National Museum
The National Museum of Iran, also known as the Ancient Iran Museum, is an independent museum located on 30th Tir St. It is the first official museum in the country and covers an area of more than 20,000 square meters, with two parts: The Museum of Ancient Iran and the Museum of Islamic Archaeology and Art of Iran. The museum contains over 300,000 objects from various cultural periods of Iran, from prehistoric times to the Islamic period. Some of the items on display include 15 antique bronze cloths, 158 pieces of tiles, pottery and glassware, 9 coins, and 54 pieces of ancient weapons, guns, helmets, armor, and other objects obtained from archaeological excavations. Additionally, the museum has received works donated by private collectors.
History
In 1929, Reza Shah initiated the creation of a museum that was later completed in 1937. The architects responsible for the construction were Andre Godard and Maxime Siroux, both of French origin. Initially named the Museum of Ancient Iran, it underwent a name change to the National Museum of Iran after the addition of the Museum of the Islamic Era in 1996.
Architecture of Museum
The museum’s main building is rectangular and has three floors. The only intriguing area within this large structure is the entrance recess, which contains side entrances leading to the expansive halls. It’s possible that, when Godard was given the design for the museum, he was influenced by the atmosphere and the museum’s focus on displaying ancient artifacts from Iran, leading him to consider incorporating architectural elements from ancient Iran into the design.
Museum of Ancient Iran
As you approach the entrance of the museum, you will notice two two-story buildings on either side. These buildings house the library, exhibition, and conference halls. Above the door, there is a marble inscription featuring a poem by Malik al-Shu’ara. The museum’s exterior is made up of red bricks, with a design inspired by Taq Kasra. One of the unique elements of the Museum of Ancient Iran is the porch, which features unconventional decorations. Instead, the porch is adorned with shadows cast by the lights, as well as seating areas and brick protrusions.
The ground floor of the Museum of Ancient Iran
Displayed on this floor are works dating back to the end of the fourth millennium BC, which marks the beginning of the use of writing, until the end of the Sassanid era. Notable items in this section include the world’s oldest clay animation from Shahr-e Sokhteh, the statue of Darius I, the bronze statue of a Parthian nobleman, and the Saltmen.
The first floor of the Museum of Ancient Iran
As you delve into the depths of the Museum of Ancient Iran, you’ll come across an enthralling assortment of relics that harken back to the dawn of humankind – from the Paleolithic era to the end of the fourth millennium BC, before the development of written language. The exhibit houses a plethora of precious finds, including stone tools from the Paleolithic era and pottery from important archaeological sites and regions.
Museum of Islamic Archaeology
In 1943, Eugene Aftandelians, a colleague of Andre Godard, designed the Museum of the Islamic Era. The museum changed to accommodate the growing collection of Islamic works and to cater to research and educational needs. It officially opened in 1996. The design of the museum was inspired by the Sassanid palace in Bishapur, which has an octagonal cruciform shape. The Islamic-era museum spans three floors and covers an area of four thousand square meters. It is situated adjacent to the Museum of Ancient Iran.
The first floor of the Museum
On the first floor of the Islamic Arts Museum, you’ll find various halls showcasing Islamic art. These include the Qur’an, Timurid, Safavid, Afshar, Zand, and Qajar halls. Each hall features unique exhibits such as book layouts and paintings from the Timurid period, blue and white porcelain, Safavid carpets, paintings and varnishes from the Zandiyeh and Qajar periods, as well as coffeehouse paintings, inlay and mirror work on wood, and gilding steels from the Qajar era.
The second floor of the Museum
The halls on this floor showcase the art and artifacts from the early years of Islam, the Seljuk era, and the Ilkhanate era. You can find Qurans on deerskin dating back to the beginning of Islam, pottery from Nishapur and Kashan, hand-woven fabrics from Rey and Isfahan, Gorgan glassware, stucco and brickwork from the Seljuk period, golden vessels, huge altars of the Ilkhanids, and manuscripts like the Roads and Kingdom and Khamsa of Nezami. We recommend starting your visit on this floor.
Holy Qur’an Hall
In the center of the hall, there is a large and exquisite page of the Qur’an written by Baysunghur on display. It was transferred by Nader Shah from Herat to Quchan and carried in front of the army during his wars to protect the soldiers. Unfortunately, some of the papers of this Qur’an were destroyed in a fire, and others are kept in other museums. These Qurans, which date back to the first centuries of Islam, were written on deer skin and are in Kufi, Naskh, Thuluth, Rayhani, and Mohaqqaq scripts.
Visiting hours
During the spring and summer, the National Museum is open to visitors every day from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. In the autumn and winter, it is open every day from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
