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Zanjan (city)
Encyclopedia
Zanjan is the capital of Zanjan Province
in northwestern Iran
. It is an Azeri inhabited city. It lies 298 km (186 mi) north-west of Tehran
on the main highway to Tabriz
and Turkey
and approximately 125 km (80 mi) from the Caspian Sea
. At the 2006 census, its population was 341,801, in 89,829 families.
Zanjan is known for its beautiful handcrafts such as knives, traditional sandals, called charoogh, and malileh. Malileh is a handcraft made with silver wires. Zanjani artists make many things like various decorative dishes and their special covers as well as silver jewelry. In ancient times, Zanjan was known for its stainless and sharp knives. But this tradition is gradually becoming extinct by introduction of Chinese knives to the market which are far cheaper, more abundant and of course less artistic . Many villagers today are traditional carpet weavers. This is perhaps Zanjan's most popular handcraft.
, the Iranian traveler and historian, in his book claims that Zanjan was built by Ardashir I
, the first king of the Sassanid Empire
and named as "Shahin". One important moment in the history of the city was in 1851 when the city became the center of Babism
along with Neyriz
and other cities. The forces of the central government captured the Babi's fort in Zanjan after a long siege by the order of Grand Vizier
(Prime Minister of Iran
) Amir Kabir
and killed or expelled the Bab's followers.
Zanjan Province
Zanjan Province is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. Located in the North West of Iran, its capital is Zanjan city. Zanjan province with an area of 36,400 km² has a mostly rural, population of 964,601 . The province lies 330 km northwest of Tehran, connected to it via a freeway.Zanjan...
in northwestern Iran
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...
. It is an Azeri inhabited city. It lies 298 km (186 mi) north-west 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...
on the main highway to 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...
and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and approximately 125 km (80 mi) from the Caspian Sea
Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. The sea has a surface area of and a volume of...
. At the 2006 census, its population was 341,801, in 89,829 families.
Zanjan is known for its beautiful handcrafts such as knives, traditional sandals, called charoogh, and malileh. Malileh is a handcraft made with silver wires. Zanjani artists make many things like various decorative dishes and their special covers as well as silver jewelry. In ancient times, Zanjan was known for its stainless and sharp knives. But this tradition is gradually becoming extinct by introduction of Chinese knives to the market which are far cheaper, more abundant and of course less artistic . Many villagers today are traditional carpet weavers. This is perhaps Zanjan's most popular handcraft.
History
Hamdollah MostowfiHamdollah Mostowfi
Hamdollah Mostowfi was a Persian historian, geographer and epic poet.Mostowfi is the author of Nozhat ol-Gholub , Zafar-Nameh , and the Tarikh e Gozideh . His tomb is a structure with a blue turquoise conical dome, at Qazvin.-References and notes:...
, the Iranian traveler and historian, in his book claims that Zanjan was built by Ardashir I
Ardashir I
Ardashir I was the founder of the Sassanid Empire, was ruler of Istakhr , subsequently Fars Province , and finally "King of Kings of Sassanid Empire " with the overthrow of the Parthian Empire...
, the first king of the Sassanid Empire
Sassanid Empire
The Sassanid Empire , known to its inhabitants as Ērānshahr and Ērān in Middle Persian and resulting in the New Persian terms Iranshahr and Iran , was the last pre-Islamic Persian Empire, ruled by the Sasanian Dynasty from 224 to 651...
and named as "Shahin". One important moment in the history of the city was in 1851 when the city became the center of Babism
Bábism
The Babi Faith is a religious movement that flourished in Persia from 1844 to 1852, then lingered on in exile in the Ottoman Empire as well as underground. Its founder was Siyyid `Alí Muhammad Shirazi, who took the title Báb—meaning "Gate"—from a Shi'a theological term...
along with Neyriz
Neyriz
Neyriz is a city in and the capital of Neyriz County, Fars Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 45,180, in 11,970 families....
and other cities. The forces of the central government captured the Babi's fort in Zanjan after a long siege by the order of Grand Vizier
Vizier
A vizier or in Arabic script ; ; sometimes spelled vazir, vizir, vasir, wazir, vesir, or vezir) is a high-ranking political advisor or minister in a Muslim government....
