Between April 1976 and May 1978 Georg Gerster, one of the world’s foremost aerial photographers, flew across the length and breadth of Iran to photograph the memorable landscapes, archaeological sites, and historical monuments that characterize this storied land. Most of the photographs have since remained in his files in Switzerland. Quite recently, David Stronach, working with Gerster and a number of reputed specialists in the art and archaeology of Iran, arranged to have them published. Ancient Iran from the Air provides—from a distinctly novel angle—a fresh appraisal of the greater part of the long history of the built environment in this crucial part of the ancient Near East.

The lecture will feature a selection of the more arresting aerial views—and include the latest background information about those prehistoric, Achaemenid Persian, Parthian, Sasanian, and early Islamic sites “visited” through the medium of Georg Gerster’s unmatched air photographs.

This program continues the celebration of Professor David Stronach’s 80th birthday.

LECTURE CANCELLED: Cyrus the Great in History and Art History by Dr. Antigoni Zournatzi, Senior Researcher, Institute for Greek and Roman Antiquity, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens.