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Abu al-Faraj Ali of Esfahan

(Encyclopedia)Abu al-Faraj Ali of Esfahan äˈbo͞o äl-färajˈ älēˈ, ĕsfähänˈ [key], 897–967, Arabic scholar from Iran. He is mainly known for his invaluable Kitab al-Aghani (book of songs), which provid...

Bassett, James

(Encyclopedia)Bassett, James băsˈət [key], 1834–1906, American Presbyterian missionary, b. Canada. In 1872, under the auspices of the American Board, he founded the first American mission at Tehran, Persia (no...

Bandar-e Imam Khomeini

(Encyclopedia)Bandar-e Imam Khomeini ēˈmäm khōˌmānēˈ [key], town, Khuzestan prov., SW Iran,...

Ghazali, al-

(Encyclopedia)Ghazali, al- ăl-găzäˈlē [key], 1058–1111, Islamic theologian, philosopher, and mystic. He was born at Tus in Khorasan, of Persian origin. He is considered the greatest theologian in Islam. Al-G...

Persian art and architecture

(Encyclopedia)Persian art and architecture, works of art and structures produced in the region of Asia traditionally known as Persia and now called Iran. Bounded by fierce mountains and deserts, the high plateau of...

Elburz

(Encyclopedia)Elburz ĕlbo͝orzˈ [key], mountain range, N Iran, between the Caspian Sea and the central Iranian plateau; rises to 18,606 ft (5,671 m) at Mt. Damavand. The range consists of steep, narrow, parallel ...

Alwand

(Encyclopedia)Alwand äˈvänd [key], mountain, c.11,600 ft (3,540 m) high, W Iran. It bears cuneiform inscriptions of Darius I and Xerxes I. ...

Gunbad-e-Qabus

(Encyclopedia)Gunbad-e-Qabus gōnbädˈ-ĕ kôvo͞osˈ [key], city, Mazandaran prov., N Iran, on th...

Ariana

(Encyclopedia)Ariana or Aryana both: ârēāˈnə, –ăˈnə [key], general name for the eastern provinces of the ancient Persian Empire. It was used to mean the regions S of the Oxus (modern Amu Darya) River; the...

Karkheh

(Encyclopedia)Karkheh kärˈkĕ [key], ancient Choaspes, river, c.350 mi (560 km) long, rising in the Zagros Mts., W Iran, and flowing S into the Khuzestan lowland, where it forms a swamp bordering the Tigris River...