Persepolis at the Internet Archive

A number of traveler's accounts and works of early scholarship on Persepolis are beginning to emerge in open access formats at the Internet Archive. Among these are:

Travels in Assyria, Media and Persia : including a journey from Bagdad by Mount Zagros, to Hamadan, the ancient Ecbatana, researches in Ispahan and the ruins of persepolis (Volume 1) - Buckingham, James Silk, 1786-1855

Travels in Assyria, Media and Persia : including a journey from Bagdad by Mount Zagros, to Hamadan, the ancient Ecbatana, researches in Ispahan and the ruins of persepolis (Volume 2) - Buckingham, James Silk, 1786-1855

Nineveh and Persepolis : an historical sketch of ancient Assyria and Persia, with an account of the recent researches in those countries - Vaux, William Sandys Wright, 1818-1885

Narrative of a residence in Koordistan : and on the site of ancient Nineveh; with journal of a voyage down the Tigris to Bagdad and an account of a visit to Shirauz and Persepolis (Volume 1) - Rich, Cladius James, 1787-1820

Observations made on a tour from Bengal to Persia, in the years 1786-7; with a short account of the remains of the celebrated palace of Persepolis and other interesting events - Francklin, William, 1763-1839

Remains of lost empires: sketches of the ruins of Palmyra, Nineveh, Babylon, and Persepolis, with some notes on India and the Cashmerian Himalayas - Myers, P. V. N. (Philip Van Ness), 1846-1937

MDPs online

This is not strictly speaking Persepolis related, but certainly worth noting. The Internet Archive has posted online the first 16 volumes of the publications of the Mission archéologique en Iran (cited variously as Délégation en Perse; Mission archéologique de Susiane; Mission archéologique de Perse, and commonly known as MDP).

Of particular interest for Persepolis is V. Scheil's MDP IX: Textes Elamites-Anzanites : troisieme serie. If you simply must use a hard copy, you might be able to find one at a library near (or not so near) you, or you might borrow mine, if you're nice to me!

NIAC Facebook group: "Save Persepolis Artifacts!"

The NIAC - National Iranian American Council blog: niacINsight: Beltway insights for the Iranian-American community, has posted the following anouncement

NIAC has created a group on Facebook entitled “Save Persepolis Artifacts!” Priceless 2,500 year old Persian tablets - currently on display at some of America’s preeminent institutions - may be put up for auction as plaintiffs seek to recover court-awarded damages against the Iranian government. NIAC has been following developments in the case closely and will be acting as Amicus Curiae for the lawsuits. To read a background analysis of the case click here.

NIAC believes that to auction off these ancient artifacts would be detrimental, not only to world history, but also to the practice of cultural and academic exchange. Most important to us, however, is the devastating effect that their sale would have on the Iranian-American community. These objects form an important element of Iranian-American cultural identity and historical pride. To sell them would be to punish Iranian Americans for the actions of a government they do not support.

Please show your support for our fight by joining the group!

The Parsa Community Foundation Grant to the Persepolis Fortification Archive Project

The Persian Mirror reports on the Parsa Community Foundation grant to the Persepolis Fortification Archive Project.

For over 80 years, the University of Chicago’s Oriental Institute has been a pioneer and innovator in exploring the world's earliest civilizations in the ancient Near East. In 1933, the Institute discovered thousands of clay tablets and fragments during their archeological excavations of historic sites in Iran. These ancient artifacts are on long-term loan from the government of Iran and were left in the Institute's care for purposes of translation, study and publication. They make up the Persepolis Fortification Archive (PFA) and constitute a rich source for the research of the history, languages, art and society of the 2,500 year-old Achaemenid Persian Empire. The artificats are in danger of being seized and put up for public auction to compensate plaintiffs in a private lawsuit against the government of Iran. The institute is operating under emergency conditions to prevent interruption of the preservation of these tablets and PARSA CF's continuing support will fund conservators in prompt delivery of digital photography, translation and editing. The University of Chicago is a second-time PARSA CF grantee and a model conservation effort.

This is the second time the Parsa Community Foundation has made a grant to the Persepolis Fortification Archive Project.

Related: Achaemenid monumental gateways at Pasargadae, Susa and Persepolis

Just appeared from ProQuest/UMI. If your institution has a license, you can download a copy of this free-of-charge

Achaemenid monumental gateways at Pasargadae, Susa and Persepolis
by Codella, Kim Christopher, Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 2007, 251 pages; AAT 3306108
Abstract (Summary)

This dissertation is an examination of Achaemenid monumental gateways built between c. 546 and 331 BCE at the three Achaemenid sites of Pasargadae, Susa and Persepolis. These gates were unique in that they were in essence large columned reception halls that also functioned at portals to these three important Achaemenid sites. Pasargadae, Susa and Persepolis offer the only known surviving examples of Achaemenid gateways and their development is traced over two centuries of time. While Achaemenid architecture and design has been examined in previous studies, this work focuses on the gateways as a means to understanding important elements of Achaemenid imperial construction and design. Examined in chronological order, the development and function of these gates is placed in the wider context of Achaemenid architectural, artistic and ceremonial programs. While serving as monumental entrances, these buildings were intrinsically linked to the buildings to which they led, as well as being integrated to site's plan as a whole.

