Devastating 7.3 earthquake hits Iran's ancient sites

Restful for millenniums, it was just some 40 hours ago that the world-heritage masterpieces of Iran’s history west of the country suddenly trembled with a devastating quake.

Now, with focus shifting from toll to aid, the question lingers for culture tourism fans, as to whether the UN-registered historic sites have survived the jolt. Here’s the story.

Elegant and fragile, whether of clay or stone, the gems of Persia’s history were spending another quiet night, as the tremor hit.

Wikipedia defines an earthquake as the shaking of the surface of the Earth, resulting from the sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in size from those that are so weak that they cannot be felt to those violent enough to toss people around and destroy whole cities.

With temperatures around zero degrees centigrade, and over 12000 homes destroyed, the rising toll stands at 425 casualties right now with more than 7 thousand injured. But are the pillars of history in Western Iran standing outright? That’s what journalists have kept asking and officials promised to investigate amid the harsh conditions in vast areas on both sides of Iran-Iraq border.

Starting with the good news, latest reports say the World Heritage monument ‘Bisotoon’, a multilingual inscription and large rock relief on a cliff at Mount Behistun in the Kermanshah Province is not damaged.

Also, Taqe-Bostan (the arch of Bostan) is reported to be standing in good health.

But the bad news is partial destruction of the famous hillside Ark (citadel) in Gilan Gharb, and Zij Manijeh ancient building in Sar-Pol Zahab, all in Kermanshah province, as well as Shah Abbasi Caravanserai, and Khosro Char Qapi ancient house in Qasre Shirin, and Yazdgerd citadel in Dalaho. Elsewhere in Gilan Gharb, Ilam province, 9 ancient sites including 4 citadels, a palace and some other old constructions such as the stuccos of Simere ancient city (pre-Islamic period) were damaged by the temblor.

Simere ancient city

Cracks in walls comprised the majority of the damage types reported. The overall damage size to antique structures is estimated around 20 percent, despite previous speculations of 30 to 40 percent.

The other major historic areas located in Eslam Abad, Mahidasht, and Rijob are yet to be investigated by teams deployed from the state cultural heritage authority.

Back 15 years ago, an earthquake of RS 6.6 destroyed Bam citadel, the largest adobe building in the world built by the Achaemenians around 579–323 BC.

While the nation is marking Tuesday as the national mourning day, ticket sale proceeds from Iranian documentary film ‘Drums of War' by Seyed Vahid Hosseini are set to benefit the victims in quake-hit areas. Art and Experience cinema halls are also contributing to the newly-started campaign by Iran’s cinema industry. Moreover, all events by the art sector are put on halt.

ifilm will continue to monitor the events on the culture-art side of the catastrophe, and get back to its valued audience worldwide with more.

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