Mianeh, Iran
Encyclopedia
Meyaneh is a city in and the capital of Meyaneh County, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran
. At the 2006 census, its population was 87,385, in 22,728 families.
Meyaneh is situated in a valley. The original name of the city was Miyanej, and was often referred to as Garmrood. Meyaneh is approximately 439 kilometres (272.8 mi) northwest of Tehran
and approximately 187 kilometres (116.2 mi) southeast of East Azerbaijan's largest city and capital, Tabriz
. Meyaneh is one of the region's oldest cities and its foundations date back to the pre-Islamic era of Iran and the emergence of the kingdom of Media
. The city has been an economic and cultural crossroads for many years.
, and Atropatene
, and was home to a tribe called the Sagartians. With the Islamic conquest of Persia in the 7th century, the Median residents were converted and the city of Meyaneh became Muslim
. After the arrival of the Seljuk Turks in the 11th century the city became Turkified over several centuries and the language of the city's residents eventually became Turkic
. Much of the architecture in the vicinity of Meyaneh was built during the reign of the Mongols
(13th-14th centuries) who at one point destroyed the entire city. Many of the residents in Meyaneh fought the Mongols during their invasion of northern Iran.
Historical monuments in Meyaneh include the Imamzadeh Esmail tomb, The Maiden Fort, and Tark stone Mosque. An other monument of Meyaneh, Pol Dokhtar Bridge (pictured), was partly destroyed in December 1946 by communist separatists of the "Democrat Party of Azerbaijan" in a futile attempt to halt the advance of the Imperial Iranian Army.
, and its population is constantly rising. The city has recently inaugurated many companies and is currently an economically strategic city for East Azerbaijan.
, director of the movies The Circle, The White Balloon and Crimson Gold
, singers Dariush Eghbali
and Davood Behboodi, volleyball player Behnam Mahmoudi
, Olympic medalist Yossef Karami
, and famous Businessman Ali Javanmardy.
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. At the 2006 census, its population was 87,385, in 22,728 families.
Meyaneh is situated in a valley. The original name of the city was Miyanej, and was often referred to as Garmrood. Meyaneh is approximately 439 kilometres (272.8 mi) northwest of Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
and approximately 187 kilometres (116.2 mi) southeast of East Azerbaijan's largest city and capital, Tabriz
Tabriz
Tabriz is the fourth largest city and one of the historical capitals of Iran and the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. Situated at an altitude of 1,350 meters at the junction of the Quri River and Aji River, it was the second largest city in Iran until the late 1960s, one of its former...
. Meyaneh is one of the region's oldest cities and its foundations date back to the pre-Islamic era of Iran and the emergence of the kingdom of Media
Medes
The MedesThe Medes...
. The city has been an economic and cultural crossroads for many years.
History
During ancient times, Meyaneh passed through the hands of several dynasties and kingdoms, such as Media, the Achaemenid EmpireAchaemenid Empire
The Achaemenid Empire , sometimes known as First Persian Empire and/or Persian Empire, was founded in the 6th century BCE by Cyrus the Great who overthrew the Median confederation...
, and Atropatene
Atropatene
Atropatene was an ancient kingdom established and ruled under local ethnic Iranian dynasts first with "Darius" of Persia and later "Alexander" of Macedonia, starting in the 4th century BC and includes the territory of modern-day Iranian Azarbaijan and Iranian Kurdistan. Its capital was Gazaca...
, and was home to a tribe called the Sagartians. With the Islamic conquest of Persia in the 7th century, the Median residents were converted and the city of Meyaneh became Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
. After the arrival of the Seljuk Turks in the 11th century the city became Turkified over several centuries and the language of the city's residents eventually became Turkic
Turkic languages
The Turkic languages constitute a language family of at least thirty five languages, spoken by Turkic peoples across a vast area from Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean to Siberia and Western China, and are considered to be part of the proposed Altaic language family.Turkic languages are spoken...
. Much of the architecture in the vicinity of Meyaneh was built during the reign of the Mongols
Mongols
Mongols ) are a Central-East Asian ethnic group that lives mainly in the countries of Mongolia, China, and Russia. In China, ethnic Mongols can be found mainly in the central north region of China such as Inner Mongolia...
(13th-14th centuries) who at one point destroyed the entire city. Many of the residents in Meyaneh fought the Mongols during their invasion of northern Iran.
Historical monuments in Meyaneh include the Imamzadeh Esmail tomb, The Maiden Fort, and Tark stone Mosque. An other monument of Meyaneh, Pol Dokhtar Bridge (pictured), was partly destroyed in December 1946 by communist separatists of the "Democrat Party of Azerbaijan" in a futile attempt to halt the advance of the Imperial Iranian Army.
Modern times
Meyaneh is East Azerbaijan's third largest city after Tabriz and MaraghehMaragheh
Maragheh also Romanized as Marāgheh and Marāghen) is a city in and the capital of Maragheh County, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 146,405, in 38,891 families....
, and its population is constantly rising. The city has recently inaugurated many companies and is currently an economically strategic city for East Azerbaijan.
Notable people
Among famous people from Meyaneh are Jafar PanahiJafar Panahi
Jafar Panahi is an Iranian filmmaker and is one of the most influential filmmakers in the Iranian New Wave movement. He has gained recognition from film theorists and critics worldwide and received numerous awards including the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and the Silver Bear at the...
, director of the movies The Circle, The White Balloon and Crimson Gold
Crimson Gold
Crimson Gold is a 2003 Iranian film directed by Jafar Panahi, and written by Abbas Kiarostami. The film was never distributed in Iranian theatres, because it was considered too "dark"...
, singers Dariush Eghbali
Dariush Eghbali
Dariush Eghbali better known by his stage name Dariush is a famous Iranian pop singer best known for his warm and plaintive bass voice heard in both ballads and political songs. He is also a social activist who directs a recovery center.-Early life:...
and Davood Behboodi, volleyball player Behnam Mahmoudi
Behnam Mahmoudi
Behnam Mahmoudi is an Iranian volleyball player.Mahmoudi was famous for being the first Iranian volleyball player to ever play professionally outside of his country in a world top league when he signed for Perugia Volley in the first division of Italian Volleyball League, Serie A1.-National...
, Olympic medalist Yossef Karami
Yossef Karami
Yousef Karami is an Iranian Taekwondo athlete who competed in the Men's 80 kg at the 2004 Summer Olympics and won the bronze medal. He is also the 2003 world champion...
, and famous Businessman Ali Javanmardy.