CENTER for IRANIAN STUDIES NEWSLETTER Vol

Home , Bustan (book), Dariush Mehrjui, Guzgan, Homa Katouzian

CENTER FOR IRANIAN STUDIES NEWSLETTER Vol. 16, No. 1 SIPA-Columbia University-New York Spring 2004 ENCYCLOPÆDIA IRANICA SHIRIN EBADI Fascicles 3 and 4 of Volume XII Published; Fascicle 5 in Press AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

The third and fourth fascicles plies to studies of significant his- of Volume XII of the Encyclopædia torians or their writings, i.e., the Iranica were published in the Fall identification and interpretation of of 2003 and Spring of 2004, respec- major historical texts, especially tively. They feature 83 entries on vari- with an eye to the cultural forces and ous aspects of Iranian culture and his- other factors which shape the assump- tory, including five series of articles on tions and methods of such works and specific subjects: fourteen major entries their authors. Beyond that, it encom- on Persian historiography, ten entries passes analysis of the nature and pur- under the rubric of The Histories of pose of historical literature and its lit- Herodotus’ account of ancient Persia, erary techniques. At another level, it re- Columbia University’s Center for five entries on Ernst Herzfeld, a great fers to the so-called “philosophy of his- Iranian Studies and The Institute of Hu- archeologist and historian of the ancient tory,” i.e., theoretical and epistemologi- man Rights at the Law School are plan- Iranian past, two entries on Persian col- cal discussions of historical writing as ning a reception in honor of Ms. Shirin lections at Hermitage Museum of St. an intellectual activity as well as grand Ebadi, the recipient of the 2004 Nobel Petersburg, and three entries on homo- schemes of the meaning of history as a Peace Prize. The event will be held at sexuality in Persia. Continued on page 2 Continued on page 10 PERSIAN HISTORIOGRAPHY Gala Benefit Dinner Persian historiography, or the study Houston, November 13, 2004 of historical writing from ancient times to the present, is treated in fourteen ar- The benefit dinner for the the other Trustees of the Nour Founda- ticles. In modern usage, historiography Encyclopædia Iranica at Houston’s tion for their kind assistance and en- sumptuous River Oaks Country Club, couragement. We should like to urge all covers “a wide range of related but dis- th tinct areas of inquiry. It commonly ap- which was scheduled for the 16 of the supporters of the Encyclopædia to October 2004 will take place instead on participate. Saturday the 13th of November because the earlier date coincided with several BENEFIT DINNER other functions in the city. We hope that Old Salisbury, December 11th 2004 many supporters of the Encyclopaedia will participate. For all inquiries please Following the successful call Mrs. Lili Lajevardian-Kouros at fundraiser for the victims of the Bam (713) 476-9294 or (832) 287-5378, who earthquake, organized by the Naghavi together with Mr. Ali Saberioon will family with the support of Dr. and Mrs. serve as the co-chairs of the event. Farivar last March, Dr. Azita Khan Naghavi has kindly offered to organize 20TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION a benefit dinner for the Encyclopædia OF THE NOUR FOUNDATION Iranica at the elegant New York Insti- tute of Technology’s de Seversky Cen- The Nour Foundation will be cel- ter, Old Salisbury, Long Island, on Sat- ebrating its 20th anniversary on Friday, urday, the 11th of December at 7 p.m. November 5th, 2004 in the Rotunda of We would like to encourage all the the Low Library, Columbia University. friends of the Encyclopædia in the Tri- The proceeds of the event, which in- State area to lend their support to the cludes music, entertainment, and din- event. Donations and/or items for auc- ner will be donated to the Center for tion will be gratefully accepted. Please Iranian Studies, Columbia University, address all inquires to Dr. Azita Khan Carnelian stamp seal, 4th century CE, HERMITAGE MUSEUM for the Encyclopaedia Iranica. We Naghavi at (616) 626-9303 or (516) thank Drs. Joseph and Mina Salim and 526-4032. CISNewsletter 2

