TEHRAN, July 21--Imamzadeh Davoud shrine is one of the most well-known religious sites around Tehran which, given its special natural setting, attracts a large number of foreign and Iranian tourists each year.
Imamzadeh in Persian language refers to the descendents of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and also implies the places where they have been laid to rest.
Since Imamzadeh Davoud shrine is located in the mountainous regions of Farahzad, north of Tehran, the weather is always cool and tourists prefer to spend their time there during the warm months of the year.
Imamzadeh Davoud shrine was first built during the Safavid era and only an octagonal structure of the original edifice still stands.
In the valleys adjacent to Imamzadeh Davoud shrine, there are also some other tombs pertaining to Emadeddin, father of Davoud, Alaeddin, Qasem and Aqil, his brothers.
The lush green road to Imamzadeh Davoud shrine is among the routes taken by trekkers to reach Touchal Peak.
Caretaker District Official of Imamzadeh Davoud Mahmoud Soufi told Iran Daily’s Sadeq Dehqan that following Imam Reza’s (AS), the eighth Imam of Prophet Mohammad’s (PBUH) infallible progeny, trip to Iran, Davoud and a large number of Imam Ali’s (first Shiite Imam) descendents arrived in Iran but they were restricted by the agents of Mamoun, an Abbasid ruler. Hence they were forced to take the ways to the southern and western Alborz mountains and were martyred in these areas.
He disclosed that a comprehensive plan has been worked out to reinforce the ceiling of Imamzadeh Davoud shrine and added that renovating of sewage system and establishing a parking lot are also on the agenda.

Ejdeha Dashi in East Azarbaijan province

TEHRAN, July 21--The historical city of Ejdeha Dashi in East Azarbaijan province, which dates back to the first millennium BC, is threatened by operations to establish a gas pipeline to transfer gas from Iran to the Republic of Armenia, reported CHN.
Some parts of this ancient city have been destroyed and despite warnings by Iran’s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization (ICHTO), the operation has not been stopped.
“A station for the transfer of gas is supposed to be established in East Azarbaijan province. Since the route of the pipeline suggested by the Oil Ministry for the project is located in a historical area, the project was not approved by ICHTO. However, despite ICHTO’s objections and warnings, operations were continued leading to the destruction of some parts of the 3,000-year-old Ejdeha Dashi city.
“This is while, ICHTO had suggested an alternative route for the pipeline which would have caused the least harm to this historical site,“ said Mohammad Feizkhah, an archeologist from the Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department of East Azarbaijan.
The route suggested by ICHTO is situated two kilometers east of Ejdeha Dashi historical city and in addition to saving this historical site, it would have prevented damages to the ecosystem of the area as well.
According to Feiz-khah, no excavations have been carried out in this historical city yet and archeological studies in this area may reveal some invaluable historical evidence.
He also mentioned that despite regulations passed by the government for preserving historical sites, most of the destructions in East Azarbaijan province are caused by the activities of the state organizations.

A scene from ÔJamshid and KhorshidÕ by Behrouz Yaghmaian

TEHRAN, July 21--In its latest round of activities, the Center for the Development of Documentary and Experimental Cinema will seriously pursue the production of short and feature animations with the aim of revitalizing animation films.
According to the public relations office of the center, under the new policies of the Center’s Cultural Department, the projects presented in the field of animation cinema will be studied in a separate production council to underline the need to maintain the independent identity of this genre of cinema, by approving valuable project and producing outstanding works, announced the director of the center’s Public Relations Office.
Shahram Safajou further noted that given the definition of cultural cinema provided by Culture and Islamic Guidance Ministry and also the unique potentials of the animation industry, as well as rich cultural-artistic background of Iranian animators, this cinema can be the source of genuine development.
“This center has undertaken the production of 14 animation films in the past three months. These include ’Cage’ (Vahid Nasirian), ’Like a Fish’ (Amir Feyzi), ’Ten Cups of Tea’ (Hossein Ziaee), ’A Woman and a Man’ (Sara Saeedian), ’Without a Beginning’ (Saadat Rahimzadeh), ’War Maker’ (Shahram Heidarian), ’Another Beginning’ (Maryam Abouzari), ’Hope’ (Gholamali Geranmayeh), ’Moon’ (Ali Akbar Farshbaf), ’Absolute Right’ (Seyyed Mohammad Mokhtari), ’Ants’ (Peyman Barahin), ’Bait’ (Nasser Merati), ’Destination of That Bird’ (Hamed Mohammadpour) and ’Fingerprint’ (Barahin and Farshbaf),“ he added.
Safajou pointed out that these films focus on various religious, literary and routine issues such as the Iraqi-imposed war of 1980-1988 and nuclear energy.
“A movie entitled ’Day When Hassan Died’ by Dalvand brothers which is an adaptation of the famous story ’Jack and the Bean Stalk’ has also received screening permission.
The Center for Development of Documentary and Experimental Cinema is affiliated to the Culture Ministry’s Cinema Department.

