Art & Culture May 6, 2021 3 This Day in History Austria’s Festival of Nations (May 6)

Today is Thursday; 16th of the Iranian month of Ordibehesht 1400 solar hijri; corresponding to 23rd of the Islamic month of Ramadhan 1442 lunar hijri; and Hosts ’s ‘Branded’ May 6, 2021, of the Christian Gregorian Calendar. Nearly a millennium-and-a-half lunar years ago, on the eve of this day, God TEHRAN (IFILM) -- Iranian short film Almighty sent down the Holy Qur’an on the heart of Prophet Mohammad ‘Branded’ is set to participate at the 2021 edi- (SAWA) from the Preserved Tablet or the “Lowh al-Mahfouz”, as the final tion of Festival of Nations in Austria. heavenly scripture for all mankind with the universal message of Islam, as The Iranian Youth Cinema Society reported on is evident by the ayah: “Indeed, We sent it down on the Grand Night (Laylat- al-Qadr).” This was the first stage of the revelation, although over the next Monday that ‘Branded’, directed by Fatemeh 23 years of the Prophet’s mission, the entire text of the Holy Qur’an was Mohammadi, will be screened at the upcoming gradually revealed to mankind. edition of the Austrian event in September. 1222 lunar years ago, on this day in 220 AH, founder of the short-lived Tulunid Written by Amir Roueeni, the film is about Dynasty of Egypt and later Syria, Ahmad Ibn Tulun, was born in Baghdad. Hafiz, who decides to cross the Afghan border 897 solar years ago, on this day in 1124 AD, Turkic Emir of Aleppo, Balak in order to save the life of a woman and her Noor od-Dowla, who was a thorn in the side of the Crusader invaders, was child. killed in battle. Son of Bahram bin Artuq, his name “Balak” means “fish According to the report, the Festival of Nations implicating elusion”. He was one of the chiefs of the Doger tribe of the Oghuzz, who arrived in Syria from the steppes of Central Asia, along with the Seljuq is one of the prominent festivals in Austria. It Turks. Nephew, close-confidant and son-in-law of Ilghazi, the ruler of Mardin takes place every year in the town of Lenzing. and parts of al-Jazira area of Iraq, in addition to Aleppo, he served in many “We show fiction, animation and documenta- campaigns against the Crusaders, and gained fame due to his capture of Jocelin ries from 1 to 30 minutes duration. What makes of Edessa in 1122, and Baldwin II, the self-styled King of the usurper Latin our festival special are the open discussions be- Kingdom of Jerusalem. The following year, he penetrated Eastern Anatolia tween jury, filmmakers and the audience right and in 1124 after a successful attack on Edessa, was killed when a stray arrow after each film block,” the event’s website reads. struck his throat. Despite his success against the Crusaders, Balak was a person The upcoming edition of the festival will take of dubious character, and had expelled the Shi’ite Muslim of Aleppo from their homes and hearths during his brief rule. place on September 9-14. 494 solar years ago, on this day in 1527 AD, German and Spanish troops under Charles V began sacking Rome, bringing about the end of the Renaissance. Libraries were destroyed, Pope Clement VII was captured and thousands were Iranian Artists Illustrate Imam Ali’s Image killed. TEHRAN (Honaronline) – in the works of Iranian artists, 492 solar years ago, on this day in 1529 AD, the Timurid ruler of Kabul, Za- Iranian artists have expressed human images of heroes and heer od-Din Mohammad Babar, after having conquered the Delhi Sultanate at their heartfelt devotion to the myths were seen. the decisive Battle of Panipat in 1526 and routing the Rajput chiefs in the Bat- first Shia Imam by depicting the Iconography flourished in the tle of Khanwa in 1527, completed the conquest of Hindustan or Northern India by defeating the joint army of the Eastern Afghan Confederacy and the Sultan image of Imam Ali (AS). Islamic period from the time of of Bengal, at the junction of the Ghagra and Ganges Rivers. A protégé of Shah Iconography is a type of art the Bouye’s period. This trend Ismail Safavi of Iran, Babar thus established the Moghal Empire in