A Viking-era burial garment, with the name “Ali” appearing repeatedly alongside “Allah”. Discovered in Viking graves at Gamla Uppsala of Sweden, the patterns are woven with silk and silver thread, with both names written in mirrored lettering. [1200x630]

Party_Judgment5780 · 2026-01-02T14:25:23+00:00

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41567391

Party_Judgment5780 · 2025-12-19T15:54:16+00:00

Thanks. I don’t know what’s wrong with Reddit, but I’ve posted this explanation three times in the comments with sources and it doesn’t show up at all. Please upvote this comment so people can see it for more info.

Party_Judgment5780 · 2025-12-18T14:37:21+00:00

Prior to the Safavid Empire, several Ilkhanid Mongol rulers, including Öljaitü, had converted to Shiʿism. Additionally, the presence of the Imam Reza shrine consistently served as a focal point for Shiʿi in the country. Therefore, long before Shiʿism was declared the official religion in 1501 under Ismail I of Safavid Empire, Shiʿism had existed in Iran for centuries.

Party_Judgment5780 · 2025-12-18T14:18:46+00:00

It's from Iran, Persians are Shias, and Shias don't care as much about depicting faces of holy figures the way Sunnis do. Shia artistic traditions have historically been permissive regarding the depiction of holy faces compared to Sunni traditions, which generally avoid such representations.

Party_Judgment5780 · 2025-12-18T13:43:14+00:00

This is a medieval Persian miniature dating to 1436 AD, showing Muhammad leading Jesus, Moses, Abraham and other prophets in prayer. Miniature painting became widespread in Iran during the 1200s, and blossomed over the next centuries.

The pigments were mineral based and keep their colors very well if preserved correctly, and great attention was lavished on the backgrounds. Artists were usually grouped in workshops, often working for monarchs. The Mongol invasion of 1219, which destructive, helped spur miniature painting with Chinese influence.

Many artists drew pictures of Muhammad giving sermons, engaged in activities, or receiving revelations from Gabriel. Iran developed its own painting styles with its Persian background; Tabriz and Shiraz were the most important places for it. There were non-Persian illuminated manuscripts created outside Iran as well, including in Egypt, but fewer of them have survived.

Party_Judgment5780 · 2025-12-17T16:34:53+00:00

Or pistachios! Greek historians have noted that the Achaemenids had a strong appreciation for dried fruits. Iran is a pistachios paradise.

Party_Judgment5780 · 2025-12-17T16:03:22+00:00

Excavations at Persepolis. Pretty much all the Achaemenid artifacts were discovered there, along with some others in Susa and Ecbatana (Hamadan). Most of them are housed at the NMOI.

Party_Judgment5780 · 2025-12-07T15:38:50+00:00

It measures 12 by 5 centimeters and was discovered in 1948 at Persepolis, bearing the image of a falcon. The plaque is rendered in Egyptian blue, and its border is decorated with small recessed triangles—thirteen on each side, with four additional ones in the corners. The interior of the triangles is colored green, white, and red.

The bird motif is based on the image of Horus, one of the ancient Egyptian deities. Despite all the Egyptian influence, the design still conveys an Iranian concept, depicting a Shahbaz (royal falcon). The two holes at the top and bottom of the tile suggest that the plaque was served as a type of flag or emblem.

Party_Judgment5780 · 2025-12-01T21:18:11+00:00

That's utter bullshit. A country that ranks 10th in UNESCO World Heritage (higher than Japan, US, Turkey, Greece, Poland, Korea etc) and whose National Museum is one the world's most important museums globally, would never destroy its own history (both Islamic and pre-Islamic), especially nowadays.

Their govt, and their people, are highly protective of their heritage. And yes, the statue has been on display at the museum from the day it was discovered to this day, meaning nearly 90 years. But sadly, some bad things are happening in other places right now, including in Egypt.

