Kermanshah Province

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Kermanshah Province
استان كرمانشاه
Location
Map of Iran with Kermanshah highlighted.
Info
Admin. Center:
 • Coordinates:		 Kermanshah
 • 34.3176° N 47.0869° E
Area : 24,998 km²
Population(2005):
 • Density :		 1,938,060
 • 77.5/km²
No. of Counties: 13
Time zone: UTC+3:30
Main language(s): Kurdish
Persian
Laki

Kermanshah Province (Persian: استان کرمانشاه; Kurdish: Kirmaşan) is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. It is in the west of the country, bordering Iraq. Between 1979 and the 1990s, the province was known as Bakhtaran.

Its capital Kermanshah (34°18′N, 47°4′E) is located in the middle of the western part of Iran. The population of the city is 822,921.

The city is built on the slopes of Mt.Sefid Koohand extended toward south during last two decades. The builtup areas run alongside Sarab River and Valley. City's elevation average about 1350 meters above sea level.

The distance between Kermanshah and Teheran is 525 km. It is the trade center of rich agricultural region that produces grain, rice, vegetable, fruits, and oilseeds, and there are many industrial centers, oil and sugar refineries, and cement, textile and flour factories, etc. The airport (Shahid Ashrafi Esfahani Airport) is located in north east of the city, and the distance from Tehran is 413 km by air.

Contents

[edit] Counties

Kemanshah consists of 14 shahrestans (counties):

Kermanshah County; Islamabad-e-gharb County; Paveh County; Harsin County; Kangavar County; Sonqor County; Javanrud County; Salas-e-babajani County; Ravansar County; Dalahu County; Gilan-e-gharb County; Sahneh County; Qasr-e-Shirin County; Sarpol-e-Zahab County,

Major cities and towns in Kermanshah Province: Kermanshah; Islamabad-e-gharb; Paveh; Harsin; Kangavar; Sonqor; Javanrood; Salas-e-babajani; Ravansar; Dalahoo; Gilan-Gharb; Sahneh; Qasr-e Shirin; Sarpol-e-Zahab,

[edit] History

The Province has a rich paleolithic heritage. Many caves with Paleolithic remains have been surveyed or excavated there. some of these cave sites are located in Bisetun and north of Kermanshah. The first known physical remains of Neanderthal man in Iran was discovered in Bisetun cave. Do-Ashkaft, Kobeh, Warwasi, and Mar Tarik are some of the Middle Paleolithic sites in the region. Kermanshah also has many Neolithic sites, of which the most famous are Ganj Dareh, Sarab, and Asiab. At Ganj Dareh, the earliest evidence for goat domestication have been documented . The monuments found in Kermanshah show two glorious periods, the Achaemenid and Sassanid eras.

The mythical ruler of the Pishdadian is described as founding the city while Tahmores Divband built it. An alternative narrative is that the construction was by Bahram IV of the Sassanid dynasty during the 4th century CE. Kermanshah reached a peak during the reign of Hormizd IV and Khosrau I of Sassanids, before being demoted to a secondary royal residence.

The city suffered major damage during the Arab invasions but recovered in the Safavid period to make great progress. Concurrent with the Afghan attack and the fall of Isfahan, Kermanshah was almost comletely destroyed by the Ottoman invasion.

During the Iran-Iraq War the province suffered heavy fighting. Most towns and cities were badly damaged and some like Sar-e Pol-e Zahab and Qhasr-e-Shirin were almost completely destroyed.

At the top panel Khosrow II is believed to be standing here in this relief at Taq-e Bostan. On his left is Ahura Mazda, on his right is Anahita, and below him is a mounted Persian knight.
At the top panel Khosrow II is believed to be standing here in this relief at Taq-e Bostan. On his left is Ahura Mazda, on his right is Anahita, and below him is a mounted Persian knight.

[edit] Climate

As it is situated between two cold and warm regions enjoys a moderate climate. Kermanshah has a moderate and mountainous climate. It rains most in winter and is moderately warm in summer. The annual rainfall is 500 mm. The average temperature in the hottest months is above 22 °C.

[edit] Culture and economy

[edit] Language

Persian and Kurdish are the main languages spoken in the province with some Arab and Turk minorities.

[edit] Higher education and research

[edit] Local products

Hand made Klash of Kermanshah
Hand made Klash of Kermanshah

Kermanshah lends its name to a type of Persian carpet named after the region. It also has famous sweets made of rice, locally known as Nân berendji. The other famous Kermanshahi good is a special kind of oil, locally known as Rüne Dân and globally in Iran known as Roghan Kermanshahi. The Giveh of Kermanshah known as Klash is the highest quality Giveh.

