Hamedan Tourism attraction

• Alisadr Cave
• Avicenna
• Baba Taher Mausoleum
• Ganj Nameh
• Gonbad-e Alavian
• The Tomb of Esther & Mardecai

In some sections the cave ceiling,is more than 10 meters high.This cave is located 80 kilometers northwest of Hamadan,in the Subashi mountains close to Ali Sadr village and is one of the most beautiful natural features in the world. This cave is composed of large and small spiral channels which are linked to one another. In some sections the cave is 100 meters wide and 10 meters high. Ali Sadr cave was discovered during the fourth and fifth centuries and today lots of tourists visist it in the summer.

Modern Hamedan is presumed to be built on the site of Ecbatana, a Median capital, the capture of which in 550 BC by Cyrus the Great marks the foundation of the Persian Empire. The mausoleum of Avicenna is built in the style of the Gunbad-i-Qabus, a famous eleventh century funerary tower in north-east Iran.
The mausoleum of Avicenna is an imitation of the oldest historic building of the Islamic period namely the Ghabus Gonbad which is also contemporary to Avicenna major differences between these two building however are only two namely the size of the mausoleum of Avicenna which is half in size compared to that of Ghabus Gonbad and this is mainly because of the restricted space allocated to this purpose and the other difference lies in the gap between the buttresses in Avicenna mausoleum whereas in the Ghabus Gonbad building there is no access to outside or inside the tower except for the entrance and a small hole in the bottom of the dome.

This mausoleum has been constructed on twelve tall cement foundations. The grave of Sheikhol Raeis Avicenna has been placed in the center of the 12 foundations of the tower and next to him is the grave of Sheik Abu Saeid Dakhdook who was Avicenna`s friend and host. Both graves have been covered with a flat marble stone with an inscription in nine lines. The inscription suggests 428 A.H. as the date when it was written. The Avicenna museum, which is situated inside the complex, includes ancient objects, anthropology section and books written by Avicenna. The museum is open to public and embraces such objects as bronze statues belonging to the first millenium B.C., coins, containers, marbles and silver objects belonging to the Sasanids era, books, superb carpets, etc.

Baba-Taher Tomb

BaBa-Taher

Located in South of Hamedan, in a vicinity by the same name. This tomb is an ancient one with an octagonal structure. The tomb located in the center of the structure, on which is a wooden Zarih or a mesh-like railing. It is believed that the said tomb belongs to the famous poet Baba Taher Oriyan who has composed versus in the LOR language.

Ganj-Name

Ganj Nameh is located five kilometers from southwestern Hamadan (the ancient Ecbatana) which served as the capital of he Medes and Achaemenids, in a region called Abbas Abad.
There are two plate inscriptions, one on the right side embracing the name of Xerxes and the one on the left embracing the name of Darius the Great.
The translation of the text of the right side plate attributed to Xerxes is as follows : (The mighty lord is Ahuramazda, the god of gods, who created this land, the sky and the people, the same god who brought people happiness, who appointed Xerxes as king, the unique king of kings, the unique ruler of the rulers, I am Xerxes, the great king, king of kings, king of multinational countries, king of this large land, the son of Darius the Achaemenid.) This translation corresponds with part of the inscription attributed to Xerxes at the main entrance of Persepolis and the other plate inscription of Ganj Nameh attributed to Darius the first, the father of Xerxes, had the same sentences with the difference that instead of Xerxes it has the name of Darius.
These two plates too, similar to the majority of inscriptions by the Achaemenid kings include greetings to Ahuramazda and the fathers and forefathers of these kings.

Gunbad-e-Alavian

 

The Gunbad-e-Alavian was probably built during the second half of the 12th century A.D. when Hamedan was a major Seljuk capital.
It is generally believed to be the mausoleum of the powerful Alavian family who continued to rule Hamedan long after the Seljuks. The interior walls of the main chamber explode with naturalistic adornments - twining vines, leaves and flowers are carved out of pale stucco.This lush decoration contrasts sharply with the bleakness of the subterranean crypt where several of the Alavian leaders have been buried. The original dome has fallen into ruin.

Gunbad-e-Alavian

The Gonbad-e-Alavian was probably built during the second half of the twelfth century A.D. When Hamedan was a major seljuq capital. it is generally believed to be the mausoleum of the powerful Alaviyyan family who continued to rule Hamedan long after the Seljuqs. the interior walls of the main chamber explode with naturalistic adornments - twining vies, leaves and flowers are carved out of pale stucco. This lush decoration contrasts sharply with the bleakness of the subterranean crypt where several of the Alavian leaders have been buried. The original dome has fallen into ruin.

Esther-Mardecai

The Tomb of Esther & Mardecai

The present building of this mausoleum, which is visited by Jewish pilgrims from all over the world, has nothing to speak about from the architectural point of view. Under its simple brick dome there are two graves with some Hebrew inscription up on the plaster work of the wall. Two exquisite wooden tomb-boxes are also to be seen, one of which is of an earlier date and bears an inscription in Hebrew.

The original structure dates to the 7th Century A. H. [13th Century A.D.] and it might have been erected over other and more ancient tombs.

The exterior form of this mausoleum, built of brick and stone, resembles Islamic constructions, and the monument consists of an entrance, a vestibule, a sanctuary and a Shah-ni-shin (King's sitting place). Some believe that the mausoleum is the resting-place of Esther, the Achaemenian Queen and wife of Xerxes (Khashayarshah) and the second tomb belongs to her uncle, Mardocai.

Story of Esther - Queen of Persia in Persian (Farsi) or English

Persian Kings in the Bible

Story of Esther - Queen of Persia

Esther 1
1. This is what happened during the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush:
2. At that time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa,
3. and in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. The military leaders of Persia and Media, the princes, and the nobles of the provinces were present.
4. For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty.

5. When these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days, in the enclosed garden of the king's palace, for all the people from the least to the greatest, who were in the citadel of Susa.
6. The garden had hangings of white and blue linen, fastened with cords of white linen and purple material to silver rings on marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other costly stones.
7. Wine was served in goblets of gold, each one different from the other, and the royal wine was abundant, in keeping with the king's liberality.
8. By the king's command each guest was allowed to drink in his own way, for the king instructed all the wine stewards to serve each man what he wished.
Read the Entire Book of Esther in English