The geographical background of the Persepolis tablets

Now available for sale, or for free download for those with institutional access to ProQuest (enter the database via your library).

The geographical background of the Persepolis tablets
by Arfaee, Abdolmajid, Ph.D., The University of Chicago, 2008, 150 pages; AAT 3300414


Abstract (Summary)
This study treats the historical and administrative geography of the regions of southwestern Iran around the Achaemenid Persian palace complex at Persepolis during the fifth century BC. It relies on the evidence of two groups of administrative documents excavated at Persepolis by the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago: 2,120 published texts and fragments, along with 2,553 unpublished pieces, from the Persepolis Fortification, written in the reign of Darius I, supplemented by 237 published texts and fragments from the Persepolis Treasury, written in the reigns of Xerxes I and Artaxerxes I.

The documents record commodities transported among places around Persepolis, and paid out to support workers, officials, travelers and livestock. Frequently occurring impressions of a few seals used by regional offices make it possible to identify administrative districts. Records of movement and storage make it possible observe networks of connections among the places within the districts. Records of outlays make it possible to infer the hinterlands of some nodes in these networks. Records of supplies for parties of travelers make it possible to establish the sequence of stations along the route connecting Persepolis to Susa in the northwest. At least four securely located places provide points of reference for placing the inferred districts, networks and routes in the geographical realities of southwestern Iran. The evidence of the Achaemenid administrative documents can sometimes be supplemented by medieval and early modern Iranian and Arabic geographers' descriptions of settlement and routes, and sometimes by archaeological evidence of Achaemenid occupation.

The known Achaemenid administrative texts from Persepolis mention 115 places five times or more. Of these, 88 are discussed here, located in three main administrative districts: 50 in a large region centering on Persepolis (Chapter II); 10 in a smaller region to the northwest, around the modern plain of Kamfiruz (Chapter III); and 28 in a region farther to the northwest, along the route that connected Persepolis to Susa, including modern area of Fahliyan (Chapter IV).

Advisor: Hallock, Richard T.
School: The University of Chicago
School Location: United States -- Illinois
Keyword(s): History of Ancient Persia, Geography of Ancient Persia, Administration of Ancient Persia, Elamite language, Persepolis Fortification Tablets, Persia
Source: DAI-A 69/01, Jul 2008
Source type: Dissertation
Subjects: Ancient languages, Ancient civilizations
Publication Number: AAT 3300414
ISBN: 9780549450542
ProQuest document ID: 1472133081

Persepolis in the News

Beginning January 1, 2007, this page will include links to stories from the news on Persepolis, but not related to the Persepolis Fortification Archive. News stories on the archive will be in Persepolis Tablets in the News.

Persepolis under modern tech excavation
Sun, 04 May 2008 14:36:54 Press TV

Iran: Discovery of one of the ten largest Achaemenid buildings with a structure similar to Persepolis
02/08/08 (Payvand.com)
A report on this year's excavations at Noorabad, Mamasani, Fars province.






Achaemenid Soldier Fetched in London
Tehran, 27 October 2007 (CHN Foreign Desk)
Despite all oppositions made by Iran regarding the sale of the head of the Achaemenid soldier, it has been sold in Christie’s auction in London.
And see also: The Denyse Berend Persepolis relief fragment is for sale at Christie's, and Iran boycotts bas-relief sale at Christie's, and UNESCO not Support Iran to Retrieve its Achaemenid Soldier, and IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE QUEEN'S BENCH DIVISION, Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London, WC2A 2LL, 1st February 2007. B e f o r e : THE HON. MR JUSTICE EADY. Between: The Islamic Republic of Iran, Claimant - and - Denyse Berend, Defendant: HTML VERSION OF JUDGMENT England and Wales High Court (Queen's Bench Division) Decisions, 1st February 2007, and British court's decision on the ownership of the Persepolis relief fragment bought in 1974 by Denyse Berend, as well as earlier comments by Derek Fincham, of Illicit Cultural Property: No renvoi in Iran v. Berend, and Martin George, of ConflictOfLaws.Net: Rejecting Renvoi: Iran v Berend.

Austria to help restore Persepolis
Sun, 07 Oct 2007 08:18:4.
"With a joint project estimated to cost 30 million euros, Iran and Austria will restore Iran's foremost historic site, Persepolis."