The central theme of Herodotus is Herodotus wanted to explain in hu- Continued from page 1 the confrontation—cultural, economic, man terms the motivations and under- universal process.” political, and then military—between lying causes which shaped people’s ac- the city-states of Greece and Ionia on tions. Absent are the easy explanations Broadly speaking, entries on the the one hand and the Achaemenid Per- of events such as the machinations and historiography of the Iranian and sian empire on the other. In the back- willful intervention of the gods. Persephone world and other Iranian lan- ground looms the shadow of a more Herodotus collects and compares guages can be divided into three major general opposition—one between Eu- sources, tries to judge the trustworthi- periods: a) the pre-Islamic, and the rope and Asia as a whole. The conflict ness of conflicting accounts, and states gradual construction of a grand or mas- is portrayed in an epic manner, across his conclusions or admits uncertainty. ter narrative of Persian national history; the whole diverse cultural “world” of He works to cross the cultural divide b) the emergence and development of the eastern Mediterranean and the Per- and understand the protagonists in his Perso-Islamic histories, with its array sian empire. The focal points in time history on their own terms without sac- of annals, dynastic chronicles, and lo- are the campaigns in Greece launched rificing his own values. This quest for cal histories and biographies; and c) the by the Achaemenid kings Darius I and truth, the intellectual effort to establish modern, when historical writing in Per- his son Xerxes I, and the culmination an objective perspective and to under- sian began to be influenced by various of the conflict in climactic battles that stand the historical process, plus the models of Western scholarly and aca- ward off the Persian attacks and pre- warm humanity and delight in all things demic historiography. The periods and human, have given Herodotus a lasting their subdivisions are covered in the relevance through the centuries. His following entries: Introduction, by E. own fame is well summed up in the Daniel; Pre-Islamic period, by A. Sh. simple title given him by the Roman Shahbazi; Early Islamic period by statesman Cicero: “Father of History.” Daniel; Mongol period by Ch. Melville; Timurid period by M. Szuppe; Safavid period by S. Quinn; Afsharid and Zand ERNST HERZFELD periods, by E. Tucker; Qajar period and One of the true pioneers in the re- Pahlavi period, both by A. Amanat; covery of the ancient Iranian past Persian historiography in Afghanistan through archeology was Ernst Herzfeld by C. Noelle-Karimi; in Central Asia (1879-1948). He was noted both for his by Y. Bregel; and in the Ottoman Em- years of site investigation and for the pire by S. N. Yildiz. Persian historiog- finely detailed volumes which recorded raphy in the Indian Subcontinent will fragile historic sites and presented his be treated under India. research findings. His significance for the shaping of our vision of the past, and especially for the Achaemenid pe- THE HISTORIES OF HERODOTUS HERODOTUS riod, was underscored by a conference held at the Smithsonian Institution in The Histories of Herodotus, Greek serve Greek self-rule—at Marathon 2001. Titled “Ernst Herzfeld and the author of the 5th century BCE, is one (490 BCE), Salamis (480), and Plataea Development of Near Eastern Studies, of the original sources for the study of (479). 1900-1950,” it discussed his diverse in- ancient Iran, and at the same time holds vestigations, interpretations, and theo- a unique position in Western historical As practically the first work of its ries, and gauged the value and the limi- writings: it is the first large-scale nar- kind, The Histories has exerted an enor- tations of his heritage. In fascicle 3, five rative history in a European language. mous influence in subsequent histori- scholars, who include some of the con- E. Rollinger’s entries take us through cal writings. This would have been true ference participants, discuss in detail The Histories with a detailed guide to even if it had been composed merely as his life and the focal points of his re- the narrative: The Histories as a source a chronicle or annal, that is, a record of search into ancient Iran. for a knowledge of Persia and the Per- the events of one year after another. sians; defining the Persians; Cyrus ac- Herodotus indeed could collect, count, First, S. Hauser provides a chro- cording to Herodotus; Cambyses ac- and itemize information like a scribe. nology of Herzfeld’s eventful career, cording to Herodotus; Darius accord- However, he had a much broader am- which gave him ample opportunity to ing to Herodotus; Xerxes according to bition. He believed that human actions, display the acumen of a diplomat and a Herodotus; Mardonius according to whether of the Greeks or of their oppo- promoter, in addition to using the di- Herodotus; Tigranes and the battle of nents, held lasting significance and verse technical skills (drawing, survey- Mycale; Artayctes and the finale; and a should be remembered by posterity. ing engineering, etc.), which he had comprehensive selected bibliography. studied and mastered so well. The next 3 CISNewsletter

Throughout these lengthy entries many places where Herzfeld labored (such as the site of the Abbasid capital of Samarra) can only be referred to in passing; future entries about these sites will continue to remind us of his diverse contributions to our understanding of ancient Iran.

Gold griffin with inlay, 4th century HERMITAGE MUSEUM BCE, HERMITAGE MUSEUM Two entries on the State Hermit- age Museum of St. Petersburg, Russia, of Parthian and Sasanian coins. These one on pre-Islamic period by B. I. are outstanding for both their quality Marshak, & A. B. Nikitin, and the and quantity; statistical analysis can other on the Islamic period by A. yield information about the culture and Ivanov, convey the importance of its the economy of their times. In this cat- ERNST HERZFELD collections for the study of the Iranian egory, too, are the more humble Nisa peoples and their culture from antiquity ostraca, ceramic shards from the two sections of the entry, by D. to the 20th century. Art and craft works Parthian period used to inscribe pay re- Stronach and H. von Gall, respec- have been acquired from the time of ceipts and other transactions. The sec- tively, examine his labors at the best- Empress Catherine II in the eighteenth ond entry proceeds to the Islamic-pe- known cities in the home province of century down to archeological excava- riod. Here, metal-ware is a major focus the Achaemenid kings: Pasargade, the tions of recent times, and various groups of interest, followed by lacquer-ware seat of Cyrus the Great, represents the of objects still remain to be fully de- and coins. There are also miniature beginnings of the empire and of mate- scribed and organized. The first entry paintings, ceramics, armor, amulets, and rial and cultural exchanges with west- outlines the pre-Islamic collections, other areas to explore. The article is il- ern Asia and Asia Minor; Persepolis, among which the silver vessels of the lustrated with diverse objects in differ- which with its architecture, carved im- Sasanian period probably are the most ent media—a small sampling of the his- ages, and inscriptions, remains the en- famous. Also important are the great ac- torical riches of the Hermitage. during symbol of the empire of Darius cumulation of Sasanian seal stones and I and his descendants. Herzfeld did not have the chance to explore all that these sites had to offer, and he did not cor- rectly interpret everything that was un- covered, but he established a strong foundation for the next generation of researchers to build upon.

P. O. Skjaervø’s entry turns to the Sasanian site which is most closely associated with Herzfeld’s name – the vic- tory monument of King Narseh at Paikuli, in Iraq. His work in analyzing the structure of the building, reassem- bling the Middle Persian and Parthian inscriptions blocks, and interpreting them in the context of late third-century history and of other available Sasa- nian source material, made his two-volume publication on Paikuli an especially notable achievement. Finally, J. Wiesehoefer surveys the pluses and minuses of Herzfeld’s ventures into interpreting the pre-Islamic religion and culture of Iran. Figure of a horse, 10th century CE, bronze/brass, HERMITAGE MUSEUM CISNewsletter 4

