`7,000 Years Of Iranian Art' exhibit in Germany extended

[La6red9nec]

Berlin, Dec 28, IRNA -- The `7,000 Years of Iranian Art' exhibit,
originally slated to run from August 10 through January 6, will be
extended until May 26, 2002, following the huge public interest in the
display of unique Iranian art treasures, an exhibition spokeswoman
told IRNA here Friday.
"As a result of the huge public interest in the exhibit we have
decided to extend it for another five months until May 26 of 2002,"
the spokeswoman said.
She added that so far almost 130,000 people toured the exhibition,
the first of its kind in Germany since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, at
the renowned Kunst-und Ausstellungshalle (Art and Exhibition Hall) in
the central German city of Bonn.
The exhibit, displaying 180 precious art pieces, gives an enormous
panoramic cultural and historic overview of 7,000 years of great
Iranian civilization.
Selected archaelogical findings at this exhibit illustrate the
most important phases of mankind's development, like the oldest
objects at the museum - two earthenware figures, dating back to 7th
century B.C.- which are regarded as an important turning point in the
history of mankind, as stone age hunters settled down to begin
farming.
The exhibition also emphasized other time periods in Persian
history such as the Medes civilizations (550-612 B.C.) the
founders of ancient Iran, later followed by the Achaemenids who
overthrew the Medes to establish the great Persian empire.
The magnificient gold and silver vessels of the great Achaemenid
kings (558-330 B.C.) form one of the numerous highlights of the art
exhibition.
The display covers also clay figures from the 7th millenium B.C.
as well as early Islamic painted ceramics from 10th century A.D. and
Holy Qurans.
The exhibit in Germany followed earlier showings at the Vienna
Museum of Art History in Austria and at the Italian Institute for
African and Oriental Studies in Rome while upcoming exhibits are also
planned for Belgium, Sweden, United States and Mexico.