TEHRAN, Feb. 18--The ziggurat in the ancient Elamite city of Dur Untash (modern Choghazanbil) in Khuzestan province, which was built during the reign of Untash-Gal (1275-1240 BC), is significant given that it is the only ziggurat to have been excavated and identified as being totally different from those unearthed in Mesopotamia in terms of architecture.
Expressing this, a veteran Iranian archeologist, Mohammad Rahim Sarraf told ISNA that while the idea of constructing a ziggurat at Dur Untash originated in Mesopotamia, it was built completely in the Elamite style.
Mesopotamian ziggurats were constructed in the form of stories built over each other whereas in the Elamite structures, the foundations of all stories were on the ground and not over each other while only the fifth story was over the fourth.
Elaborating on the other differences between them, Sarraf said that in the Mesopotamian version, there were no chambers in the lower levels and the edifice had a solid platform with a sole room over it. The room, he pointed out, was used to house the statues of the gods.
Choghazanbil ziggurat however had several chambers and two temples on the first story in addition to a room used for the same purpose on the fourth floor, he noted.
Turning to the special form of Choghazanbil Ziggurat, the archeologist further said that initially Untash Gall built in Choghazanbil a temple with a central courtyard surrounded by rooms and other temples.
Then several stories were constructed in the yard.
“In Mesopotamian ziggurats, the staircase of the structure directly lead to the upper floors but in Choghazanbil ziggurat, the worshipers should spiral round each story to get to the upper floors,“ he said.
The project for the restoration of Choghazanbil ziggurat played a significant role in saving the monument, he said, noting that if it had remained in that condition, the ziggurat would have been destroyed within years.

A scene from 'Requiem of Snow'

TEHRAN, Feb. 18--Producer of the film ’Requiem of Snow’ has turned down an official invitation from the Danish Buster-Copenhagen International Film Festival for Children and Youth and condemned that country for insulting Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
According to ILNA, Seyyed Ahmad Mir-Alaei felt that a country which can promote artistic works in light of spirituality and respect for sanctities, is competent to host such event.
“Since Denmark has disregarded the need to value religious beliefs and divine prophets, a boycott by artists who attach significance to religious issues, will cause them to realize their nefarious conduct,“ he said.
They will also understand that the most human and valuable arts can deliver goods only if they adhere to the teachings of divine prophets, he noted.
Mir-Alaei, who has won a number of awards in various international events, further said that despite the official invitation and regular contacts by officials of the Danish festival, he has explicitly declared that ’unless officials of that country formally apologize to Muslims worldwide, he will never take part in any event at that country’.
Meanwhile, Iranian director of ’Requiem of Snow’, Jamil Rostami has withdrawn his film from the Buster-Copenhagen International Film Festival for Children and Youth, which is scheduled to be held in the Danish capital in September.
“I had planned to participate in the festival with my film, but since that country’s press has insulted the sanctity of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), I will boycott the festival as a duty,“ Rostami said, reported Mehr news agency.
The Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published a series of cartoons that Muslims regard as blasphemous, emboldening some European periodicals to re-publish the sacrilegious drawings.

Iran Theater House decided to set up the archive in cooperation with the Center for Dramatic Arts and other cultural institutes.

TEHRAN, Feb. 18--The first phase of an archive of play scripts and puppet films will be commissioned by the first half of the next Iranian year which starts on March 21.
Association of puppet artists of Iran Theater House decided to establish an archive of play scripts and films about marionette several months ago.
Fahimeh Mirza Hosseini and Zahra Sabri were elected to follow up the plan.
According to ISNA, Iran Theater House decided to set up the archive in cooperation with the Center for Dramatic Arts and other cultural institutes, but, the project encountered numerous difficulties and the establishment of the archive was delayed.
The first phase of executive works to build an archive will get underway next spring.
Mirza Hosseini, who is in charge of archive of play scripts, said that the library of City Theater was the starting point for compiling an archive of play scripts.
She added, “Since the play scripts were not fit for use, we could not copy them into the archive. So, we decided to refer to libraries in theater faculties.“
She said that she plans to call at the library of Tehran University and copy the play scripts available there.
Sabri, who is responsible for the executive affairs of the archive, said that she would make a public announcement calling on those who have films of puppet shows of either Iranian or foreign origin to hand them over to the Theater House.
She said that she has received a pledge from Theater House that 50 films of puppet shows will be recorded for the archive.

TEHRAN, Feb. 18--The case of the historic ’Qara Kelisa’ (black church), which is also known as St. Thaddeus Cathedral, in Chaldoran, West Azarbaijan province has been submitted to UNESCO’s World Heritage Center for registration on the list of global cultural heritage sites.
According to CHN, experts from Iran’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (ICHTO) also intend to have other famous churches in the province including Saint Stepanous Cathedral in Khoy and Zoorzoor (Barone) Church in Chaldoran included as annexes to Saint Thaddeus Cathedral after its registration.
Head of Research Center for Maintenance of Monuments Abdorrasoul Vatandoust confirmed the news and said that World Heritage Committee will examine the dossier for Bisotoon, Kermanshah province, in its meeting in Lithuania in June for inclusion on global heritage list.
Following that, Qara Kelisa case will considered in 2007, he noted.
He further said that an expert with International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) usually inspects the sites while reviewing new proposals.
“Given the fact the churches in the West Azarbaijan are considered as a single compound, we intend to register the two other churches in the province under the same number as that assigned for Qara Kelisa,“ he said.
Vatandoust stated that there are many churches in Iran but they are not regarded as a compound. Therefore, they cannot be recorded along with Qara Kelisa, he pointed out.
An expert with West Azarbaijan Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department, Bahman Kargar said that the dossier includes relevant documents, maps, reports and studies.
During his visit to West Azarbaijan, former ICHTO head, Hossein Marashi ordered the construction of a tourism village near the church. Initially, it was agreed to relocate the village, which is near the church, so as to establish the tourism village but later it was decided to restore the same village to house the facilities.

TEHRAN, Feb. 18--Second grade guidance school students at Armenian schools will, from the next academic year, study a poem by contemporary Iranian poet Ahmad Nourizadeh.
According to ISNA, authors of textbooks for Armenian students have included sections of poetry by Nourizadeh called ’Massis Is Not Mountain’ along with the poet’s biography in the textbook for second grade students of guidance school.
Nourizadeh, is a non-Armenian poet who writes poems in Armenian language.
He has published 27 books introducing the history and culture of Iran’s Armenian community.
’Salam (hello) to You, Armenians’, ’Night of Loneliness and Dreams’ are two collections of poems by Ahmad Nourizadeh.
His third collection of poetry called ’When I Remember You’ will soon be published in Armenian language.
In 1990, he published a book titled ’One Hundred Years of Armenian Poetry’ which included translation into Persian language of 500 poems by 72 Armenian poets.

The City Theater in Tehran

TEHRAN, Feb. 18--Iran’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (ICHTO) has decided to draw up the perimeter of Tehran City Theater.
According to ILNA, given the special architecture of Tehran City Theater, which was registered as a national cultural heritage site, ICHTO plans to define the limits of the City Theater to guarantee the protection of this modern structure.
Deputy head of the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department in Tehran province for preserving and revitalizing cultural heritage sites, Qadir Afrovand said that the draft plan on the boundaries of the City Theater will be submitted to ICHTO for final approval.