Marlik Cup

TEHRAN, Dec. 14--Marlik Cup represents the great civilization of Gohar valley in Gilan province, according to a researcher Hossein Mousavi.
Speaking to ISNA, he said that the civilization in the area is so rich that it won the admiration of researchers throughout the world.
Mousavi said that archeologists came across the invaluable Jaam-e Marlik (Marlik Cup) while conducting excavations at Koulak in Gohar valley, Roudbar, Gilan province in 1961.
Archeologists Seifollah Kambakhsh Fard, Mahmoud Kardovani, and Mafi led by Ezzatollah Negahban were involved in the excavation.
He said that Marlik Cup dates back to between the 14th and 4th centuries BC adding that it probably belonged to a civilization which flourished in the first half of the second millennium BC.
The civilization thrived along the banks of Mardi (or Amardi) River (Sepid Roud) and the nearby plains.
The tribe itself was called ’Mard’ and the adjective of Amardi, meaning ’fighter’ was attributed to them.
Historical objects unearthed from Gohar Roud (Marlik) in 1961 indicate that the territory was once a center of art which influenced the entire Middle East.
Mousavi said that the same tribesmen called Gil Mard are living in Gilan province. Nowadays, in Gilan province, the ships are called ’Gil Mardi’ and the men and women living in the province are known as Gilmard.
The language of Gilmardi is spoken in the eastern part of the province and is somewhat different from Taleshi, Lahijani and Rashti dialects.
The title of Gil Gamesh was given to heroes who were as strong as oxen.
The renowned Iranian poet Abolqasem Ferdowsi spoke highly of the bravery of the Gilmards in his epic Shahnameh several times, Mousavi said.

Dr. Ali Shariati

Late Dr. Ali Shariati, a renowned contemporary Iranian ideologue, began one of his lectures on women in Tehran’s Hosseiniyeh Ershad with ’How It Should Be’.
For women who follow traditional styles, the issue is not important but those who have accepted the new imported forms have solved the problem for themselves.
However in between, there are women who do not come under any of the above tendencies.
What should they do? They want to make themselves up and need a model for that. The ideal issue for them is how to become.
Hazrat Fatemeh (SA), the beloved daughter of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and her existence, is an answer to the question.
This popular personality has remained unknown or not known properly.
In the Iranian society women are changing rapidly. Exigencies of the time have distanced them from what they really are and taken the older values away from them.
On the other hand, they do not want to wear the modern mask created for them. She wants to decide by herself and shape her image knowingly, independently.
But they do not know how?
Women weep over Fatemeh (SA) and her daughter Hazrat Zeinab (SA) while they have not yet developed good knowledge about them.
Her knowledge about Zeinab (SA) is restricted to the afflictions she experienced on Ashura, the tenth day of the lunar month of Moharram, when Imam Hossein (AS), the third Imam of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) infallible household, and his 72 loyal companions were martyred in the plains of Karbala, in Iraq. Or she remembers Fatemeh (SA) only at the moment she was beaten. And she forgets her for ever. Who is to blame here?
Hazrat Fatemeh (SA) can serve as an example for women only when her image is truly presented.
Fatemeh (SA), as a mother, nurtures a daughter like Zeinab (SA) and sons like Imam Hassan (AS) and Imam Hossein (AS), the second and third Imams of Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) infallible progeny respectively.
As a spouse, she also stands by her husband, the first Imam, Imam Ali (AS), through all difficulties.
When a woman sees such a role from Fatemeh’s (SA) family, she comes to know where to search for the modern woman.
Hafiz Monthly

TEHRAN, Dec. 14--Majlis has provided the arts sector, particularly the theater industry, with sufficient funds in the budget of the next fiscal year (March 2006-2007), declared a Reza Ashtiani, a member of the Majlis Cultural Commission.
He told Fars news agency that the Majlis attached great importance to art and the needs of the youth in turning to dramatic arts to pass their leisure times.
“Art is admirable and especially dramatic art is necessary to purify the spirit of the society. Human being needs to purify his/her spirit,“ Ashtiani said.
Elaborating on the legislative body’s policies about dramatic arts, the lawmaker said that the cultural sector cannot be restricted to education and the arts, cinema and theater also should be included in the cultural agenda.
He said that Majlis Cultural Commission decided to give guidance to the cultural community to make use of the positive aspects of art and culture on the society and safeguard the society from corruption.
Asked to comment on earmarking budget for dramatic arts, he said that the Majlis Cultural Commission adopted a new outlook toward dramatic arts and would make adequate funds available for the sector.
He hoped that the other organs would also provide art and culture with enough finances.