The Denyse Berend Persepolis relief fragment is for sale at Christie's again at the October 25th Antiquities auction (see the articles below from January and February 200). Apparently it has been suggested that the Iranian government purchase it, and aparently the suggestion is being rejected:

Iran boycotts bas-relief sale at Christie's
Sun, 02 Sep 2007 11:14:25 (PressTV).

and

UNESCO not Support Iran to Retrieve its Achaemenid Soldier
Tehran, 3 September 2007 (CHN Foreign Desk).

Iran's Apadana column restored
Wed, 18 Jul 2007 19:47:36 (PressTV).

Website featuring Achaemenid art
Thu, 07 Jun 2007 18:37:05 (PressTV).

International Attempt for Cleaning up Lichen from Persepolis
ehran, 13 May 2007 (CHN Foreign Desk).

"Iran in conjunction with UNESCO has called an international cooperation for cleaning up the lichen from body of Persepolis World Heritage Site." [Nicely illustrated]

Persepolis outdoor museum to be opened
Thu, 22 Mar 2007 22:52:10. © Press TV 2007.

"A new outdoor museum in the ancient city of Persepolis, in southwestern Iran, is scheduled to open during Nowruz holidays, showcasing items belonging to Iran's Achaemenid and Sassanid eras."

A Glimpse of Things to Come
BY A STAFF REPORTER Friday, February 16, 2007 8:42:24 IST. © 2007, Cybernoon.

"... The Jeejeebhoy Dadabhoy Agiary at Navy Nagar was the scene of chaos yesterday. The ancient city of Persepolis, Persia, is being re-created in all its glory and splendour ..."

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE QUEEN'S BENCH DIVISION, Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London, WC2A 2LL, 1st February 2007. B e f o r e : THE HON. MR JUSTICE EADY. Between: The Islamic Republic of Iran, Claimant - and - Denyse Berend, Defendant: HTML VERSION OF JUDGMENT
England and Wales High Court (Queen's Bench Division) Decisions, 1st February 2007.

British court's decision on the ownership of the Persepolis relief fragment bought in 1974 by Denyse Berend.

Update: Derek Fincham, of Illicit Cultural Property, comments on the case : No renvoi in Iran v. Berend.

Update: Martin George, of ConflictOfLaws.Net, comments on the case : Rejecting Renvoi: Iran v Berend.

Ancient Middle East fascinates Mexican museum goers
Reuters, Fri Feb 2, 2007 11:44 AM GMT

"MEXICO CITY, Feb 2 (Reuters Life!) - Fascinated by cultures as old as their own, Mexicans are pouring into museum exhibitions in wonder at ancient Middle Eastern artefacts never before seen in the Western Hemisphere ... A stone plaque inscribed in cuneiform script from the ancient city of Persepolis, destroyed by Alexander the Great in 330 BC, is one of the highlights. 'I didn't know Iran had such fabulous stuff, like gold cups and statues,' said retired clerk Sergio Zavala, 68, on his fourth visit to the Persia display. 'I always used to think of Iran and Iraq just as places of conflict,' he said ..."

Persépolis, arquitectura celestial o terrenal? by Manel Garcia Sanchez.
Preprint of an article to appear in AZARA, PEDRO; FRONTISI-DUCROUX, FRANÇOISE; LURI, GREGORIO (eds.), Arquitecturas celestiales, Actas del congreso internacional celebrado en el Centro de Cultura Contemporánea de Barcelona, 14-16 de septiembre de 2006 (sous presse, 2007).
Published online at Achemenet.

"Persepolis, one of the Achaemenid empire capitals has been seen as a secret and ritual city, designed for the celebration of the Zoroastrian New Year Festival or Now Ruz on the vernal equinox. The silence of the classic authors, of the biblical books and the ancient near east tablets, as well as the majestic relieves in which the royal hero fights against bestiaries, which are the symbol of the Evil Spirit, had been used as an evidence to confirm that suggestive hypothesis. Nevertheless, if we interpret the Persepolitan iconography in the light of what we know about the religion and the ideology of the Achaemenids and if we do not find dark means in the silences of the sources, we find that the design of the city responds more to a political, ideological and earthly functionality than a wish of reflecting a celestial architecture..."