sexuality condoned in Persian poetry, but in fact homoeroticism formed al- most the only amatory subject of Per- sian ghazals and the main topic of much of Persian love poems.” The entry underlines at the outset that “The “beloved” in Persian lyrics is, as a rule, not a female, but a young male, often a pu- bescent or adolescent youth, or a young boy. No sense of shame, no unease, no notion of concern for religious prohibi- tion affects the exuberant descriptions of the male beloved or the passionate love displayed by the poets for him. There are many poems by classical and later poets which explicitly address a Dervish’s kashkul, 19th century, HERMITAGE MUSEUM boy (pesar) as the subject of the poet’s love.” Then the entry treats in some HOMOSEXUALITY Mazda’s ninth creation, the land of the detail and with numerous examples the Hyrcanians.” following topics: the Beloved as a slave As traditionally viewed in Zoroas- soldier; other than slave soldiers Be- trian and Islamic law, the term “homo- Islamic law, similar to Zoroastrian loved; effects on poetic imagery; the sexuality” refers mostly to sexual rela- teachings, condemns homosexuality as Beloved’s traits; development of the tions between men and less frequently a major sin. Treating homosexuality in to sexual acts between women. Rela- Islamic law E. Rowson notes that “The tionships with eunuchs and female im- foundational texts of Islam address, and personators or cross-dressers generally condemn, sexual relations (mokhannath) are also included in this between members of the same sex.” He category. In Muslim law, it has always underlines that “while the Qor’an does been and still is considered a punish- not legislate explicitly on this matter, in its reiterated references to the story able crime. Pre-Islamic Iranian litera- of the people of Lot (Lut) it is unequivo- ture contains no descriptions of roman- cal in expressing abhorrence for the tic or sexual relationships, either be- desire of the men of that community to tween persons of opposite or of the have sexual relations with Lot’s angelic same sex. In most reports, including visitors: “And Lot, when he said to his contemporary ones, of adult male-to- people, Will you commit an abomina- male sexual activity involving a Mus- tion that no one in the world did before lim male in general, the active partici- you? You come to men (with lust) in- pant who performs the penetration is stead of women. Indeed, you are a wan- treated very differently from the person ton people!” Furthermore, “All the rel- who is willingly or forcibly penetrated. evant hadith are conveniently brought together in a series of monographs at- Treating homosexuality in Zoroas- tacking the sin of sodomy.” He con- trian literature, P. O. Skjærvø begins cludes his discussion with stating that his discussion with noting that “In the “For reasons that have not been ad- Zoroastrian world picture, the world is equately elucidated, Emami Shi’i law a battlefield between the forces of good is altogether harsher than Sunni law in and evil, and, since one of the duties of dealing with homosexual acts.” the partisans of good is to produce new life in the manner of Ahura Mazda and The long article treating Homo- his daughter-consort Armaiti (the earth), sexuality in Persian literature by EIr, the barrenness of homosexuality clearly begins its discussion by noting that “A sharp contrast exists between the treat- qualified it for the camp of evil, as ment of homosexuality in Islamic law, elaborated in Zoroastrian literature. Ac- on the one hand, and its reflection in cording to the myth of the establishment Persian literature, particularly poetry, on of the lands of Iran in Videvdad, anal the other. From the dawn of Persian Book-rest, 17th century, wood with intercourse between men was produced poetry in the 9th century all through to paint finish, HERMITAGE MUSEUM by the Evil Spirit to plague Ahura the 20th century, not only was homo- 5 CISNewsletter concept of the Beloved; pedophilia; non-Muslim subjects of love; social Five articles treat topics related to acceptance of homosexuality; emo- Greco-Persian relations: HESIOD, a tional ties between Sufi adult males and Greek authority for Iranian matters, and youths; the genesis of the acceptance an epic poet of the 7th-8th centuries BCE, of homosexuality; homoeroticism in author of several didactic poems such Sufi literature. as the Theogony “Genealogy of the gods,” by R. Schmitt; HERMES, the Greek god of boundaries, the ‘trickster’ PRE-ISLAMIC CULTURE of the Greek pantheon, the guide of AND RELIGION souls, and the messenger for the gods, whose presence is rather significant in Topics related to Pre-Islamic cul- the Iranian world, by A. de Jong. ture and religion are treated in 15 en- HERMIPPUS OF SMYRNA, Greek grammar- ian of 3rd century BCE from Alexandria tries: HERBED, Zoroastrian priestly title used for priests in minor orders who who wrote on “Zoroaster’s writings,” by J. Wiesehoefer; HERODIAN, a histo- have undergone the initiatory Nawar rd ceremony and are qualified to officiate rian of 3 century, author of a Greek at lower rituals, by P. G. Kreyenbroek; history of the Roman emperors in 8 volumes, by Ph. Huyse; HERMAS, title of HERBEDESTAN, school for priests, term an early Christian apocalypse composed JOHANNES HERTEL designating Zoroastrian priestly studies; nd and an Avestan/Pahlavi text found with in Greek by a certain Hermas of 2 cen- cographer from Alexandria whose lexi- the Nerangestan manuscripts, by F. tury, an important piece in Manichean literature, by W. Sundermann. con records a number of Iranian words, M.Kotwal; HOM YASHT, name given to by R. Schmitt; Augustus Fredric Rudolf a section of the Avestan Yasna, central HOERNLE, 19th-20th centuries German to the ritual and recited prior to the Three entries discuss Iranian he- philologist of Indian and Iranian lan- priestly consumption of the parahaoma, roes and legends: HOJIR, Iranian hero who guarded the Dezh-e Sepid “White guages and decipherer of Khotanese, by by W. W. Malandra; SHAPURJI KAVA S Fort” on the border of Iran and Turan, U. Sims-Williams; KARL HOFFMANN, H ODIVALA, Indian scholar of Avestan and 20th century German specialist of Indo- Zoroastrian studies, 19th-20th centuries; son of Godarz and leading member of his clan; and HOMAN, a celebrated hero European and Indo-Iranian languages and SHAPURSHAH HORAMASJI DINSHAH of Turan, son of Visa, descendant of Tur, who devised a special methodology by HODIVALA, Principal of the Bahauddin combining linguistics and philology, by College of Junagadh and professor of highest ranking Turanian commander, J. Narten; GEORGE FRANCIS HILL, a lead- literature, history, and political both by A. Sh. Shahbazi; and HOMAY ing 19th–20th centuries British numisma- economy; best known for works on CHEHRAZAD, a Kayanid queen, daugh- tist, epigraphist, and Director of the Parsi history and numismatics, 20th center, wife, and successor to the throne of British Museum, by C. Arnold- tury, both by K. M. JamaspAsa. Bahman according to Iranian traditional history, by J. Doostkhah. Biucchi.