the Sub- that has a deep connection reached its peak in the Qajar pe- continent, which reached its greatest extent under Aurangzeb by 1700, before with human religious beliefs. riod and a large number of im- gradual breakup and final abolishment by the British invaders of India in 1857. Throughout history, people of ages of Imams were depicted, 188 lunar years ago, on this day in 1254 AH, the jurisprudential encyclopedia, different religions have been which were used for installation “Jawaher al-Kalaam”, was completed in 44 volumes after 27 years of interested in depicting and por- in religious places. research by the prominent scholar Shaikh Mohammad Hassan an-Najafi in traying the faces of prophets Among the various themes of holy Najaf Iraq in the early morning hours of the Grand Night of Qadr. It is and saints. In this way, they will iconography, the most atten- a comprehensive and discursive work on Imamiyya fiqh, and is an extended have more connection with the tion has been paid to the face exposition of “Shara’e al-Islam” written centuries earlier by Muhaqqiq al- Hilli. It is taught till this day at seminaries in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, etc. world of spirituality. of Imam Ali (AS). The image 165 solar years ago, on this day in 1856 AD, Sigmund Freud, Austrian This art has had many ups and of Imam Ali (AS) can be seen neurologist psychiatrist was born. Among his books are “The Interpretation downs and has been faced with By Abolhassan Sani Homayoun-Qajar era-Cultural museum and in various murals of the Qajar of Dreams”, and “The Future of an Illusion”. sanctions many times at differ- manuscripts, Dr. Mohammad Sadegh Mahfouzi. period, including painting on 164 solar years ago, on this day in 1857 AD, the British East India Company ent periods. In Islam, iconogra- ning due to the Arabs’ history of of living beings found their way plaster, painting behind glass, disbanded the 34th Regiment of Bengal Native Infantry whose soldier Mangal phy was banned from the begin- idolatry. But gradually, images into the books, and especially and painting on tiles. Pandey had earlier revolted against the British and is considered to be the first casualty of the north Indian uprising against colonial rule. 162 solar years ago, on this day in 1859 AD, German biologist and scientist, Alexander Humboldt, died at the age of 90. He was born in Berlin and travelled Hamedan Historical Monuments to Asia and the Americas to conduct extensive research. His studies mainly revolve round discovery of terms of Earth’s evolution. The Humboldt Current Await UNESCO Registration is named after him. 110 solar years ago, on this day in 1911 AD, Zabihollah Safa, the Iranian TEHRAN (FNA) - Iran has pre- and tangible heritage for registration expert, researcher and professor Emeritus of pared documents of several histori- at the United Nations Educational, at , was born in Shahmirzad in Mazandaran. cal monuments and natural sites in Scientific and Cultural Organization 71 solar years ago, on this day in 1950 AD, Belgian biologist and author, Hamedan province to be registered in (UNESCO). Maurice Maeterlinck, died at the age of 87. He was awarded the Nobel Prize the United Nations Educational, Scien- Mounesan unveiled files for reg- for Literature in the year 1911. He has left behind a large number of books, tific and Cultural Organization (UNE- istration in UNESCO list, including including “The Blue Bird”, which is translated to a number of languages. SCO) Temporary List of World Heri- silkworm breeding and silk spinning, Among his works, mention can also be made of “The Life of the Bee”, “The tage, an official said. Turkmen embroidery, making and Life of the Ant”, and “Wisdom and Destiny”. Director General of Cultural Heri- playing the oud musical instrument, Hegmataneh Archaeological Palace. 