[edit] Historical Attractions

Various attractions exist that date from the pre-Islamic era, such as the Kohneh Bridge, to contemporary parks and museums. Some of the more popular sites are:

Darius the Great's inscription at Bisotun, which dates to 522 BCE, lies some 1300 meters high in the mountains, and counts as one of the most famous sites in Near Eastern archeology. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site,[1] and has been attracting visitors for centuries. The Behistun inscription is to Old Persian cuneiform what the Rosetta Stone is to Egyptian hieroglyphs: the trilingual inscription (in Old Persian, Elamite and Akkadian) was crucial in the decipherment of the script. The relief above the inscription depicts Darius facing nine rebels who objected to his crowning. At the king's feet lies Gaumata. The location of this important historical document is not coincidental: Gaumata, a usurper who is depicted as lying at Darius' feet, was a Medean and in Achaemenid times Behistun lay on the Medea-Parsa highway.
Hellenistic-era depiction of Bahram as Hercules.
Hellenistic-era depiction of Bahram as Hercules.
Behistun is also notable for three reliefs at the foot of the hill that date from the Parthian era. Among them is a Hellenistic-era depiction of the divinity Bahram as the Greek hero Hercules, who reclines with a goblet in his hand, a club at his feet and a lion-skin beneath him. Because it lies on the route of an ancient highway, this life-size rock sculpture may reflect Bahram's status as patron divinity of travelers.
The rock reliefs at Taq-e Bostan lie four miles north-East of Kermanshah, where a spring gushes from a mountain cliff and empties into a large reflecting pool. One of the more impressive reliefs, inside the largest grotto (ivan), is the oversized depiction of Sassanid king Khosrau II (591-628 CE), who appears mounted on his favorite charger, Shabdiz. Both horse and rider are arrayed in full battle armor.
There are two hunting scenes on complementary sides of the ivan: one depicts an imperial boar hunt and the other depicting the king stalking deer. Elephants flush out the boar from a marshy lake for the king who stands poised with bow and arrow in hand while he is serenaded by female musicians following in other boats. These royal hunting scenes are narrative murals in stone are count among the most vivid of all Iranian rock reliefs.
The Taq-e Bostan reliefs are not limited to the Sassanid era. An upper relief depicts the 19th century Qajar king Fath-Ali shah holding court.
The Kangavar archaeological complex
The Kangavar archaeological complex
Kangavar is the site of the archaeological remains of a vast Hellenic-style edifice on a raised platform. The visible remains at the site date to early Sassanid times,[2] but the platform of the complex may be several centuries older. By the time excavation began in 1968, the complex had been preemptorily associated with a comment by Isidore of Charax who referred to a temple of Anahita at Concobar (the Greek name of Kangavar, which was then in Lower Medea). Despite archaeological findings to the contrary,[2] the association with the divinity of fertility, healing, and wisdom has made the site a popular tourist attraction. The vast edifice was built of enormous blocks of dressed stone with an imposing entrance of opposed staircases that may have been inspired by the Apadana in Persepolis.

[edit] Notable people

One of the renowned scientists and writers of this region is Al-Dinawari who was born at Dinawar north-east of Kermanshah. He lived in 9th century and has written many books in astronomy, botany and history. Notable people born in Kermansha include British author, Nobel prize winner, Doris Lessing (b. 1919), whose father, a British army officer, was stationed there at the time of her birth. Two aristocratic families have roots in Kermanshah; the Dowlatshahis and the Vaziris. Mirza Ahmad Khan Motazed-Dowleh Vaziri created the first printing office and founded the first private school in Kermanshahan.

[edit] Kurdish Poets of Kermanshah Province

  1. Mustafa Besarani, (1642-1701)
  2. Khana Qubadi, (1700-1760)
  3. Sarhang Almas Khan, mid 18th century
  4. Sheyda Hewramí (1784-1852)
  5. Muhammad Wali Kermashani, (1901-?)
  6. Shami Kermashani (Shamurad Mushtaq), (1927- ), Famous Kurdish Poet of Kermanshah.(see[1] and [2])

[edit] References

  1. ^ CHN Press release (2006). Iran's Bisotoon Historical Site Registered in World Heritage List.
  2. ^ a b Kleiss, Wolfram (2005). "Kangavar". Encyclopedia Iranica. Cosa Mesa: Mazda. 

[edit] External links

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