Elamite studies are the subject of two entries: HIDALI, a city and region in Elam, a residence of Elamite kings in the early 7th century BCE, a regional and administrative center connected with Persepolis in early 5th century BCE, by M. Stolper; WALTER HINZ, German scholar of ancient and medieval Persia as well as Elamite studies, by R. Schmitt.

LINGUISTICS

Five entries treat topics in historical linguistics and related fields: JOHANNES HERTEL, 20th century German Sanskritist and Iranist, author of the four-volume Pancatantra, by A. Hintze; KARL HOFFMANN HESYCHIUS, a 5th-6th centuries Greek lexi- GEORGE FRANCIS HILL CISNewsletter 6

HISTORY FROM MEDIEVAL early Persian Sufi treatise, by G. th TO QAJAR PERIOD Bowering; Jamal-al-Din Holwi, 10 - 11th centuries Turkish biographer of the Entries treating historical topics in- leaders of the Khalwati Sufi order, and clude: HODUD AL-ALAM, important late poet, by the late T. Yaziçi. 9th century Persian historical geography of the then-known Islamic and non-Is- OTHER ENTRIES lamic world by an unknown author from the province of Guzgan in Afghanistan, Other entries include two articles by C. E. Bosworth; SIR THOMAS on Persian music by J. During: HESAR, HERBERT, 17th century British traveler a section in the Persian and Azeri radifs, and royal court official, author of the its name originating from Tajikistan; first English account of Persia, by the and HOMAYUN, an important modal sys- late R. W. Ferrier; SIR THOMAS tem (dastgah) in traditional Persian HUNGERFORD HOLDICH, British Colonel music. Also treated are: HIPPOCRATES, and Anglo-Indian surveyor of 19th-20th Greek physician and philosopher of 4th- centuries who organized surveys of 5th centuries BCE, often referred to as south Baluchistan and Makran as far as “the first codifier of medicine” in Is- Jask and Bandar Abbas, by D. Wright; lamic tradition, by L. Richter- GNACE OMMAIRE DE ELL th Bernburg; HERBELOT DE MOLAINVILLE, I H H , the 19 cen- SIR THOMAS HUNGERFORD HOLDICH tury French engineer, geographer, trav- French Orientalist of 17th century, author of Bibliotheque Orientale, and the eler who carried out pioneering scien- ghanistan and partly in Pakistan, by E. first European translator of The Thou- tific research on the Ottoman empire, Groetzbach; HOZEQ MAKHDUM, a lead- sand and One Nights, by M. G. southern Russia, and Persia, by J. ing Tajik poet of 18th-19th centuries, by Shojania; MAHMUD HESABI, contempo- Calmard-Compas. K. Hitchins; HOBAYSH TEFLISI, rary Persian physicist, Senator, and min- Anatolian author of numerous scientific ister of education, by H. Arfaei & F. LITERATURE works in Persian of the 13th century, by Majidi; HNCH’AK, an Armenian collo- the late T. Yaziçi. quial term referring to the members of Persian literature and translation of the Social Democratic Hnch’akean Persian works are treated in the follow- SHI’ISM & SUFISM Party (SDHP), founded in Switzerland ing articles: HOMAM-AL-DIN TABRIZI, a by Russian Armenians in 1887, and 13th-14th centuries Persian poet of the Shi’ism & Sufism are treated in six having members also in Persia; also the Il-Khanid period, prominent in politi- entries: Hermeneutics, the principles name of the party’s first periodical, by cal and intellectual circles in Tabriz, and methods of scriptural interpretation A. Arkun; and finally, HERDS AND associated with Nasir-al-Din Tusi and of pre-modern Islamic and Shi’ite ex- FLOCKS, including conditions affecting Qotb-al-Din Shirazi, by W. Hanaway egesis, distinct from the act of interpre- herds and flocks of domestic herbivores & L. Lewisohn; and ALEX ERIC tation, by B. T. Lawson; Hojjat, a term of Persia, by J. P. Digard, & M.-H. HERMELIN, 19th-20th centuries Swedish used as a) a line of argument in the Papoli Yazdi. author and prolific translator of Persian course of debate; b) designating the works of literature, by B. Utas. Shi’ite Imams or their most essential spiritual function as “proofs of God”; NEIGHBORING REGIONS c) an epithet specifically applied to the Twelfth Imam; d) a high official in the Topics related to the neighboring hierarchy of Ismaili missionary activi- regions are treated in six entries: HINDU, ties, by M. Dakake; Hojjat-al-Eslam, term denoting in Persian an inhabitant a title awarded to Shi’ite scholars, origi- of the Indian Subcontinent as well as a nally as an honorific but later as a means follower of Hinduism, by J. T. P. de of indicating their status in the hierar- Bruijn; HOMAYUN PADESHAH, the sec- chy of the learned, by H. Algar; ond Mughal emperor in Kabul and Hojjatiya, Shi’ite lay association northern India, and patron of Persian art founded by the charismatic cleric and literature, of 16th century, by W. M. Shaikh Mahmud Halabi to defend Is- Thackston; HESAR, The name of a re- lam against the Bahai missionary activi- gion in the eastern part of Transoxania, ties, formed in the aftermath of the 1953 by Y. Bregel; HINDU KUSH, The name coup d’etat, by M. Sadri; Hojviri, an given to the southwest range of the 11th century Indo-Iranian author dur- massive middle and south Asiatic ing the Ghaznavid period, author of mountain complex lying partly in Af- Kashf al-mahjub, the most celebrated MAHMOUD HESABI 7 CISNewsletter