A clear development is traced from the first gate examples at Pasargadae, which show connections to the earlier Neo-Assyrian world, down to the standardization of gateways under the reign of Darius I and Xerxes I at Susa and Persepolis as well as those of later rulers. In conclusion, as with so many Achaemenid imperial buildings, these gates demonstrate a clear and well planned program that projects an image of stability, coherence and cooperation in the Achaemenid world.

Indexing (document details)
Advisor: Stronach, David
School: University of California, Berkeley
School Location: United States -- California
Keyword(s): Achaemenid, Gates, Persia, Monumental gateways, Pasargadae, Susa, Persepolis
Source: DAI-A 69/03, Sep 2008
Source type: Dissertation
Subjects: Archaeology
Publication Number: AAT 3306108
ISBN: 9780549528258
ProQuest document ID: 1495959311

The geographical background of the Persepolis tablets

Available in open access from PQDT Open

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

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

News from Achemenet

[From the Lettre du Collège de France, No. 22. A facsimile of the pages appears following the text below]

HISTOIRE ET CIVILISATION DU MONDE ACHÉMÉNIDE ET DE L’EMPIRE D’ALEXANDRE


Colloque de novembre 2007


La Chaire et le GDR 2538 du CNRS ont organisé au Collège de France un colloque achéménide. Après l’archéologie en 2003 (Persika 6, 2005), la Transition en 2004 (Persika 9, 2006), les archives de Persépolis en 2006 (Persika 12, à paraître en 2008), le thème choisi était : Organisation des pouvoirs et contacts culturels dans l’empire achéménide (9- 10 novembre 2007). Réunis à l’invitation de Pierre Briant et de Michel Chauveau (EPHE et GDR 2538), près de 20 spécialistes (Grande-Bretagne, Autriche, Suisse, Italie, Allemagne, République Tchèque, France, Pays-Bas) ont, à travers leur expérience scientifique spécifique, traité du problème central et récurrent que posent l’existence et l’histoire d’un empire, à savoir la cohabitation, au sein d’un même ensemble politique, de populations diverses par la langue, la religion et les moeurs, le système de représentations culturelles, les traditions sociales et politiques, etc. Concernant l’empire achéménide, les réflexions sur ce thème sont aussi anciennes que les premières publications et réflexions sur l’histoire et la structure des grands empires territoriaux. La publication en nombre croissant de corpus documentaires venant des différents pays de l’empire permet, mieux que par le passé, de sortir de la monoculture classique, et d’articuler au mieux documents écrits, archéologiques et iconographiques. Le renouvellement en cours de la documentation et de la réflexion a également conduit les organisateurs à accorder une place particulièrement importante à l’Égypte sous domination achéménide (10 communications), de la même façon qu’en 2004, la question de la Transition avait été organisée prioritairement autour de la Babylonie achéménide. Les actes seront publiés dans la collection Persika (de Boccard). Comme les précédents volumes, celui-ci sera réalisé par Salima Larabi.


Archéologie et bases de données sur internet. Travaux en cours : Open-mélodie


Depuis septembre 2007, José Paumard (maître de conférences de Génie informatique à Paris-XIII), travaille au Collège de France sous forme d’une convention avec son université. II est rattaché aux chaires des professeurs Pierre Briant et John Scheid, dans le cadre d’un projet qui intéresse les deux chaires, et même au-delà. II s’agit de l’écriture et la publication d’Open-mélodie, plateforme logicielle open-source et libre. Dès le début de la conception et de la construction de la plateforme aujourd’hui utilisée par le MAVI, l’objectif était de pouvoir accueillir d’autres projets articulés sur des bases de données historico- archéologiques, qui se heurtent aujourd’hui trop souvent à des difficultés techniques pratiquement impossibles à surmonter. La publication en open-source d’Open-mélodie constituera, à terme, une solution performante, économique et pérenne, s’inscrivant dans les grands efforts internationaux de mise à disposition de données historiques et archéologiques sur l’Internet (par exemple OAI : http://www.openarchives. org/).