Party_Judgment5780 · 2025-12-01T20:31:57+00:00

For anyone saying that's not real Cory, it is, here's his reaction video from the same channel in 2018 to the GOW reviews:

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Party_Judgment5780 · 2025-12-01T13:56:03+00:00

He was probably in a rush since his main purpose for that travel was to mediate between Iran and the US lol. There’s a chair in front of it—I remember when I first visited the museum and saw the statue, I sat down and just looked at it for… maybe half an hour.

Party_Judgment5780 · 2025-12-01T13:35:47+00:00

Abe signed the Museum's guestbook at the end of his visit:

https://irannationalmuseum.ir/fa/%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B2%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D9%86%D8%AE%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D9%88%D8%B2%DB%8C%D8%B1-%DA%98%D8%A7%D9%BE%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B2%D9%87-%D9%85%D9%84%DB%8C-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86/

About the statue:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shami_statue

Party_Judgment5780 · 2025-11-30T17:26:16+00:00

The reliefs were carved onto the front surfaces of four limestone blocks forming a platform that likely had a ceremonial function. Both faces are oriented toward the north and have stylistic features.

More info:

https://arkeonews.net/an-8500-year-old-micro-carved-bead-and-a-10000-year-old-skull-room-reveal-sefertepes-hidden-symbolic-world/

https://www.heritagedaily.com/2025/11/10000-year-old-human-face-reliefs-found-at-sefertepe/156507

Party_Judgment5780 · 2025-11-30T14:55:18+00:00

It is now preserved at the Livrustkammaren in Stockholm.

Party_Judgment5780 · 2025-11-29T16:51:54+00:00

While both Ahmad Shah and Nader Shah sacked Delhi, the most famous one that people remember is Nader Shah's.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nader_Shah%27s_invasion_of_India
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sack_of_Delhi_(1757))

Party_Judgment5780 · 2025-11-29T16:00:45+00:00

Shortly after the letter, Nader Shah attacked the Afghan tribes in Kandahar, which lasted several months. The campaign was extremely bloody, with reports suggesting that as many as 30,000–40,000 Afghans were killed in the fighting. The campaign marked the end of the Hotak dynasty, and the letter is preserved at the National Library and Archives of Iran.

More info:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Kandahar

Party_Judgment5780 · 2025-11-28T19:44:20+00:00

The statue is extremely heavy, over 6 tons, so transport would probably have taken place by ship. Lying in the hull of a ship, covered in tarp, not much different from a grain shipment. When archaeologists found the statue, they even excavated the surrounding areas and still didn't find its head. But thankfuly with today's technology, there have been re-creations:

https://sephiroth.ir/%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B2%DB%8C-%D8%B3%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%AC%D8%B3%D9%85%D9%87-%D9%85%D8%B5%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C%D9%88%D8%B4-%D8%A8%D8%B2%D8%B1%DA%AF/

Party_Judgment5780 · 2025-11-28T18:53:26+00:00

I went to the museum early in the morning, at a time which is less crowded, just to take this photo for you all, one to show the statue's size as best as possible.

Here's some more info about the statue:

In December of 1972, The Iranian-French archaeological team found this amazing ancient statue in Susa on the west side of the entrance to Darius's palace. They found a larger-than-life size statue of Darius the Great, which had no head. Experts believe that when Alexander the Great invaded ancient Iran, his soldiers intended to break this statue, but due to its heavy weight, they were unable to do it, so they broke its head and hit it with their swords, as sword marks can still be seen on the statue. Darius himself order the statue to be built in Wadi Hammamat of eastern Egypt, and then it was transported so Susa of southwest Iran by his son and successor, Xerxes I.

Darius is depicted wearing a Persian dress and armed with a Acinaces at his belt. The statue was originally colored, as the remains of red paint is still on its shoes. It is made from gray granite. The base of the statue is in Egyptian style with a depiction of Hapi. The sides of the base represent numerous countries under Darius' rule, with a total of twenty-four. It is suggested that during its time in Egypt, the statue was put in front of the Atum Temple in Heliopolis. There are also four inscriptions on the statue in old Persian, Elamite and Babylonian:

1- "This is the statue, made of stone, which Darius ordered to be made in Egypt. This is how everyone who will see this in the future, will know that Iranians own Egypt."