London Court to Officially Announce its Verdict to Iran
Cultural Heritage News, Iran, 27 January 2007

"In a formal statement, London’s High Court will be delivering its recent ruling on bas-relief of the Achaemenid soldier, which was announced on Jan. 19, 2007, to Iran in two weeks.

According to Omid Ghanami, director of the Legal Department of Iran’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (ICHTO), the Organization is waiting to receive the written verdict to make follow-up decisions. He also said that Iran wills take actions against the court’s ruling if given the right to object to the final decree..."

Court of London Ignores Iran’s Ownership of Achaemenid Bas-relief
Cultural Heritage News, Iran, Mon Jan 22, 2007

Iran loses court battle over ancient carving
Reuters, Fri Jan 19, 2007 8:03 PM GMT

"LONDON (Reuters) - Iran on Friday lost a legal battle against an 85-year-old French widow over a piece of carved limestone from the ancient Persian capital of Persepolis.

London's High Court ruled in favour of Denyse Berend, who bought the artefact in 1974, in a case brought against her by the Iranian government which sought to reclaim the relief fragment..."


Museums face fallout in fight over carving
By Stephanie Condron
Last Updated: 2:35am GMT 17/01/2007

"A stone carving of the head of a guardsman from the ancient palace of Persian kings at Persepolis is at the centre of a High Court battle that could have worldwide repercussions for museums and art collections.

For more than 30 years, the 5th century BC relief has been in the possession of a Frenchwoman who bought it at an auction in New York in 1974 and displayed it on her living room wall..."


No ban on Persepolis in Iran: official
Tuesday, January 16, 2007 - ©2005 IranMania.com

"LONDON, January 16 (IranMania) - Head of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization’s Research Center has said that enthusiasts, cameramen and researchers cannot be banned from entering historical monument of Takht-e Jamshid (Persepolis) in Fars province.

Seyyed Taha Hashemi told ISNA on the sidelines of the inaugural ceremony for Research Week that the competence of cultural and tourism stations is determined by the fact that they remain vigilant against any threat and at the same time they permit the entry of researchers and visitors to the sites..."

Persepolis to Host Biggest Horse Riding Festival in Iran
Cultural Heritage News, Iran - Jan 15, 2007

"Tehran, 15 January 2007 (CHN Foreign Desk) -- The biggest horse riding festival in Iran will be held in April/May 2007 close to Persepolis historic complex in Iran’s Fars province under the joint cooperation of sport tourism committee of Iran’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (ICHTO), Iran’s Equestrian Federation, and UNESCO..."

Fate of Iran's Bolaghi Valley hangs in balance
Monday, January 15, 2007 - ©2005 IranMania.com

"LONDON, January 15 (IranMania) - The reservoir of the Sivand Dam will be filled, pending archaeologists’ decision at a seminar to be held in Tehran on January 20, the Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Organization (CHTHO) Research Center director said at a press conference, MNA reported.

“All the archaeologists that participated in the rescue excavations of the Bolaghi Valley will present their reports during the seminar. If the reports indicate that the rescue excavations have been completed, the filling of the dam will begin,” Taha Hashemi added..."

Red stains removed from Iran's Persepolis
Thursday, January 04, 2007 - ©2005 IranMania.com

"LONDON, January 4 (IranMania) - A team of experts from the Parseh and Pasargadae Foundation announced that they had successfully removed the red stains from the floor and walls of the Hadish Palace of Xerxes in Persepolis, MNA reported.
The stains were left by a film crew shooting a TV series in late December that used red liquid to represent blood in a scene..."

Leading train through tunnel, only way to save Naqsh-e Rostam
Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran - Jan 1, 2007

After studying different alternatives for saving the cultural landscape of the historic site of Naqsh-e Rostam against railway construction, experts of Parse-Pasargadae Research Center concluded that the most effective way to prevent the railway from intruding the historic landscape of this Achaemenid site is to construct a 6-kilometer-long tunnel from Sivand to Shoul village and direct the train through the tunnel.

Announcing this news, Hassan Rahsaz, an expert in Parse-Pasargadae Research Center explained that the tunnel could be constructed at a distance of 4 to 5 kilometers from Naqsh-e Rostam without posing any threat to its ancient structures..."