A detail from a vivid Maya mural depicting scenes of the creation story and, at the center, the maize god, who crowns himself king. The 30-foot-long mural was uncovered at the San Bartolo site in Guatemala.

NEW YORK, Dec. 14--Archeologists reported that they had uncovered a masterpiece of Maya art showing a surprisingly early flowering of the civilization, well before the classical period that began after A.D. 250, reported Nytimes.com.
The find, a 30-by-3-foot mural in vivid colors depicting the ancient culture’s mythology of creation and kingship, is the centerpiece of a larger mural, parts of which were first discovered and exposed in Guatemala four years ago. New radiocarbon tests revealed the painting to be 200 years older than originally estimated, dating to about 100 B.C.
“In Western terms,“ said William Saturno, an archaeologist at the University of New Hampshire who is a research associate at Harvard, “it’s like knowing only modern art and then stumbling on a Michelangelo or a Leonardo.“
In a statement released by the National Geographic Society, a supporter of the research, Dr. Saturno wrote, “The mural shows that early Maya painting had achieved a high level of sophistication and grace well before the great works of the Classic Maya in the seventh century.“ The mural appeared to have extended around all four walls of the chamber, only two of which were standing when archeologists excavated the site, known as San Bartolo. The western wall was the centerpiece, the wall that people faced as they entered the room. The mural there shows two coronation scenes: one mythological, the other the coronation of a real king.
The first part of the mural illustrates the Maya creation story. Four deities represent the creation of water, land, sky and paradise. At the center, the maize god crowns himself king. Archeologists said they were having trouble deciphering the glyphs of the much earlier Mayan script.

One of the photos displayed at the exhibition.

TEHRAN, Dec. 14--’Fare Thee Well Till Tomorrow’ (Veda’ ta Fardayeh Degar), is the title of a mixed media art and photography exhibition by Soumaya Saikali which will open at Nagsh-e Jahan Gallery on Friday.
The array of works range from 33 mixed media photographs taken from scenes around Tehran, capturing natural realms of Iranian rural landscapes with beautiful subdued hazy colors at dusk, together with shimmering red and golden autumn leaves of riverside poplars set against the subtle colors of the mountains.
A number of mixed media paintings and silver jewelry design works by the artist are also included in the show, together with a large collage of photographs taken from the private archive of the artist displayed in the form of a large installation work.
The exhibition runs till December 30 and is the 24th solo event by the artist in recent years in Iran and Europe.
“The concept of light has always been the key factor in art especially regarding painting and photography, affecting each observer in a very individual state of mind,“ says the artist.
“What is missing however, is the urge to stop and observe and allow nature to covet our lives with all the blessings of life and nature in general, since modern life with all its stressful patterns tends to alienate us from our natural habitats.“
The show is a mere effort by the artist to remind the general public that joy can be derived by all by observing nature and beauty and allowing space and time for God’s gift to mankind, to be caressed by the mellow colors of an evening setting sun, as one rushes on the motorways to get home!

TEHRAN, Dec. 14--A leading researcher Kazem Bargnissi has decided to give description for every line of poems in the epic work Shahnameh by world renowned Iranian poet Abolqassem Ferdowsi.
According to ISNA, the outcome of his efforts will be published in a nine-volume book which will include explanations, interpretations and idioms used by Ferdowsi in compiling his masterpiece.
He predicted that the book will be completed by March.
Bargnissi said that he referred to copies of Shahnameh which are maintained in Florence, Italy, Moscow, Russia as well as copies written by Khaleqi Motlaq and Jovini.
Another researcher Mehri Behfar is also working on the same project.
Bargnissi has already published his research findings on Khayyam Quatrains (Poetry) and translations by Edward Fitzgerald. He believes that Fitzgerald has given his own version in interpreting Khayyam’s
poetry.