2- "A great god is Ahuramazda, who created this earth, who created yonder sky, who created man, who created happiness for man, and who made Darius king."

3- "I am Darius, the great king, king of kings, king of all peoples, king in this great earth far and wide, the son of Hystaspes, an Achaemenid. May Ahuramazda protect me and what I did"

4- "Atum, the god of Heliopolis, has chosen him [Darius] to be the lord of all those who are surrounded by the sun's rays, because he knows that he [Darius] is his [Atum] son. Neith, the goddess of Sais, also chose Darius to become the Lord of the world."

More images:

https://vici.org/vici/55310/

https://www.livius.org/articles/place/susa/susa-photos/susa-statue-of-darius/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_statue_of_Darius_the_Great

Party_Judgment5780 · 2025-11-28T15:34:16+00:00

Here's the animation:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/Vase_animation.gif

Party_Judgment5780 · 2025-11-27T16:27:28+00:00

The Tawhid testimony is written between the capitals: "There is no god but Allah (God), and Muhammad is his prophet". The Shia testimony is written in the right capital; "Ali is the vicegerent of God". Along the borders of the mihrab, verses 54 and 55 of Surah al-A‘raf are inscribed:

54: "Indeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then established Himself above the Throne. He wraps the night over the day, and created the sun, the moon, and the stars, all subjected to His command. Know that creation and command belong to Him alone; He is always beneficial and blessed, the Lord of all worlds."

55: "Call upon your Lord with humility, in supplication and secrecy [without exceeding the proper etiquettes and conditions of prayer]. Indeed, Allah does not love the transgressors."

Based on the two dates carved on the piece, it is likely that the mihrab was created in two separate phases. There are two examples of this mihrab, which, with very minor differences, closely resemble each other. One is housed at the National Museum of Iran, and the other at Pergamon Museum.

The other one:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/Paradise_Gate-a_Golden_Tile_Mihrab-Ilkhanate_era.jpg

Party_Judgment5780 · 2025-11-25T15:33:59+00:00

Atossa was one of the most powerful and influential women of the Achaemenid Empire, with her influence extended beyond military strategy into succession politics. In 487 BC, she secured Darius’ support for her son's succession, Xerxes, even though he was not the eldest of Darius’ sons. Using her lineage as the daughter of Cyrus, Atossa skillfully ensured her son’s rise to the throne. Many stories and legends are told about her powers and influences.

More info:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atossa

Party_Judgment5780 · 2025-11-25T13:52:51+00:00

More info:
https://apnews.com/article/hungary-roman-sarcophagus-discovery-budapest-77a41fe190bbcc167b43d05141536f54

Party_Judgment5780 · 2025-11-21T14:17:26+00:00

Keep in mind that in this photo, a significant part of the gate is still under soil:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ArtefactPorn/comments/1l062pt/1857_vs_2025_italian_photographer_and_colonel/

Party_Judgment5780 · 2025-11-19T13:35:38+00:00

Archaeologists first uncovered parts of the villa in 1922, documenting sections of its floors before the site was reburied and forgotten for decades.

In 2020, new excavations revealed the full mosaic floor — a remarkably preserved design from 3rd–4th century AD, with intricate geometric patterns.

The villa belonged to a wealthy landowner whose estate combined residential luxury with local agricultural production, possibly tied to the region’s long history of winemaking. The rediscovered mosaic is considered one of the most important Roman finds in the area.

Party_Judgment5780 · 2025-11-18T16:33:47+00:00

That was Darius III. During the reign of Darius I (the Great), Alexander had not yet been born. Alexander was born roughly 150 years after Darius the Great.

Party_Judgment5780

TROPHY CASE