Persepolis Tablets in the News

Beginning January 1, 2007, the blog will have another page covering Persepolis in the News, but not related to the Persepolis Fortification Archive. The latter will continue to be listed here

Newest articles at the top:

US takes 3D shots of Iran inscriptions, PressTV, Sun, 13 Apr 2008 22:48:42

Achaemenid inscription names uncle of Darius in Old Persian for first tim, Tehran Times.

Heritage on a store shelf: U.S. federal court threatens Iranian-American heritage, by Arash Hadjialiloo , 16-Mar-2008, Iranian.com.


NIAC enlists major law firm to protect Persian Tablets, by Shadee Malaklou, Mar 12, 2008, National Iranian American Council (NIAC) Newsletter.

Federal Court Threatens Iranian-American Heritage, by Arash Hadjialiloo , Mar 12, 2008, National Iranian American Council (NIAC) Newsletter.


Rubin v. Islamic Republic of Iran: latest reported opinion. Higher Ed Law Prof Blog: A Member of the Law Professor Blogs Network.

اقتباس يا ابتكار، ميراثی از كورش يا داريوش خط ميخی فارسی باستان. آخرين به روز رسانی, ۱۳۸۶/۱۱/۲۹ - ۱۱:۵۱.

Iran's Arfaei finds new Elamite words. Press TV, Sun, 27 Jan 2008 22:25:23.

Of Ancient Empires and Modern Litigation. Tableau: The Magazine of the Division of the Humanities at the University of Chicago, Fall/Winter 2008

Rubin v. The Islamic Republic of Iran - A Struggle for Control of Persian Antiquities in America, James A. Wawrzyniak, Harvard Law School, 2007
["This paper analyzes the multi-jurisdictional attachment and execution proceedings taking place sub nomine Rubin v. The Islamic Republic of Iran. The Rubin litigation raises novel issues in the areas of art law and foreign relations. The first section of the paper evaluates whether third parties have standing to raise a sovereign state’s immunity under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (“FSIA”). The second delves into the particulars of the commercial use exception to the FSIA. The final section considers various provisions of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2001, a new law with little judicial gloss. These three main issues are evaluated within a broader art law framework as historic and valuable Persian antiquities stand at the center of the execution proceedings."]

The Persepolis Tablets: Terror Victims Target Ancient Persian Artifacts, By Alicia M. Hilton. American Bar Association Litigation Update - Hot Topics, April 2007
[n.b.: This is not a new article but it was not seen by me until today, Jan. 16, 2008. Alicia M. Hilton is a Visiting Professor of Law at the John Marshall Law School in Chicago where she teaches Cultural Property and Museum Law, Criminal Procedure, and Undercover Operations and Informant Management Law. Prior to practicing law, she was an FBI Special Agent and an art dealer]

Achaemenid tablet translation remains unpublished due to lack of funding, TEHRAN, Jan. 1 (MNA)
[An article on Abdolmajid Arfaei's project to publishe the Hallock transliterations of Persepolis Fortification Tablets]

Justice Dept. 'Helps Iran' in Court Case, by Josh Gerstein, Staff Reporter of the New York Sun, November 23, 2007
["...'This court should exercise circumspection in light of the potential foreign policy implications of requiring broad discovery of a foreign sovereign,' a Justice Department lawyer, Rupa Bhattacharyya, wrote in a "Statement of Interest" filed in federal court in Chicago last week. The attorney urged the court to limit the terrorism victims' ability to gather information about the antiquities because Iran is entitled to be treated with "grace and comity" in American legal proceedings..."]

Roads of time converge in Bolaghi Valley Tehran: 19:36 , 2007/09/10, MehrNews.com
["...The director of the Parsa-Pasargadae Research Center noted that the University of Chicago has 30,000 ancient Iranian tablets or fragments of tablets bearing cuneiform inscriptions in its possession and has translated 3000 of them, but added that they are gradually being returned to Iran...]

Iran to redeem Persepolis tablets Sunday, September 09, 2007 - ©2005 IranMania.com
["An American court is slated to hear on September 25 the case related to Persian tablets loaned by Iran to Chicago University in 1937..."]

Iran to redeem Persepolis tablets Fri, 07 Sep 2007 14:16:41, PressTV
["An American court is slated to investigate the issue of the priceless collection of Persian tablets, loaned to Chicago University."]