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY SEMINAR ON IRANIAN STUDIES

to a Western audience, where in fact period of Soviet rule. The radif as such none of these connotations would exist is rarely used for poetry in languages to an Eastern eye. The artist is thus of- other than Persian, although certain ten left in the difficult position of need- portions are shared with other systems, ing to “translate” and elaborate upon his including that of the Ahl-e Haqq in or her cultural iconography to the West- Kurdistan as well as the Azerbaijani ern public. But then another question muqam. arises: is an artist truly capable of elu- cidating these fundamental differences Professor Blum continued by ex- between one culture and another? plaining the technical aspect of the radif. Should the artist bear such a The radif is organized as a collection of responsibility? And should an artist seven primary systems, called dastgah, even attempt to bridge the gap between two of which also have derivative sys- SHIRIN NESHAT DISCUSSES two cultures that are not simply differ- tems called Avaz (four or five in shur, THE THEME OF DUALITY ent from each other but at times in total one or two in Homayun). The indi- conflict. Referring to her personal work, vidual units of each dastgah or Avaz are On Tuesday, October 21, 2003, the Ms. Neshat insisted that while she re- called gusheh, some of which can be renowned artist and filmmaker Shirin mains passionately interested and en- used only for verses in one quantitative Neshat led a discussion on the devel- gaged in social, political, and religious meter while others are more flexible. opment of her recent work. She began discourse, it is the personal aspects that He cited Dr. Yarshater’s essay “Affini- by raising certain issues that preoccupy remain essentially at the heart of her art, ties between Persian Poetry and Music” her in relation to her work, her position a concept that she feels is often over- as offering the best point of departure as an artist, and her being an Iranian looked. In fact, she argued that the evo- for understanding these affinities. He female artist living in New York City. lution of her art cannot be discussed then played recordings of gushehs in She expressed her belief that an artist without a concomitant examination of three of the most fundamental meters: can only analyze and interpret one’s art the evolution of her personal life. Ms. those of Sa‘di’s Bustan, of Rumi’s to a certain degree, that much of the Neshat concluded by remarking that her Mathnavi, and of Ferdowsi’s Shah- creative energy develops within the ‘political’ art is the result of the socio- nameh. He followed by playing a re- artist’s subconscious mind, and that a historical circumstances that have af- cording of the gusheh called Kereshme concrete conscious analysis will only fected every Iranian’s life, inside or and showed how its rhythm “translates” minimize the level of mystery that is outside of the country, since the Revo- a poetic meter by maintaining a strict an inherent property of any artistic lution of 1979. proportion of 1 to 2 between short and work. long syllables (SL SL SSLL = 12121122). He explained that singers However, she conceded that as an RADIF IN CLASSICAL often choose gushehs that do not use artist she can now better understand and PERSIAN MUSIC explain her art, and that she is able to detect a certain pattern of continuity as On Tuesday, November 18, 2003, well as change in the direction of her Professor Stephen Blum of the Gradu- work. Ms. Neshat raised a few general ate Center at CUNY led the Iranian comments with regard to the specific Studies Seminar discussion of the radif problems faced by non-Western artists. in classical Persian music. Professor Regarding her own work, she observed Blum began by describing the radif of that while her language is fundamen- Persian music as a set of musical re- tally Eastern, overwhelmingly her art sources organized primarily for singing is viewed and critiqued in relation to classical Persian poetry. Three sister Western art. systems which have much in common with the radif are the Tajik-Uzbek There is therefore an incongruity shashmaqom, the ‘Iraqi maqam, and the in how a Western audience (including Azerbaijani muqam (which can be re- critics, curators, and general public) can garded as a twin sister). The latter three fairly evaluate a work of art whose fun- systems were designed for multilingual damental language is not based on a singers, but Persian poetry was ex- Western aesthetic. For example, a work cluded from performances of the of art may appear too emotional, too Azerbaijani muqam and of the Uzbek poetic, too political, or overtly religious version of the shashmaqom during the Prof. Stephen Blum CISNewsletter 8 the rhythm of Kereshme when they sing sufficiently different from the run-of- In retrospect, the most surprising verses in this poetic meter. The corre- the-mill domestic films, gaining the at- aspect of the movement has been its lon- lations between poetic meters and mu- tention of intellectuals and artists who gevity. Film movements tend to be pre- sical rhythms are much stricter in the had shunned commercial films, deroga- cariously short-lived. They are normally Tajik-Uzbek shashmaqom than they are torily labeled as film farsi. born under certain political-economic in the Persian radif. (The Italian Neo-realism) or socio-cul- The Cow was an altogether differ- tural (The French New Wave) circum- Professor Blum explained that in- ent film. The disturbing story of how stances, and when those circumstances strumentalists must have a good knowl- the collective life of a village is affected are gone, the film movements also tend edge of Persian poetry so that they can by the mysterious death of its only cow, to fade away. The Iranian New Wave, play appropriate responses to each of it was at its core a brooding meditation however, has managed to survive fierce the singer’s phrases (a practice called on the nature of poverty that offered competition of domestic products and javab-e avaz) and so that they can rec- nothing in the way of commercial con- foreign imports under the Shah, as well ognize the various ways in which mu- cessions to its audience. It was formally as the rigors of a fundamentalist Islamic sical rhythms can be coordinated with austere and emotionally draining. Not revolution and some of the harshest cen- poetic meters. This point was illustrated surprisingly, while Qeisar became a sorship codes in the post-revolutionary with a recording of the first three huge box office hit, The Cow remained years. gushehs of the most important dastgah, a commercial flop. But it was The Cow Shur. The first gusheh has no associa- that was smuggled out to the Venice Censorship has hampered the ef- tion with a poetic meter, the second is film festival in 1969, where it won forts of the Iranian New Wave filmmak- called Panje she‘ri due to its associa- praise and marked the international ers to deal directly with the unpleasant tion with the meter of Sa‘di’s Bustan, emergence of the Iranian cinema. realities of the Iranian life. It has forced and the third is Kereshme as described filmmakers to resort to indirect and sub- above. The joint appearance of the films liminal communication in exploring on the Iranian cultural scene shocked social and political issues or make less the commercial film industry and complicated films about simple charac- DOCUMENTING IRANIAN CINEMA brought about the prospects of a new ters in ordinary situations. This explains IN THE POST-REVOLUTIONARY era in Iranian cinema. the emergence of a peculiar genre of PERIOD films with children as central charac- Dr. Akrami explained that these ters that were not necessarily made for new filmmakers denounced the conven- children. On Tuesday, January 20, 2004, Dr. tions of the dominant cinema and cre- Jamsheed Akrami of Paterson Univer- ated an alternative film movement con- ducive to producing indigenous films In an attempt to establish an “Is- sity and Teachers College of Columbia lamic, anti-Imperialist” cinema, the of high cinematic quality and social University began the Spring 2004 Ira- government set highly restrictive cen- nian Studies Seminar series with his talk awareness. It was this environment that helped breed a generation of filmmak- sorship codes, mainly aimed at the rep- titled “Documenting Iranian Cinema.” resentation of female characters. Strict ers, inspired by the Italian Neo-realist He noted that although Iranian cinema Islamic dress codes require women to is widely praised as one of the most vi- cinema and the French New Wave, as well as the films of the American cover their hair in public, and wear brant and original national cinemas to- loose-fitting outer garments to cloak Auteurs. day, its true genesis has remained far their body curves. Also, women can from universally recognized. In some only be intimate with the immediate circles, the credit is given to the cul- members of their family. Therefore, tural jolt from the 1979 revolution. actors playing couples could not even However, Iranian cinema suffered its touch each other’s hands on the screen. share of turmoil immediately after the Female characters’ hair should always revolution, when it stagnated for sev- be covered, even when they are asleep eral years . in the privacy of their homes. The re- strictions, causing unrealistic depiction He argued that the origins of mod- of women, have forced many filmmak- ern Iranian cinema can be traced back ers to give up on the idea of making to the late sixties when the concurrent films about couples and adult relation- appearance of two films by two young ships altogether. filmmakers. The two, Qeisar by Masoud Kimiai and The Cow by He concluded by noting that de- Dariush Mehrjui, started a new wave spite the losses (Shahed Sales and of filmmaking in Iran, which is still Hatami) and exiles (Sayyad and resonating after 35 years. Qeisar’s story Naderi,) today the old masters are still of a man avenging the rape of his sister Dr. Jamsheed Akrami active and the new generations have and brutal murder of his brother was 9 CISNewsletter joined them to insure the continuation be an exact copy of a real instrument Iran into two successive civil wars. In of their heritage. These elite auteur that was made in Baghdad around the addition, the royal slaves also played a filmmakers include four different gen- year 850 and is still preserved at the central role in the patronage of later erations of Iranian “New Wave” film- Oxford Museum for the History of Sci- Safavid art and architecture from the makers. The first, represented by direc- ence, or the famous Arabo-Latin astro- late sixteenth century to the middle of tors like Kiarostami and Mehrjui, labe of Arsenius which was made in the seventeenth century. changed the mold of filmmaking in Iran Belgium around the year 1577. Dr. Farhad then elaborated on the in the late sixties; the second, led by filmmakers like Makhmalbaf and He concluded his lively talk by Rakhshan Bani-Etemad, emerged a few raising the possibility of many more years after the revolution, and the third, such contacts between the Islamic world represented by Majid Majidi and Jafar and Europe in the post Renaissance era Panahi, have established themselves as than has hitherto been realized. notable filmmakers on the international scene. They are now being joined by a fourth generation represented by the PAINTING AND POLITICS likes of Samira Makhmalbaf and IN SEVENTEENTH CENTURY IRAN Bahman Ghobadi. On Tuesday, March 23, 2004, Dr. Massumeh Farhad, Chief Curator of the Freer and Sackler Galleries in the SAFAVID SCIENTIFIC Smithsonian led a talk titled, “Painting INSTRUMENTS AND THEIR and Politics in Seventeenth Century Dr. Massoumeh Farhad EUROPEAN CONTEXT Iran.” Dr. Farhad began her talk by dis- cussing the role of slavery in the royal On Tuesday, February 17, 2004, court. Not long after his accession to contribution of the slaves to the arts. As Dr. George Saliba led the Iranian Stud- the throne in 1589, Shah Abbas I em- the new representatives of the royal ies Seminar discussion titled “Safavid barked upon one of his far-reaching household, members of the royal slave Scientific Instruments and Their Euro- administrative initiatives—the estab- household commissioned and supported pean Context.” Professor of Arabic and lishment of the slaves of the royal civic and public structures throughout Islamic Science at Columbia University, household (ghulaman khass-yi sharifa). Iran and, in particular, in the new Dr. Saliba examined the relationship Comprising Georgian, Armenian, and Safavid capital Isfahan, established by between some astronomical instruments Circasian prisoners, the slaves were Abbas I in 1590-91. Several also be- that were produced during Safavid brought to court, where they were came avid collectors and patrons of the times, and those that were made in Eu- trained, educated and recommended for portable luxury arts and illustrated rope either contemporaneously or manumission. The most talented among manuscripts, a tradition long associated slightly thereafter. In particular two them were appointed to key adminis- with Iran’s educated elite. The most in- specific Safavid instruments, an astro- trative and military positions to counter fluential family of patrons was labe made in the year 1065 AH = 1654 the growing political power of the Qarachaqay Khan, Shah Abbas’ com- CE and a brass plate with a world map Qizilbash nobility, who had plunged mander-in-chief of the army and gov- projection on it that preserves the qibla ernor of Khorasan, and his descendents. directions as well as the distances to Qarachaqay Khan amassed one of the Mecca, made also in Safavid times most impressive collections of early around 1700 CE, present particular Ming blue-and-white porcelain, and his problems. On the one hand those two holdings became part of Abbas I’s waqf instruments demonstrate an undeniable donation to the Ardabil Shrine, which relationship with their European coun- also included the shah’s own prized terparts and techniques, but the route Chinese porcelains. Qarachaqay Khan’s of the influence is not as easy to deter- son, Manuchehr Khan, and the latter’s mine, or has not yet been determined. son, also called Qarachaqay, served as governors of Mashhad, and commis- Dr. Saliba explained that in order sioned several illustrated manuscripts, to support the argument of such a pas- which are among the most luxurious sage of ideas from east to west, other ones from the first half of the seven- better documented instruments were in- teenth century. In style, subject matter, cluded in the discussion like the Astro- and format they differ considerably labe drawings of the famous Florentine from the works associated with Isfahan, architect Antonio de Sangalo the suggesting the emergence of a new Younger (d. 1525) which turned out to Prof. George Saliba painting tradition in Mashhad, the most CISNewsletter 10

