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September 13, 2005
Forgotten Empire
This article is superb!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/features/story/0,11710,1564733,00.html#article_continue
I love how the writer has sarcasticly criticised the image of Ancient Persia in the Western sub-concious. His take on the matter is great, he has said it better than many academics. Notice these:
"For the Persians had the misfortune to be the others, the enemies - in short, the Orientals - against whom the first European civilisation defined itself."
"All western political theory is implicitly defined against the ghost of Persia - from condemnations of "tyrants" in the Atlantic republican tradition to Marx's caricature of "oriental despotism". "
Great statements!
Posted by Khodadad at September 13, 2005 03:04 PM
Comments
Here's another good article from the guardian on the exhibit. Ay kash mitoonestam beram in exhibit ra bebinam.
Posted by: BAhram at September 14, 2005 08:52 PM
Khodadad, this sounds like a wonderful exhibition. I wish that it could be viewed here in the U.S. However, I'm not sure that I understand your take on this article. Do you believe, as the author does, that Herodotus's characterization of the Persian Empire was correct?
Posted by: David at September 14, 2005 11:06 PM