American judge orders seizure of Persian artifacts Tehran, July 31, IRNA
[An unhelpful and inaccurate summary of the situation]

Everyday Text Shows That Old Persian Was Probably More Commonly Used Than Previously Thought Science Daily, June 19, 2007

Everyday text shows that Old Persian was probably more commonly used than previously thought
University of Chicago Press Release, June 15, 2007
["For the first time, a text has been found in Old Persian language that shows the written language in use for practical recording and not only for royal display. The text is inscribed on a damaged clay tablet from the Persepolis Fortification Archive, now at the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago. The tablet is an administrative record of the payout of at least 600 quarts of an as-yet unidentified commodity at five villages near Persepolis in about 500 B.C."]

Discovery of the First Old-Persian-Inscription among the loaned Persepolis’ Fortification-Tablets in the University of Chicago London (CAIS) 31 May 2007
[Researchers at Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago for the first time have identified an Old-Persian (Aryan) inscription among the loaned Achaemenid-clay tablets, announced Abdolmajid Arfaee, an Iranian Archaeologist with ICHT]

See also the blog enty PFT at the AOS. The initial publication of the tablet will appear presently in ARTA at Achemenet]

Confiscation of Iranian tablets to end Press TV, Posted: Wed, 23 May 2007 08:53:13
[An Iranian official has said the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago has assured Iran the confiscation of its tablets will end]

Iran restates rights over ancient tablets Press TV, Posted: Wed, 02 May 2007 17:19:02
[The Judicial Office of Iran's CHTHO has demanded the extradition of Achaemenid tablets, a possession of Iran according to Iran and US law]

Insulting The Magnificent Persians Hamed Vahdati Nasab , Posted: Mar 28, 2007
[One of a large number of stories criticizing the film 300, and citing Persepolis tablets as evidence]

Cultural Barbarians are at the Gate 3/22/07 - Payvand News
[The Persepolis Fortification Archive mentioned in the context of a discussion of current geo-politics]

Tablets will Return to Iran 2007-03-11 - Fars News Agency

Museum GC Oversees King Tut, T. Rex and More: The Field Museum of Natural History general counsel Joseph Brennan March 9, 2007 - The National Law Journal
[With a comment on the claim against objects of Iranian origin in the Field Museum of Natural History]

Iran tablets’ fate remains uncertain Friday, February 2nd, 2007 - Chicago Maroon

University of Chicago not showing goodwill on return of Achaemenid tablets: official January 26, 2007 - MehrNews.com
[This article has been repeated in a variety of Iranian news sources in the past few days]

No verdict on Iranian clay tablets Monday, January 22, 2007 - ©2005 IranMania.com

Fate of Persian Tablets Still Undetermined Cultural Heritage News Agency, 2007-1-20

Targeting ancient tablets to settle a score Marketplace, American Public Media, 2007-1-18 [Audio story with transscript]

A Heritage Threatened: The Persepolis Tablets Lawsuit and the Oriental Institute, by Gil J. Stein, The Oriental Institute News and Notes, Winter 2007

What are the Persepolis Fortification Tablets?, by Matthew W. Stolper, The Oriental Institute News and Notes, Winter 2007

'Achaemenid tablets will be repatriated soon' IranMania 2006-12-27

US Court Postpones Hearing on Iranian Artifacts Fars News Agency 2006-12-26

Achaemenid tablets will be repatriated sooner or later: official MehrNews.com 2006-12-26

Iranian clay tablets to return home Iranian Student News Agency 2006-12-22

Iranian Tablets to Be Examined upon Return from US Fars News Agency 2006-11-26

US Obliged to Indemnify Iran If it Sells Artifacts Fars News Agency 2006-11-21

London Museum Defends Return of Artifacts to Iran Fars News Agency 2006-11-06

National Museum Director Assures Return of Tablets to Iran Fars News Agency 2006-10-28

Art As Anti-Terrorism. Will U.S. Seize Persian Tablets At An American Museum As Compensation For A Suicide Bombing? CBS News Oct. 8, 2006 [with video]

Iran enters legal fight over Oriental Institute relics Chicago Maroon Oct. 6, 2006

Worth millions...or priceless? A lawsuit threatens to take ancient Iranian tablets from the Oriental Institute to compensate Hamas terrorist victims University of Chicago Magazine, October 2006