important religious (Shi‘ite) center in ample, colorless glass was far more FIFTH BIENNIAL CONFERENCE Iran. Dr. Farhad concluded her talk by popular in Iran than in the Egypto-Syr- ON IRANIAN STUDIES stating that these works helped not only ian region; simple profiles and the use to affirm the new political and economic of the wheel-cut technique are a hall- Several members of the Center and power of the slaves, but also contrib- mark of eastern Islamic glassmakers; editors of the Encyclopaedia Iranica uted to the development of a new long and narrow-necked bottles with will be participating in the Fifth Bien- Safavid visual culture in the first half complex geometric molded patterns are of the seventeenth century. nial Conference on Iranian Studies, or- typical of medieval Iran; and impressed ganized by the International Society for medallions with figural scenes were Iranian Studies, to be held in Bethesda, produced to decorate window grills in Maryland, 28-30 May 2004. Ahmad GLASSMAKING IN IRAN Ghaznavid and Ghurid Afghanistan. IN THE ISLAMIC PERIOD Ashraf will chair a panel on “Post-revolutionary Iranian Villages”. Mohsen The various aspects of what can be Ashtiany will serve as Discussant in the On Tuesday, April 20, Dr. Stefano described as glass made in Iran can be panel on “The Rhetoric of Biography: Carboni of the Metropolitan Museum seen in chronological sequence, from Narrating Lives through Prefaces, of Art led a discussion for the Iranian the Sasanian-inspired bowls and bottles Chronicles, and Scripts.” Houra th th Studies Seminar titled “A Short History with facet-cut decorations to 9 -10 Yavari will serve as chair and discus- of Glassmaking in Iran in the Islamic centuries relief-cut ewers to later me- sant of the panel on “Hybridizing Cul- Period.” He began by explaining that dieval works with applied, molded, and tures, Constructing Identities.” Abbas the history of glass production in the impressed designs. The Iranian produc- Amanat, John R. Perry, and Brian Islamic world throughout the ages is tion can be seen also in relation to the Spooner, Consulting Editors of the poorly understood, though efforts to traditions of glassmaking in Syria and Encyclopædia Iranica, will also partici- improve knowledge of it have been in- in Central Asia in order to understand pate in the conference. tensified in the past decade or so. The mutual influences and/or different ar- main factors that contribute to the cur- tistic and technological approaches. Dr. rent status in scholarship are determined Carboni concluded by stating that Eu- TRUSTEES MEETING both by the very nature of the objects ropean-inspired glass objects were pro- that have survived and by a certain ne- duced in and after the 17th century in In conjunction with the Fifth Bi- glect in scholarship. Finished products Shiraz and other Iranian cities and mod- ennial Conference on Iranian Studies, rarely include inscriptions or ornamen- ern glassmakers in Tehran today are the Spring meeting of the Encyclopædia tal patterns that are so specific as to al- looking at and studying the great works Iranica Foundation, Board of Trustees low for a precise attribution. of the past to try to imitate their tech- will be convened on Friday the 28th of niques and artistic achievements. May at 2:00 p.m. at the Cartier-Tiffany He continued by noting that artis- Room of the Hyatt Regency Hotel, tic glass was a traditional craft produced in all areas of the Islamic world east of Egypt, but it also traveled extensively SHIRIN EBADI AT along Asia and was appreciated in far- COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY away areas including China. In addition, glass was also traded as cullet (broken Continued from page 1 and discarded vessels) and raw material in order to “recycle” it and thus sim- plify the technology of glassmaking Columbia University on Wednesday, June 9th, 2004, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., while saving costs on fuel. by invitation. Ebadi contributed the entry Going from the generic to the more “Children’s Rights” to the specific, Dr. Carboni explained that Encyclopaedia Iranica, and the Center glass produced in Greater Iran is no published the English translation of her exception. The present lecture is an at- book on human rights as Documenta- tempt to identify a few characteristics tion of Human Rights in Iran (New that seem to be more typical of Iranian York, 2000). glass, looking at colors, shapes, deco- Both in her research and as an ac- rative techniques, ornamental patterns, Dr. Stefano Carboni tivist she is best known for promoting and the little that is known from ar- peaceful, democratic solutions to social chaeological and other sources. For ex- and political problems. 11 CISNewsletter

