegram.me/mahanairchannel Instagram.com/fly_mahanair Advertisement: Mahan Inflight Magazine Didehban Press Group Maral Sharif Tel: (+98 21) 22 77 0 272 (+98 21) 22 77 0 280 [email protected] 24 English 34 Chinese 38 Arabic 22 No.132 Mahan Inflight Magazine Editorial www.Mahan.aero In the name of God Welcome on board. It is a great pleasure having you experience our services today. Mahan Air was introduced to aviation industry in 1992 and we are extremely proud of steadily growing our presence and services over the past 26 years and look forward to exciting years ahead to continue investing in new aircrafts and new routes with specific focus on offering the highest standards of service and hospitality in the global airline industry. We consider Mahan Air contribution to the border community across Iran and other places in the world where we are well positioned to make a real difference by providing frequent flights for approximately 4.9 million passengers per year. Today, Mahan Air operates a fleet of more than 60 new Airbus and Boeing aircrafts from Tehran hub to more than 39 routes inside Iran and 50 routes internationally across Europe, Asia, Middle East, Far East and CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States). To join Mahan Air Frequent Flyer program, a loyalty program is offered to our customers to enjoy a range of exclusive privileges and courtesy services (including: lounge access, check-in priority, increased baggage allowance, guaranteed award seats and more) kindly fill the application forms available on our website or you can collect them at Mahan Air check-in counter or even on-board during your flight and immediately start collecting miles with the temporary card and take advantage of the benefits. For more information, Please visit (www.mahan.aero) to learn about the card benefits and services. In addition to facilitating the check in process, Mahan air has provided web check in (online check- in) in most of domestic airports. This service will be operational 24-1.5 hours before flight We are continually striving to provide high quality service to every one of our valued passengers. Hearing your ideas and feedback on what we do well and where we need to improve is fundamental to this. You can provide your feedback – good or bad – quickly and easily through the online “Feedback Form” that will be sent to you by text. The crew will also be handing out these forms, during your flight. We would like to thank you for your continued support of Mahan and our services. Please sit back and enjoy our renowned Persian hospitality. Our crew is friendly, professional & trained and shares a passion for ensuring your journey is as comfortable as possible. Thank you once again for choosing to Fly with Mahan air. No.132 Mahan Inflight Magazine 23 Maragheh www.Mahan.aero The Jewel of Persian Astronomy Maragheh 24 No.132 Mahan Inflight Magazine Maragheh www.Mahan.aero Maragheh is of the cities in East Azerbaijan province and has about 120 kilometers distant from Tabriz. it has been a noteworthy city in historical, scientific and political terms in Iran’s history and was the capital of Iran during the reign of the Ilkhanid dynasty. Khawaja Nasir al-Din al-Tusi, the vizier of Hulagu Khan (the Ilkhanid king), constructed Maragheh observatory in 1258 (656 lunar calendar), a small section of which still remains while the most of it has been ruined. Maragheh county has 300 historical monuments and archeological sites. It is one of the top ten historically and culturally rich counties in the country. It’s also worth mentioning that Maragheh city is sister with Gorazde city in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Once the capital of Ilkhanid dynasty, Maragheh city is bound with its observatory and the name of Nasir al-Din Tusi. Based on some archeological evidence, the history of the area dates back to 5 million years ago. One of the Astronomical Heritages of Maragheh, is Maragheh observatory the significance of which is mainly due to its important role in astronomy and mathematics of the middle ages. No.132 Mahan Inflight Magazine 25 Maragheh www.Mahan.aero City of Gonbad Gonbad-e Qaffariyeh The squat Gonbad-e Qaffariyeh sits forlornly in a riverside garden with a tacky trio of concrete dolphins. 