Persia & the Bible
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Tutku Tours Travel Programs Endorsed by Biblical Archaeology Society IRAN PERSIA & THE BIBLE Tour Host: Dr. Mark Wilson June 8-20, 2018 organized by Iran - Persia & The Bible / June 8-20, 2018 IRAN PERSIA & THE BIBLE June 8-20, 2018 Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System June 11 Mon FLY TEHRAN Tour Host: Dr. Mark Wilson Drive to the airport for TK870 09:35 /14:05 flight to Tehran. Our representative will meet you after the customs and baggage claim. Meet and drive to Tehran. First visit the Reza Abbasi Museum. This small museum in the northern part of the city has a collection, arranged chronologically, of incredibly beautiful artefacts (in gold, bronze, silver, precious stones, glazed tiles, etc.), as well as stunning miniatures, illustrated manuscripts, and examples of early calligraphy; after we will drive to Artist Forum to visit examples of contemporary Istanbul art of Iranian artists and enjoy its very modern cofe shop. Dinner and overnight. June 12 Tue TEHRAN - FLY KERMANSHAH We begin our day at the Tehran Grand Bazaar, then we walk toward the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Golestan Palace, part of a complex of royal buildings that were once enclosed within the mud-thatched walls of Tehran’s historic arg, or citadel. The oldest of the historical monuments in Tehran, this opulent palace dates back to the Qajar Dynasty. Following lunch, we continue our tour to visit: National Museum, displaying the country’s archaeological findings. We then view the collection at the Abgineh Glass and Ceramics Museum, impressive not only for its exhibits but for the building itself, constructed in the early 1920s as a private residence for a prominent local family and later housing the Egyptian Embassy. We next visit the Carpet Museum, exhibiting lush carpets from all over the country dating from the 17th century to present day. Dinner will be at the airport and then take EP622 21:20 /22:25 flight to Kermanshah for our overnight. June 13 Wed KERMANSHAH - HAMADAN Drive to the sensational site at Tagh-é Bostan, where a sacred spring emerges from a Tour Itinerary: mountain cliff and empties into a large reflecting pool. Here, in what was once a royal hunting park, the Sassanian kings carved some spectacular rock reliefs, including an oversize equestrian statue of King Khosrow II mounted on his favorite charger, Shabdiz. June 8 Fri Depart from USA - NON-STOP FLIGHTS FROM THE Both horse and rider are arrayed in full battle armor. Two cosmic beings, Ahura Mazda BELOW US CITIES TO ISTANBUL and Mithra, also are portrayed at this site. Mithra is haloed with the rays of the sun as he • LOS ANGELES (LAX) TK 10 departs at 9:25 pm (arrive Istanbul 8:30 pm next day) is also depicted at Nemrut Dag in southeastern Turkey. He offers a bundle of sacred twigs to King Shapur II as part of the rites of royal investiture. Then visit the Sassanian site at • NEW YORK (JFK) TK 2 departs at 7:15 pm (arrive Istanbul 12:10 pm next day) Kangavar, where the remains of a temple dedicated to Anahita, the beneficent divinity of • CHICAGO (ORD) TK 6 departs at 9:30 pm (arrive Istanbul 4:15 pm next day) water, are to be found. • HOUSTON (IAH) TK 34 departs at 8:55 pm (arrive Istanbul 4:50 pm next day) We then view the incredible Achaemenid bas-reliefs at Bisotun, one of the most famous Near Eastern archaeological sites and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Trilingual • WASHINTON DC (IAD) TK 8 departs at 11:05 pm (arrive Istanbul 4:20 pm next day) inscriptions, carved 521-519 BC in Old Persian, Elamite, and Akkadian, served as the key • BOSTON (BOS) TK 82 departs at 11:30 pm (arrive Istanbul 4:10 pm next day) to the decipherment of cuneiform script in the mid-19th century. The relief above the *Flight times can be changed by the airlines beyond our control. Please double check. inscription shows Darius the Great facing nine rebel kings—the rulers crushed by Darius when he came to power. The winged genius floating above the scene indicates that Darius June 9 Sat ARRIVE ISTANBUL was supported by the “great god” Ahura Mazda. Dinner and overnight in Hamadan. Welcome to Turkey! We arrive in Istanbul by late afternoon where our waiting bus takes us to our comfortable hotel. We end our long travel day with a delicious meal and a good night June 14 Thu HAMADAN of sleep. Hamadan, a major stop on the ancient royal road to Baghdad. Here, view the Alavyan Tomb Tower, a 12th-century structure regarded as the finest example of Seljuk art in June 10 Sun ISTANBUL (Choose one of the two Options) Iran. See the latest excavations of ancient Ecbatana. Created by King Deioces as his capital OPTION 1 (Suggested for First timers): Our tour in Istanbul begins at the Hagia Sophia where he ruled from 728-675 B.C. Visit