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Please note date and time of this lecture: Saturday, 18 October 2014, 1:00 pm.
In a largely arid land the Persians appear to have always taken a special delight in gardens: in greenery, in flowers and fruit, and above all in running water. This talk reviews the evolution of the palace garden, which first emerged as an important manifestation of royal power in late Assyria from the 9th to the 7th centuries BC. Cyrus the Great (r. 559─530 BC) introduced influential reforms in major garden design at his extraordinary “garden capital,” Pasargadae. The lecture also traces the subsequent development and diffusion of his compelling fourfold garden design from the Indian subcontinent in the east to Spain in the west as well as the enduring influence of this design in many of the more celebrated gardens of present-day Iran.
About Programs at the Ancient Art Council
Programs are varied and include such activities as lectures by noted archaeologists, museum curators, and ancient art historians; exclusive tours of the Museum’s permanent collection and special exhibitions; fund-raising events; and travel programs to ancient sites and other museums. Members also receive invitations from related organizations to attend lectures ad exhibition openings. Your annual membership dues and contributions will assist in furthering the Ancient Art collection at the Fine Arts Museums.
PROGRAM
October 18, 2014 at 2:00 PM - 2:00 PM
The Persian Garden: Evolution and Legacy
Florence Gould Theater, Legion of Honor
Presented by David Stronach Professor Emeritus of Near Eastern Art and Archaeology, Department of Near Eastern Studies, University of California, Berkeley
Admission:
AAC members: Free / General: Suggested donation $5
