Hamedan is the capital city of Hamedan Province of Iran. Hamadan is believed to be among the oldest Iranian cities and one of the oldest in the world. It is possible that it was occupied by the Assyrians in 1100 BCE; the Ancient Greek historian, Herodotus, states that it was the capital of the Medes, around 700 BCE.
Hamedan is home to many poets and cultural celebrities. The city is also said to be among the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities. Hamadan has always been well known for handicrafts like leather, ceramic, and carpets. Iran’s Cultural Heritage Organization lists 207 sites of historical and cultural significance in the city of Hamadan alone. A tomb believed by some to hold the remains of tomb the biblical Esther and her cousin Mordechai is located in Hamadan. The scientist and writer known in the west as Avicenna (Abu Ali Sina) is buried in Hamadan. The 11th-century Iranian poet Baba Taher is also interred in Hamadan.
Alisadr cave is the world`s largest water cave which attracts thousands of visitors every year. It has too many water halls and wide variety of beautiful features such as stalactites, stalagmites and carst deposits with various forms. This with about 2400 M in cave boating is the biggest cave in the world from this respect. This cave has a lasting exploitation and protection management system.
The original natural factors such as dissolution, erosion, settlement are of influence. Outside the main part of the cave the exploitation facilities have been used in away they will leave no negative influence on its natural appearance. The whole collection of the features in the cave can be visited in an end to end circle and that characteristic of accumulation and concentration of features is clearly observable.
Abu Ali Sina, better known as Avicenna in the world, was the significant 11th-century thinker who had a great account in philosophy, logic, mathematics, astronomy, and geometry. His very book, Canon, on medicine, has been regarded as the most significant scientific book in the field of medicine until the 17th century. As a medical textbook in Europe and the Islamic world, Canon is still being used as a reference book by many scientists.
Avicenna’s mausoleum is the iconic structure of Hamedan, located in an eponymous street. Avicenna’s student and friend, Abu Saeed Dokhduk, used to live in a house located on this street. After Avicenna’s death, he was finally buried in this house and after a while, Abu Saeed’s body was also buried next to his old fellow.
Interestingly, this mausoleum has a striking resemblance to Qabus tower (Gonbad-e-Kavus), the oldest dated monument of the Islamic era in Iran. Qabus tower is the most prominent sample of architecture which was contemporary with Avicenna’s era. Avicenna tower is half the size of the Qabus tower (Qabūs tower). This 28.5-meter-high structure comprises twelve sides, symbolizing the twelve scientific disciplines of Avicenna. The mausoleum is crowned by a six-meter conical dome. The interior part of the mausoleum is decorated with a 2.55-meter-high monolith marble stone. Also, 40 pieces of marble stones are inscribed with 20 verses from Avicenna. Avicenna’s tombstone is located on the right side of the entrance, and Abu Saeed Dokhduk’s tombstone is on the left side of the entrance.
Baba Taher Mausoleum is located on a hill in the northwest of Hamedan, in front of the Alvand peak.
Baba Taher, known as "Baba Taher Oryan", a Sufi mystic and poet of the 11th century, was from the vicinity of Hamedan, who is known for composing mystical and brilliant Do-beiti (Persian quatrain). Scholars have obtained numerous dates for the birth and death of this famous poet from several sources that have been recorded in history. Baba Taher held a high position in Sufism.
The old mausoleum of Baba Taher was built in the shape of an octagonal brick tower in 12th century. This tower was destroyed in the early 20th century. Therefore, in 1938, during the reign of Reza Pahlavi, Baba Taher Tomb was simply renovated. This tomb was repaired and renovated again between 1950 and 1952. The construction of the new building of the Baba Taher mausoleum began in 1967, by the order of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Eventually, in 1970, the construction of the current building of Baba Taher Mausoleum was completed by Engineer Mohsen Foroughi in a field with an area of more than one hundred thousand square meters.
Ganjnameh is located at the end of one of the hillsides of Alvand Mountain. It contains both historical and natural touristic sites that excite its visitors. One important ancient reminiscence of Persia is located at the end of one of the hillsides of Alvand Mountain that is a memory of the Achaemenid Empire. The two crucial inscriptions of this era are engraved there on a giant piece of rock. You might ask why there? The answer is because the area was of extreme importance to the people of that era. This area was on the way from Hegmataneh Hill (summer capital city of the Achaemenid Empire) to Babel. Therefore, it was one of the busiest and most secure paths of the time. King Darius the Great commanded upon engraving one of the inscriptions about 500 BC. Khashayarsha (King Xerxes) commanded on building the second inscription right next to the first one, following his dead father’s demand. Their aim was to worship Ahuramazda (the Zoroastrian God) and the dignity of their ancestors as well as transferring their own thoughts and beliefs.
It is amazing to know that the several holes next to these inscriptions were meant to preserve them from natural elements like rain, storm, and sunshine in the long run. The English and Persian translations of these inscriptions are engraved on two rocks on the other side of the area. These inscriptions have been registered on the Iran National Heritage list in 1931.
Hegmataneh is universally well known because Median Dynasty was established over there. After Medes, this city was the capital of Achaemenids as well. In the following periods- Selukis, Parthians, Sassanids and Islamic dynasties- was also very famous.
Hegmataneh is located in suburban area of Hamedan. It contains 50 acres of the city of Hamadan. This valuable historical collection is of great archeological value and apart of it is not excavated. The area has historical remains dating back to Medes, Achamenids, Parthian, Sasanids and also Islamic dynasties like Aleh Bouyeh (Bouyehs Family) most of them belong to Parthian era. The area enjoys a great variety of Parthian modern architectural systems of urban areas that are masterpieces of their time and reveal their creators special talent.
The excavatedparts of Hegmataneh reveal architectural and urban situation of the area as well as its connection with other communities and its trade`s status. The remains of the city show the existence of a modern society. It also brings into view how the mankind could co- exist with nature over the time.
This resting place of two biblical figures, Esther and Mordecai, has been considered as a holy place for Jews since thousands years ago. It is recorded that 50,000 Jews were living in Hamadan when Esther and Mordecai were buried there. This shrine has been one of the reasons for the inhabitation of Jews in Hamadan, and it is still a pilgrimage for them. At the end of each year, Jewish pilgrims come to this mausoleum to celebrate the feast of Purim (14th of Adar). The main purpose for this feast is to commemorate the day when their Jewish ancestors were rescued from a horrible massacre by Esther and her uncle, Mordecai.
Esther was a Jew who became the queen of Iran in the court of Xerxes. The original name of Esther (meaning star) was Hadse. She was named so because of her unparalleled beauty, equaling that of a star. Esther’s uncle was a warden in the Achaemenid court in Susa. Xerxes’s minister, Haman, planned a sinister plot to massacre the Jews but Mordecai got informed before the execution of this plan. So, he stopped this conspiracy using his niece’s influence in the court of Xerxes. From that time, Esther and Mordecai have become iconic saviors for Jews and their story is depicted in details in the Old Testament.
The current building of their mausoleum has a simple and humble structure mainly constructed by stone and brick. The structure is oriented toward the east (Jerusalem) and dates back to the 13th century. Entering through the low opening, you will step into the first room with a low ceiling.