(Prime Minister of Iran
Prime Minister of Iran
Prime Minister of Iran was a political post in Iran that had existed during several different periods of time starting with the Qajar era until its most recent revival from 1979 to 1989 following the Iranian Revolution.-Prime Ministers of Qajar era:In the Qajar era, prime ministers were known by...
) Amir Kabir
Amir Kabir
Amir Kabir , also known as Mirza Taghi Khan Amir-Nezam , also known by the titles of Atabak and Amir-e Nezam; chief minister to Naser al-Din Shah Qajar for the first three years of his reign and one of the most capable and innovative figures to appear in the whole Qajar period...
and killed or expelled the Bab's followers.
Colleges and universities
Zanjan also hosts several universities such as:- Zanjan UniversityZanjan UniversityThe Zanjan University is a university located in Zanjan, Iran. It was founded in 1975 and is organized in 4 Faculties.-History:ZNU started its activities in 1975, on a formal basis...
- Zanjan University of Medical Sciences
- Islamic Azad University of Zanjan
- Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences (IASBS)Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic SciencesThe Institute for Advanced Studies in Basic Sciences is an advanced research center and graduate level degree granting institution in Zanjan, Iran. It was founded by its current director Prof. Yousef Sobouti in 1991....
Famous people from Zanjan
- Shahab al-Din SuhrawardiShahab al-Din SuhrawardiOther important Muslim mystics carry the name Suhrawardi, particularly Abu 'l-Najib al-Suhrawardi and his paternal nephew Abu Hafs Umar al-Suhrawardi."Shahāb ad-Dīn" Yahya ibn Habash as-Suhrawardī was a Persian...
- Reza ZanjaniReza ZanjaniAyatollah Seyed Reza Zanjani was a Shia Iranian cleric who opposed first the autocracy of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and then theocracy that was established by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and his supporters following the Islamic Revolution.Reza Zanjani was an Azeri from Zanjan Province in...
- Mousa Shubairi ZanjaniMousa Shubairi ZanjaniGrand Ayatollah Mousa Shubairi Zanjani is an Iranian Twelver Shi'a Marja. He was born in Qom, Iran. He has studied in the seminaries of Qom under Grand Ayatollah Borujerdi and Mohaqeq Damad. He currently resides and teaches in the Seminary of Qom, Iran...
- Mohammad Ezodin Hosseini ZanjaniMohammad Ezodin Hosseini ZanjaniGrand Ayatollah Mohammad Ezodin Hosseini Zanjani is an Iranian Twelver Shi'a Marja.He has studied in seminaries of Qum, Iran under Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Hossein Borujerdi and Ruhollah Khomeini, and also in seminaries of Najaf, Iraq under Grand Ayatollah Abul-Qassim Khoei.-See also:*List of...
- Asadollah Bayat-ZanjaniAsadollah Bayat-ZanjaniGrand Ayatollah Asadollah Bayat-Zanjani is an Iranian theologian, Islamic philosopher, writer and Grand marja of Islam...
- Jamileh SheykhiJamileh Sheykhi-Career:She made her stage debut in 1957 and began film acting with Shipwreck . As a pioneer and veteran character actress of Iranian theatre and cinema, she performed in a number of films with reputable directors...
- Hossein Makki
Sports
Zanjan is known for having one of the best indoor sport climbing walls in the middle east. It is located in Enghelab sports complex. The facility also includes standard speed climbing walls.Famous families
- Zolfaghari
- Rahbari
- Musavi Zanjani
- Kiyany
- Makki
- Kalantari
- EmamiEmamiEmami Limited is an Indian producer of fast moving consumer goods , such as cosmetics and health and baby products. The company is based in Kolkata. Its chief executive officer is Nelabhotla Venkateswarlu Emami Limited is an Indian producer of fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), such as cosmetics...
- Hashemiyan
- VaziriVaziriVaziri is an Iranian surname derived from the word Vazir and may refer to:* Ali-Naqi Vaziri , Iranian musicologist and composer* Amir Vaziri , Iranian footballer* Kazem Vaziri Hamane, politician, minister...
- Rastegar
- Angurani
- Mir Mohammad Rezayi
- Tavakoli
- Rezayi
- Asadi
- Barati
- Garmabi