Thank you for your vote and for taking the time to see all my pictures and your interest in Zoroastrianism.
You will find many references to Damavand or the Alborz Mountains in the pre-Islamic Persian texts/legends. Today, Zoroastrians comprise less than one percent of the Iranian population. They are scattered around the country but their largest community seems to be (to my knowledge) in the central city of Yazd. It is said that the daughter of the last Persian emperor found refuge in the mountains around Yazd from the invading Arab armies. The sudden collapse of the powerful Persian Empire by the Islamic army came as a shock and a sign that the new religion probably has the support of God himself. The debate goes on and on among Iranians with some saying that Islam was voluntarilly accepted by Iranians due to the excesses of the old Persian Empire which had a strict class structrure (not that things changed after Islam). Others say it was a religion forced on Persians through military conquest and the Persians eventually went to create Shiite Islam to "distinguish" themselves from the invading Arabs. Today, disenchantment with the political situation has created new interest in Zoroastrianism wich is reminiscent of the glory days of the old Persian Empire.
desainme - Aug 9, 2005 11:26 pm - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentGood mountain views and flowers too. Lots of hidden valleys- wonder if Zoroastrianism flourishes here?
nader - Aug 10, 2005 9:54 am - Hasn't voted
Untitled CommentThank you for your vote and for taking the time to see all my pictures and your interest in Zoroastrianism.
You will find many references to Damavand or the Alborz Mountains in the pre-Islamic Persian texts/legends. Today, Zoroastrians comprise less than one percent of the Iranian population. They are scattered around the country but their largest community seems to be (to my knowledge) in the central city of Yazd. It is said that the daughter of the last Persian emperor found refuge in the mountains around Yazd from the invading Arab armies. The sudden collapse of the powerful Persian Empire by the Islamic army came as a shock and a sign that the new religion probably has the support of God himself. The debate goes on and on among Iranians with some saying that Islam was voluntarilly accepted by Iranians due to the excesses of the old Persian Empire which had a strict class structrure (not that things changed after Islam). Others say it was a religion forced on Persians through military conquest and the Persians eventually went to create Shiite Islam to "distinguish" themselves from the invading Arabs. Today, disenchantment with the political situation has created new interest in Zoroastrianism wich is reminiscent of the glory days of the old Persian Empire.
mountainfire - Aug 10, 2005 1:59 am - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentGreat information and pictures.Thank you.
nader - Aug 10, 2005 12:04 pm - Hasn't voted
Untitled CommentThank you for your vote.
Corax - Aug 10, 2005 6:14 am - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentInformative page with lots of nice photos. I have to go through my photos from the Karaj mountains. I think I have walked this ridge.
Dave K - Aug 10, 2005 9:16 am - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentExcelent job, Nader.
nader - Aug 10, 2005 12:08 pm - Hasn't voted
Untitled CommentThank you Dave.
Scott - Aug 10, 2005 10:39 am - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentGood page. Interesting name for a mountain.
nader - Aug 10, 2005 12:09 pm - Hasn't voted
Untitled CommentThanks.
nomad - Aug 10, 2005 4:51 pm - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentYou know how to catch things the best in a shot, I never sense the size limit of SP in your pics.
nader - Aug 10, 2005 10:08 pm - Hasn't voted
Untitled CommentThank you for your vote.
IdahoKid - Aug 10, 2005 6:11 pm - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentBeautiful photos Nader, thanks for posting!
Sean
nader - Aug 10, 2005 10:09 pm - Hasn't voted
Untitled CommentThank you for your vote.
nader - Aug 10, 2005 10:09 pm - Hasn't voted
Untitled CommentThank you for your vote.
brendon - Aug 11, 2005 4:18 am - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentI like it.
nader - Aug 11, 2005 1:53 pm - Hasn't voted
Untitled CommentThank you for your vote.
rpc - Aug 11, 2005 5:59 pm - Voted 10/10
Untitled CommentNice page and gorgeous photography!
nader - Aug 11, 2005 11:15 pm - Hasn't voted
Untitled CommentThank you for your vote. I appreciate your very kind comments.