Une première version du coeur du système (recouvrant la gestion des données et des utilisateurs) est actuellement en phase de test, ce qui a permis de lancer les premiers travaux en vue de la réalisation de son interface Internet. Le MAVI, d’une part, et, d’autre part, le programme dirigé par John Scheid sur les sanctuaires d’Italie, en bénéficieront en primeur. Une mise en ligne de la plateforme devrait être réalisée à l’été 2008. Open-mélodie sera disponible pour tous les projets qui en feront la demande.


Développement des sites web MAVI et www.achemenet.com


Outre les enrichissements apportés au contenu du MAVI (de nouvelles conventions avec des musées sont sur le point d’être finalisées), la deuxième rénovation du site achemenet depuis le lancement de la première version en juillet 2000 a été achevée en novembre 2007. L’on a voulu faciliter la navigation d’une rubrique à l’autre. Des entrées ont été ajoutées, ainsi que la possibilité d’apposer des signets (bookmarks) sur des pages choisies. Dans le même temps, grâce à l’intervention technique de José Paumard et de Philippe Bertin, Wouter Henkelman prépare la mise en ligne sur le site d’une base de données sur les tablettes de Persépolis (translittérées par R. Hallock avant 1979), sur l’édition desquelles il travaille avec le groupe de l’Oriental Institute de Chicago. Cette base devrait être disponible au printemps prochain. Ultérieurement la publication en ligne des tablettes ainsi éditées et traduites sera également assurée par Wouter Henkelman sur Achemenet. Enfin, depuis la dernière rentrée, Pierre Briant est assisté de Wouter Henkelman en qualité de co-directeur d’Achemenet et du MAVI, et de Yannick Lintz (Musée du Louvre) en qualité de co-directrice du MAVI. José Paumard continue d’assurer la co-direction technique des deux sites, et Salima Larabi est chargée du secrétariat éditorial.


Un cours sur les tablettes de Persépolis à Paris<>br>

Pour la première fois, un cours portant spécifiquement sur les tablettes élamites de Persépolis, dans leurs caractéristiques linguistiques et philologiques ainsi que dans la dimension qu’elles ont déjà acquise dans le domaine de l’histoire achéménide, est présenté à Paris, à l’École pratique des hautes études : il est assuré par Wouter Henkelman, maître de conférences associé près de la chaire.



Click on these images for higher resolution

Matthew Stolper's lecture "Persepolis Fortification Archive Project: Recent Development"

Matthew Stolper's lecture "Persepolis Fortification Archive Project: Recent Development" presented at the conference: The Presence of Iran in the Ancient World, is available in audio format

Here - Real Audio (36:33)

Other presentations at the conference incude:


Audio

Dr. Jennifer Rose - Real Audio (27:29)

Dr. Martin Schwartz - Real Audio (27:59)

Dr. Matthew W. Stolper - Real Audio (36:33)

Dr. Rahim Shayegan - Real Audio (20:16)

Dr. Michael Morony - Real Audio (27:06)

Video

Introduction by Dr. Nasrin Rahimieh & Dr. Touraj Daryaee - Real Video (13:25)

Prof. Richard Nelson Frye - Real Video (5:19)

Dr. Ali Mousavi (Excerpt) - Real Video (10:31)

Dr. Elizabeth Carter - Real Video (20:11)

Dr. Kamyar Abdi - Real Video (36:11)

Dr. Judith Lerner - Real Video (21:45)

Hanns-Peter Schmidt - Real Video (20:09)

Seventy-Fifth Anniversary of the Discovery of the Persepolis Fortification Archive

The text of the telegram from Ernst Herzfeld to James Henry Breasted announcing the discovery of the Persepolis Fortification Archive, received 4 March 1933:

“Hundreds Probably thousands business Tablets Elamite Discovered On Terrace Herzfeld”

Facsimile to follow

Matthew Stolper in Wikipedia

Matthew Wolfgang Stolper in Wikipedia

Persepolis Tablets Illustrated on the Web

Since the return of the three hundred Persepolis Fortification Tablets to the Muze-ye Irân-e Bâstân in 2004, several tablets have been illustrated in stories on-line. This entry gathers them, and some others already online, together in one place.

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Archival Photofiles, [apf2-05395], Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library.




This set of photographs illustrate:
Matthew W. Stolper & Jan Tavernier, From the Persepolis Fortification Archive Project, 1: An Old Persian Administrative Tablet from the Persepolis Fortification Arta: Achaemenid Research on Texts and Archaeology
























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This set of photographs illustrate:
Jones, Charles E.; Stolper, Matthew W. Fortification Texts Sold at the Auction of the Erlenmeyer Collection Arta: Achaemenid Research on Texts and Archaeology





































































































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This set of photographs illustrate:
Henkelman, Wouter F. M.; Jones, Charles E.; Stolper, Matthew W. Achaemenid Elamite Administrative Tablets, 2: The Qasr-i Abu Nasr Tablet. ARTA: Achaemenid Research on Texts and Archaeology

















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