the Board of Trustees of the ing of Persian poetry; Persian court po- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Encyclopædia Iranica Foundation were etry; Ferdowsi and the Persian national We will acknowledge the kind among conference participants: Ahmad epic; Persian art and architecture in the donations by the supporters of Iranica Ashraf, Fereshteh Bekhrad, and first Islamic centuries up to the end of in the Fall issue of the Newsletter Ehsan Yarshater. Akbar Ghahary, who Saljuq period; three talks on the origins, funded the Conference, is also a Trustee growth and development of the Persian OXFORD CONFERENCE ON IRAN and Treasurer of the Foundation. ghazal and its flourishing after Hafez; FACING THE NEW CENTURY Persian historiography, the case of Homa Katouzian and Hossein Bal‘ami and Beyhaqi; the emergence The conference on “Iran Facing the Shahidi will edit the conference and doctrine of the Ismailis; the life and new Century” was held at Wadham proceedings to be published in a special works of Naser-e Khosrow; Khayyam College, University of Oxford from 4th volume. the poet, scientist and philosopher; Per- to 7th April 2004. WEEKLY PROGRAM ON sian scientists and philosophers like RADIO FRANCE INTERNATIONALE Khwarazmi, Razi, Ebn-e Sina, Farabi The conference convenors were and others; Sana’i and the beginning of Homa Katouzian and Reza Broadcast weekly by the Persian religious poetry; the life and works of Sheikholeslami. Homa Katouzian was service of Radio France Internationale Nezami; Sufism and mystic poetry, the also the conference coordinator. The (RFI) since April 2000, the series titled life and works of ‘Attar; the Mongol conference was supported by the Negahi be Daneshname-ye Iranica (A invasion; Rumi, his poetry and the wide Oriental Institute and sponsored by St. Look at the Encyclopædia Iranica), has reception of his teaching in the United Anthony’s College and Wadham stepped into its fifth year of covering States in recent years; Persian Art and College, University of Oxford. It was the chronological progression of the Ira- Architecture under the Mongols; Sa‘di, made possible by the generous funding nian civilization, culture and history. his life and time, as well as his Golestan, of the New Jersey-based Persian Various scholars, many affiliated with Bustan and lyric poetry; The life and Cultural Foundation whose Founding the Encyclopædia have provided the lis- times and the poetry of Hafez; Judeo- Director Dr. Akbar Ghahary is teners with a wealth of information on Persian culture and literature; The life especially keen to promote serious the various aspects of Iran’s history and and times and works of Jami; The rise academic and cultural events in the culture with due attention to the most of Safavids; The spread of Shi’ism un- context of Iranian studies. recent academic research in the field. der the Safavids and its socio-political impacts. In addition to scholars whose About fifty guest speakers, discus- To date more than 200 programs names appeared in the previous issues, sants and other participants had gath- in Persian have been aired in the series, mention should be made of Mohammad ered from Canada, the US, Britain, which is designed, produced and hosted Este’lami, Ahmad Karimi-Hakkak, Holland, France and Iran to present aca- by Mr. Farzad Djavadi, of the French Mohammad Ali Homayoun Katouzian, demic papers in a wide ranging area Radio Broadcast. Among the topics dis- Franklin Lewis, Leonard Lewishon, regarding major social, cultural, eco- cussed in the first 150 programs of the Parvin Loloi, Jalal Matini, Manouchehr nomic and political issues facing Iran series, as presented in detail in the Fall Parsadoust, Emnon Netzer, and Houra at present and in the near future. These 2000 and Spring 2003 issues of the Yavari. included problems of capital invest- Newsletter, are the development of Ira- ment, human capital and employment, nian culture and identity; the rise of the The provisional list of future top- relations with the US, EU and Japan, Medean, Achaemenid, Parthian and ics include: Persian culture in India and gender relations, democracy and demo- Sasanian Empires; Pre-Islamic reli- Ottoman Turkey; Persian literature un- cratic development, the technology and gions, art and architecture; the advent der the Safavids, Sabk-e Hendi; The politics of nuclear energy, ideological of Islam and the radical changes that post-Safavid dynasties; The Qajar dy- trends, etc. The meetings and discus- transformed the Persian language and nasty; Literary revival and the advent sions took place in a congenial atmo- alphabet; the Iranian politico-religious of modernity in Iran; The Constitutional sphere, and differences of view were movements under the Umayyads; Abu Revolution; The Pahlavi dynasty; Mod- aired in a most constructive way. The Moslem and the rise of the Abbasid Ca- ern Persian poetry; The development of conference attendants included a few liphate; Iran and the Abbasids; founda- modern Persian fiction; Modern Persian prominent public figures and techno- tion of semi-independent states in Iran art; Major intellectual trends of the pe- crats from before the revolution of and the present-day Afghanistan; the riod; Recent literary and artistic trends. 1979. significance of Greater Khorasan in the development of Persian identity; the RFI transmits its programs via Several members of the Center and share of the Iranians in Islamic civili- short wave signals which are distributed zation and culture; the rise and flower- worldwide and also via the Internet. CISNewsletter 12