the Tomb of Esther and Mordechai of Biblical (the church of “Holy Wisdom”)—the crowning achievement of the sacred building program of fame as well as the Tomb of Avicenna, a world-renowned astronomer and physician of Emperor Justinian, the 6th–century head of the Christian Byzantine Empire. Nearby is located the 10th century. We will also visit Ganjnameh, where the area’s oldest Achaemenid rock the Hippodrome which once stood in the heart of the Byzantine city of Constantinople and carving is located. Engraved on two stone panels, the inscriptions record the achievements originally held up to 100,000 people. Although little is left of this gigantic stadium, there are of Darius I and his son Xerxes and the extent of their empires. Dinner and overnight in a number of impressive columns and other structures situated at the site. We then head Hamadan. underground to the Basilica Cistern, a vast water cistern located underneath the city. Afterwards, we will make our way to Istanbul’s Archaeological Museum—one of the most June 15 Fri HAMADAN - SHUSHTAR celebrated collections in the world. Among its treasures are the Siloam inscription, the Gezer Today we will drive to Shushtar, en-route to Shushtar you will have a visit of Pol-e-Dokhtar, calendar, and the stunning “Jerusalem mosaic” depicting Orpheus. Final visit is to the Hagia a bridge constructed by the Sassanians 1800 years ago. It is huge – 900 feet long and rising Irene Church, the location of the 2nd Ecumenical Council. We return to our hotel for dinner 90 feet above water level and with eight arches needed to span the Kashkan River. You and overnight. (B,D) have a stop in Dezful, the second biggest city of Khozestan Province after Ahvaz. Dezful is known as city of bridges, there are several bridges in Dezful and Shadorvan Bridge is OPTION 2 : (This tour is for those who have visited the sites listed at the Option 1 before.) the oldest active bridge of Iran that is used till now. İt is a reminder of Roman engineers First visit Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople located in Fener, Church of the Saints in Iran belong to about 1600 years ago. You will have your lunch in Dezful and asfter you Sergius and Bacchus, also known as Little Hagia Sophia, the Monastery of Stoudios (from will drive to Shush. Shush, or Susa, the setting of the Biblical Book of Esther is the largest outside – internal visit is not possible), more fully Monastery of Saint John the Forerunner “at UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE OF IRAN. Dating back to around 6000 BC, Susa Stoudios”, often shortened to Stoudios, Studion, or Stoudion, was historically the most was one of the great ancient cities of Iran and an important Elamite center until it was important monastery of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. Continue to destroyed by the Assyrians in the 7th century BC. Darius I made it into the Achaemenid Chora Church to see its golden mosaics. Final visit to Pammakaristos Church, also known winter capital. Across the river, visit the Tomb of Daniel, said to hold the remains of the as the Church of Theotokos Pammakaristos, in 1591 converted into a mosque and known Jewish prophet, and still a place of pilgrimage. Then you will go to visit: Achamanian Palace as Fethiye Mosque and today partly a museum, is one of the most famous Greek Orthodox (Apadana), French Archeology Castle belong to Marcel-Auguste Dieulafoy, the first french Byzantine churches in Istanbul. We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D) archologist who excavated Shush site. Overnight Shushtar. Iran - Persia & The Bible / June 8-20, 2018 TOUR MAP CASPIAN SEA TEHRAN HAMADAN KANGAVAR IRAN ISFAHAN NAIN SHUSH SHUSHTAR YAZD ABARKUH AHVAZ Persepolis PERSAPOLIS SHIRAZ June 16 Sat SHUSHTAR - AHVAZ - ISFAHAN Following breakfasdt, you have a visit of Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System which is PERSIAN GULF UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE, then we drive to visit Chogha Zanbil ziggurat, UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The well-preserved Elamite ziggurat at Chogha Zanbil is the largest man-made structure in Iran and one of the few remaining examples of ziggurats in the Middle East. Distinctive construction techniques and elaborate glass-based materials were used for this great structure. İt is worth to say that all this sites are very close and it is possible to visit all of them during a half day city tour, after visitation of Chogha Zanbil Ziggurat, we will go to visit Haft tapeh archeology museum where is small but very important museum, UMMAN GULF then we will drive to Ahvaz, after lunch you will have drive to the Ahvaz Airport for NV2641 LAND & AIR: 15:40 /16:30 flight to Isfahan.Arrive Isfahan and we will go to visit Vank Cathedrel before check in the hotel.