57 solar years ago, on this day in 1964 AD, Ayatollah Ruhollah Kamalvand tage of Hamedan Province Ali Mal- Yalda night celebration, Iranian cara- Khorramabadi, passed away at the age of 64 in his hometown Khorramabad mir said on Tuesday that some of the vanserai, accession of Dizmar natural sion of Naqsh-e Rajab and Naqsh-e- lis, and accession of Vank church to and was laid to rest in the mausoleum of Hazrat Fatema al-Ma’soumah (SA) documents have been finalized and heritage to Hyrcanian forests, acces- Rostam rock inscriptions to Persepo- the set of Iranian churches. in the holy city of Qom. He was a classmate of the Father of the Islamic Rev- sent to the UNESCO, but other ones olution, Imam Khomeini (RA), and after attaining ijtehad had spent the last are in last phase of study. fourteen years of his life in grooming students in his hometown, where he “The idea of listing Hegmataneh revived the Islamic seminary. Hill was discussed by Iranian and 51 solar years ago, on this day in 1970 AD, Badi’ oz-Zamaan Foruzaanfar, the UNESCO experts,” Malmir said. famous scholar of , Iranian linguistics and culture, and poet, “The Ali Sadr Cave has been put passed away at the age of 66. on the UNESCO Temporary List of 50 lunar years ago, on this day in 1392 AH, the famous exegesis of the holy World Heritage,” he noted, adding Qur’an titled“Tafsir al-Mizan” was completed in the dawn hours of the Grand that the documents of Taj Abad and Night of Qadr by Allamah Seyyed Mohammad Hussain Tabatabaie of Iran in Farasfaj caravanserais have been de- Arabic in 20 volumes, after 18 years of research and scholastic study. This livered to UNESCO and their evalu- unique exegesis focuses on various topics such as philosophical, academic, ators will visit the province in July. historical, social and ethical – wherever the need arises in explaining the The official further said that three meanings of God’s Revealed Words in the light of authentic sayings from historical and cultural monuments of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) and the Infallible Imams of his household. Ekbatan Dam, Varkaneh and Arzan- 22 solar years ago, on this day in 1999 AD, Iranian poet and scholar Mohammad food will also be proposed to UNES- Ali Mardani passed away at the age of 77. As a devotee of the Prophet and CO to be listed. the Infallible Ahl al-Bayt, he composed a wide variety of poems, which were Malmir went on to say that prelim- published in the form of several books, such as “Ashura Literature”, “Along inary studies on ancient Noshijan with the Caravan of Love”, and “Faith Strengthened”. Citadel have been completed and a 20 solar years ago, on this day in 2001 AD, Mohammad Dashti, the prominent document will be sent to UNESCO. Iranian researcher and an authority on “Nahj al-Balagha” (Highway of “The Qassemabad aqueduct is an- Eloquence) the famous collection of Sermons, Letters and Aphorisms of the other historical site, which is one of Commander of the Faith, the Leader of the Pious, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb listed aqueducts in Iran and officials (AS), passed away at the age of 50 and was laid to rest in Qom in the holy follow up listing of the monument in mausoleum of Hazrat Fatema Ma’souma (peace upon her). He then started UNESCO,” he stated. writing books and established the “Amir al-Momineen Research Foundation” Hamedan province enjoys 1,800 where in cooperation with several research scholars, he published in 15 volumes historical and natural monuments “Statements of the Infallible Ahl al-Bayt”, the 15-Volume “Biography of more than 1,000 of which have been Imam Ali (AS)”, and the 14-Volume “Analysis of the Political History of the nationally registered. Infallible Ahl al-Bayt”, and the 4-volume Epistemology and Documented In relevant remarks on April 26, Sources of Nahj al-Balagha”. Following the victory of the Islamic Revolution, Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Seyed Mosque is one of the biggest mosques in Iran’s province of Isfahan. It dates back to the Qajar era. he fully involved himself in preaching and delivering lectures at universities Tourism and Handicrafts Ali Asghar The mosque is named after its founder, Seyyed Mohammad Bagher Shafti. for the enlightenment of youths. Mounesan unveiled files of intangible Courtesy of IFILM