26 No.132 Mahan Inflight Magazine Maragheh www.Mahan.aero Gonbad-e Sorkh Of several fine tomb towers scattered around town, this has the most interesting form, with a square plan topped by a pinched octagon. An upper window hole is positioned such that sunlight shines directly onto the inner doorway at the spring equinox. Gonbad-e Kabud The lovely Gonbad-e Kabud is thought to be the tomb of Mongol ruler Hulagu Khan’s mother. It’s attractively dotted with blue-tiled inlay but let down by its backdrop of school buildings and a shopping centre. No.132 Mahan Inflight Magazine 27 Maragheh www.Mahan.aero National Heritage Monument With 300 registered national heritage monuments, Maragheh is among the top ten cultural cities of the country. The city features the squat dome of Qafarie, Round Tower, the 10-sided Kabud Dome, Mehr Temple, Tomb of Ohadi Maraqei, Kabutar Cave, Hulagu Bridge, mineral springs, etc; but all pale by comparison to the astronomical observatory of Maragheh, dating back to 800 years ago. Maragheh Observatory, registered on national heritage list under the number 1675, was the most advanced astronomical facility of its time, before the advent of telescope. Even for 300 years after its establishment, no observatory of such technology came into existence. Maragheh observatory, located on the heights west of Maragheh, East Azerbaijan, is an institutionalized astronomical observatory, established in 1259 under the patronage of the Ilkhanid ruler Hulagu Khan and the directorship of scientist and astronomer Nasir-ol- Din Tusi. It was once considered one of the most prestigious observatories in the world. Hulagu Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan, settled in East Azerbaijan and made Maragheh his capital, due to its favorable climate and abundant grasslands. Hulagu’s conquests opened Iran to both European influence from the west and Chinese influence from the east. This developed Iran’s distinctive excellence in science and architecture. Thus Maragheh saw its best days during Hulagu’s reign. Like many other Mongol aristocrats Hulagu was fascinated by astrology. Along with bone divination, stars were often referred to as signs and omens by the Mongols. Tusi took advantage of this, and encouraged Hulagu to commission an observatory like no other. 28 No.132 Mahan Inflight Magazine Maragheh www.Mahan.aero Maragheh Observatory was the largest observatory in its time, consisting of a series of buildings occupying an area of 150 meters in width and 350 meters in length. One of these buildings was a dome which allowed the sun’s rays to pass through. There was also a library consisting of 40,000 volumes previously plundered from other libraries by Mongol invaders across Persia, Syria and Mesopotamia, including the legendary library of Alamut, where Tusi himself salvaged some compositions. Astronomers from across Persia, Syria, Anatolia and even China were gathered at Maragheh Observatory, and the names of at least twenty who worked at the observatory are known. It is believed that several Chinese astronomers worked at the observatory and that they introduced several Chinese methods of computation. The observatory was also reported to have had over a hundred students studying under Tusi, and was also said to be the first observatory to benefit from the revenues out of endowed properties. After Tusi’s death, his son was appointed its director, but the observatory was abandoned later in the middle of the 14th century. Two centuries later, a visit to the ruins of the observatory inspired the Timurid ruler Ulugh Beg, who was also an astronomer, to construct his own large observatory at Samarkand to continue the astronomical research of Maragheh School. No.132 Mahan Inflight Magazine 29 Maragheh www.Mahan.aero Zahhak Castle Dates back to about the year 2000 BC, Zahhak castle was first discovered in 19th century. The name of the castle indicates a figure in Persian mythology, however, it is not obvious why the castle is named after him. Zahhak castle is located in northwest Iran near Hashtroud. Traveling to Maragheh is a superb chance to visit this incredible construction. Awhadi Maraghei Tomb One of the other important monuments of city of Maragheh is Ohadi Maraghei Tomb, in which Rokneddin Abolhassan Maraghei, popularly known as “Ohadi Maraghei” is laid to rest. He was one of the well-known poets and mystic figures of the Ilkhanid period, which penned the well- known Jaam-e Jam elegy. Born in Maragheh in 670 AH, he was a mystic and pious figure who attained mastery in Islamic sciences and mysticism. He first used the penname “Safi”, but later changed it to Ohadi, which was rooted in the name of his teacher, Ohadi Kermani. His illustrious work, Jaam-e Jam, includes 5,000 couplets, which were written in 733 AH. He has also left behind the book “Dehnameh”. The name of Ohadi and his date of death are engraved on the northern and southern walls of this building. Next to Ohadi Maragheie’s tomb is the Maragheh Museum. 30 No.132 Mahan Inflight Magazine Maragheh www.Mahan.aero Ilkhani Museum in Maragheh Ilkhani Museum started its activities in 1996 as a specific museum of Ilkhani dynasty.

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