The encounters between Persia's rulers and the people and cultures native to Mesopotamia, to the west of what we now call the Zagros Mountains, Asia Minor and Egypt had an enduring impact on the architecture of the provinces of Fars and Khuzestan in southwestern Iran from the sixth century BCE onwards.

Iranica Desk

By Mahmoud As’adi*

A group of 15 works by the Iranian artist Homa Delvaray may steal the spotlight in the Frame section at Frieze New York this year. With Farsi script on layers of fabric, the series is a color-splashed example of Frame’s very mission: To educate viewers about emerging artists, nytimes.com reported.

Social Desk

The Cultural Attaché Office of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Turkmenistan hosted a commemoration ceremony for the great Persian poet Ferdowsi.

Iranica Desk

A number of joint tourism plans were devised between Iran’s northwestern province of East Azarbaijan and Turkey, said Ahmad Hamzehzadeh, director general of the provincial Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization.

As members of families and other social networks, Iranians maintain a large number of relationships, all of which must conform to expected rules of behavior. Starting at a very young age, Iranians are socialized to follow the unwritten rules of the culture and polite behavior that then become second nature to them. They grow up understanding the main reason why they should do so: As a religious duty to behave with respect and cordiality toward others in order to nurture positive and rewarding relationships. Without these, families and other social networks could not function effectively or promote their members’ interests.

Arts & Culture Desk