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The new web-based electronic publication of the Encyclopædia Iranica is now available free of charge. All articles from volumes I-VI can be downloaded and viewed in pdf format. Volumes VII-XI of the SUPPORT Research on Persian history and Encyclopædia can be downloaded and viewed in text civilization by making annual donations to Columbia format. A comprehensive search engine is now in University or the Encyclopædia Iranica Foundation, place that will allow visitors to the site to search for both tax exempt organizations. articles by topic, keyword, and author. Our address: Encyclopædia Iranica Foundation We have now developed a new online section 450 Riverside Drive, Suite 4 for supplement and out-of-turn entries beginning from New York, NY 10027 letters A to Z. We have already invited over 1,220 Tel: (212) 851-5723 articles to be written by outstanding scholars in the Fax: (212) 749-9524 field of their expertise irrespective of alphabetical email: [email protected] order. Over 310 articles have been received, of which SUBSCRIBE to the Encyclopædia Iranica and 180 have been placed on our website and are acces- encourage your local libraries, colleges, and sible for viewing or downloading. Others will fol- universities to subscribe. low. You will help provide your community with access to this monumental reference. The result will be a collection of articles of the highest academic standard on topics of major impor- All volumes previously out of print are now available. tance for Iranian studies. One will no longer have to Prices: wait ten or fifteen years to find an entry on MITHRA, Volumes I-V are $340.00 per volume the SASANIAN DYNASTY, SHIISM, MARTYRDOM, SUFISM, Volumes VI-XI are $250.00 per volume. the KURDS, US-IRAN RELATIONS, the TALEBAN or ZOROASTER; these articles and hundreds more will be The complete set of volumes published thus far (I-XI) can be available within a couple of years on our website. purchased for $3,200.00. Please note that each copy of the Encyclopædia Iranica These articles will also appear in print when their costs nearly $750.00 to produce. The price of each copy is turn comes as we pursue the publication of the over two-thirds below the cost because of grants, subsidies, Encyclopædia articles by alphabetical order, at the and donations. Please note for comparison that hardback rate of four fascicles per year. books of 250 pages (the size of one fascicle of Iranica) are regularly sold by university presses for $50-70, without any Contributions by the users and the supporters of complicated typesetting and exigent editing required for the the Encyclopædia Iranica for the maintenance of this Encyclopædia entries. free of charge program are welcome. Orders can now be placed online at www.iranica.com Center for Iranian Studies Columbia University 450 Riverside Drive, Suite 4 New York, NY 10027

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