Context brings the brightest minds to your living room with perspective-shifting online lectures.

Ancient Iran: A Discovery of the Persian Empire with Dr. Guillaume Durand

Ancient Iran: A Discovery of the Persian Empire with Dr. Guillaume Durand


No events are scheduled at this time. Want to be notified when it’s back? Click the blue button to the right and we’ll notify you.

Can't make this time? A video recording will be sent to all participants after the seminar.

Iran is one of the most closed countries in the world today. However, it conceals an exceptional cultural heritage in particular with regard to its ancient Persian past, generally known under the Greek prism. This seminar proposes to discover this past directly on the ground.

We may have all heard of the Persian wars whether it be through Herodotus, Thucydides, Plutarch, or possibly even Zack Snyder's film, 300. Together, we will discover the genesis, development, and height of this Persian Empire directly from the archaeological sites and museums in Iran. From the tomb of Cyrus the Great at Pasargades to the magnificent palace of Persepolis and the impressive royal tombs of Naqsh-e Rostam, we will learn more about the most powerful Empire in the Ancient world during the sixth to the fourth centuries BCE.

We’ll take some time to focus on some of the masterpieces of Persian art: sculptures, reliefs as well as gold and silver artifacts. We will contextualize them in light of the geopolitics of the Ancient times, in order to understand how this multi-ethnic and multi-religious Empire was able to sustain rule for 230 years over the entirety of Turkey, the Near East, Egypt, and the Middle East. 

Led by Guillaume Durand, Ph.D., an expert in history, art, and archaeology of the Ancient Mediterranean Civilizations, who has had the opportunity to travel to Iran many times, this interactive seminar will allow participants to discover a civilization and an inaccessible cultural heritage. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will come away with an increased understanding of how this Empire shaped both Ancient histories, and in a way, today's Iranian State.

Passionate about the regions and countries at the crossroad of civilizations, Guillaume Durand Ph.D. has long standing expertise in Ancient art and archaeology of the Eastern Mediterranean Basin. Assistant dean and professor in archaeology and art history at the Institute for American Universities and the American College of the Mediterranean in Aix-en-Provence, France, Guillaume has traveled many times in Iran during these six past years in order to study the Persian Empires. He is also a tourist guide / lecturer in this country for French citizens.

Not suitable for children under age 13 (sensitive content).

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 33 reviews
85%
(28)
9%
(3)
3%
(1)
0%
(0)
3%
(1)
R
R.S.S.M. (Silver Spring, US)
Fascinating look at places not likely to ever see in person!

Guillaume is a very enthusiastic and thorough presenter. His mix of history, art, architecture and culture is both very impressive and engaging.

B
B.M. (Victoria, CA)

Fascinating introduction into ancient Persia. Can't wait for the next part.

D
D.B. (Cody, US)
Historical perspective of Iran

Excellent historical review and pertinent tour of ancient Iran.

J
J.E. (Mainz, DE)
Interesting

Guillaume was very knowledgeable on the subject and the presentation was interesting.

P
P.R. (Québec, CA)
A beautiful discovery

A very elegant presentation with equal parts on history, architecture and jewelry

Customer Reviews

Based on 33 reviews
85%
(28)
9%
(3)
3%
(1)
0%
(0)
3%
(1)
R
R.S.S.M. (Silver Spring, US)
Fascinating look at places not likely to ever see in person!

Guillaume is a very enthusiastic and thorough presenter. His mix of history, art, architecture and culture is both very impressive and engaging.

B
B.M. (Victoria, CA)

Fascinating introduction into ancient Persia. Can't wait for the next part.

D
D.B. (Cody, US)
Historical perspective of Iran

Excellent historical review and pertinent tour of ancient Iran.

J
J.E. (Mainz, DE)
Interesting

Guillaume was very knowledgeable on the subject and the presentation was interesting.

P
P.R. (Québec, CA)
A beautiful discovery

A very elegant presentation with equal parts on history, architecture and jewelry