Embattled Tablets Archaeology News Volume 59 Number 5, September/October 2006

Iran, US Fight to Protect Artifiacts Voice of America, September 19 2006

NIAC and IABA Join Forces to Protect Ancient Persian Article Payvand News, July 27, 2006

Iran UNESCO national commission request support on reclaiming Achaemenian tablets Iranian Students News Agency, July 18, 2006

In a Lawsuit Aimed at Iran, Terror Victims Focus on Ancient Artifacts in a Chicago Museum New York Times, July 18, 2006

Iran, U.S. Allied in Protecting Artifacts. Priceless Tablets Sought as Settlement In Lawsuit Over 1997 Hamas Bombing Washington Post, July 18, 2006

Fight Over Ancient Persian Tablets Goes to U.S. Court NPR Morning Edition, July 17, 2006

Crime against humanity: Auctioning off Iran's ancient artifacts Iranian.com, July 17, 2006

Iran wants disputed clay tablets returned from US Washington Post / Reuters, July 12, 2006

Looting Iran: What the University of Chicago has in its possession is part and parcel of a heritage that belongs to the Iranian people Iranian.com, July 2, 2006

Are U.S. Courts Biased against Iran? Daniel Pipes' Weblog, June 28, 2006

Antiquities and Politics Intersect in a Lawsuit New York Times, March 29, 2006

Victims of terrorist act seek Iranian artifacts Chicago Maroon, January 13, 2006

U. of C.'s ancient tablets in terror dispute Chicago Sun Times, December 13, 2005

Oriental Institute returns ancient tablets that explain an empire’s administrative life University of Chicago Magazine's Web log, May 13, 2004

Going home. First instalment: On University of Chicago's return of ancient tablets to Iran Iranian.com, May 2, 2004

US scholars woo Iran with return of ancient tablets
Guardian Unlimited, April 30, 2004

Oriental Institute will return 300 artifacts to Iran Chicago Maroon, April 30, 2004

Museum keeps its word, after 67 years Chicago Tribune, April 29, 2004

Ancient Persian scratch pads going back to Iran from U. of C. Chicago Sun Times, April 29, 2004

First to dig, first to return University of Chicago Magazine's Web log, April 28, 2004

Experts Back in Modern Iran to Again Study Ancient Persia New York Times, April 28, 2004

Researchers translate clay tablets from Persian Empire ABC7 Chicago, April 28, 2004

University of Chicago returns ancient Persian tablets loaned by Iran University of Chicago Press Release April 28, 2004

Abdol Majid Arfa'i: PT 10a, Collated and Completed

Tell Baratkama, the treasurer, Tarkawiš says: “28 karša, 61⁄2 shekels of silver, is to be issued to plasterers(?) whose apportionments are set by Ramazitra. Sheep/goats and wine are its (the silver’s) counterpart. [They made] … at(?) Hiyamazika(?) from month x to [month y]. [… …] [14 men, x shekel and y] liulith each is to go to them, 9 men, 1 shekel and 1 liulith each is to go to them. 9 men, 1 shekel each is to go to them. Total 32 men. Pidapirma and his companion(s) made the accounting(?) of that silver.”

ARTA: Achaemenid Research on Texts and Archaeology, 2008:1

Carpets Illustrating Achaemenid Monuments

[Originally posted on March 14th 2008, updated on March 29th with the additio of the caption]

Click on the photos for bigger pictures

This is a photograph of The Persepolis Kerman. This rug was woven in the Kerman workshop of Hajji Gholam Riza in 1900. The inscription at the upper end of the border reads (in translation):

Woven according to the command of his excellency, Aghayi Assadullah Khan Behtejulmulk, the vice-governor of the state of Fars, following the time when he made a tour of Persepolis. After seeing all, he commissioned Mirza Aghayi Forsati of Shiraz to study the ruins of the old buildings, as well as the sculpted figures and writings, who began to draw and translate the ancient writings in detail. The results of these labors were woven in this rug in the workshop of Hajji Gholam Riza of Kerman.

The rug, measuring twenty-four feet six inches by seventeen feet was given to The University of Chicago by Mrs. Mary Hooker Dole of Oak Park Illinois. For some years it lay on the floor of the Quadrangle Club, and was subsequently moved to Rockefeller Chapel where it was mounted on the south wall of the east transept. It was eventually sold by the University.




Do you know of others? Let us know by way of the comments.