RASHT, Gilan, July 21--A library for maintaining the works of Mohammad Moein, a well-known literary figure, will be established here soon.
According to ISNA, Astaneh Ashrafieh City Council will be transferred to a new building within three months and the current location of the council will be turned into a library housing the works of the great contemporary literary figure.
Meanwhile, a project to develop his tomb in Rasht will also be implemented once funds are made available for the purpose.
Based on Moein’s will, his books should be put at the disposal of researchers in a library near his tomb.
However his books are currently maintained in Gilan University.

TEHRAN, July 21--Noted Iranian film director has said that he will produce a movie based on a social theme once he receives the permit.
Speaking to ISNA, Kamal Tabrizi added that most the main roles in the film will be given to women.
Describing Iranian cinema’s presence at the international level as successful, he further said that most of the international festivals have selected and screened Iranian films.
Commenting on his TV serial to be named after Shahriar, a great Azari poet, Tabrizi said that it is in the final stage of production.
He added that he has made basic changes in the serial’s script.
Describing the serial as a completely different undertaking, Tabrizi noted that all Azari people will experience a special feeling by watching the serial.
The director also hoped that the serial will be broadcast without undergoing any censorship.

LONDON, July 21--Rare artworks by Picasso and Turner are among £25m worth of artifacts that have passed into public hands.
According to BBC, the works, from private collections, have been accepted by the government as payment for inheritance tax. The most valuable piece in the haul is Virgin and Child with Saints by Renaissance painter Palma Vecchio, thought to be worth about £2.5m.
Other artifacts included 10 sculptures by Cornish artist Barbara Hepworth and a violin made by Antonio Stradivari. All of the pieces were handed over under the Acceptance in Lieu scheme (AIL) run by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.
Under AIL, private collectors can settle inheritance tax bills by handing over artworks instead of cash. Mark Wood, chairman of the council, said many of the items acquired by public collections under the AIL scheme this year would otherwise have left the UK.
Mr. Wood said of AIL: “Its significance and contribution to maintaining the world-class position of the UK’s museums, archives and libraries can’t be over-estimated.“
The Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester is the recipient of three Turner watercolors, including one of his much-vaunted Swiss paintings from 1845.
The Vecchio was among 10 paintings saved for the public for display at Penrhyn Castle near Bangor, north Wales.
Picasso’s Weeping Woman - one of only 15 prints ever made of the work - will be housed in the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh.
Other items saved last year included Yellow Twilight by British painter Samuel Palmer, Edward Lear’s Jerusalem and a collection of Meissen porcelain.

TEHRAN, July 21--The first edition of a satirical book by Shahram Shafiee titled ’Fried Chicken for the Corpse’ was recently published by Soureh Mehr Publishing House.
In a press release, the publisher said that the book is the second of a series of five-volume satirical books titled ’Stories of the Wild West’ written for children and young adults.
Shafiee, the author of the book, is described as a tall, serious and courteous man who resembles a serious and disciplined pilot more than a popular and kind satirist.
Other works of Shafiee include ’During Adolescence’, ’Why Things Turn Out Well for Bald People?’, ’Creamy Love’, ’Stories of Golden Heel’, ’Thousands Feet, Thousands Shoes’, ’Toilet Rolls of Central Hospital’ in addition to the five-volume ’Stories of the Wild West’.
The book, which is illustrated by Reza Maktabi, has 75 pages and its cover price is 9,000 rials.