1. LEGEND OF PERSIAN TREASURE
NILOOFAR MOUSAVI PAK, NASIM MOUSAVI PAK

2. Ancient Persian map during The Achaemenid empire I, 500 B.C.
Introduction
The Persian Empire is one of the longest-running and most important empire in the human history. This empire ruled over than 2600 years.
Iran, the country of the Aryans people, is placed in southwestern part of Asia and it was situated at the heart of the ancient “Silk Road" trade route.
Ancient Persian map during The Achaemenid empire I, 500 B.C.

3. Iran (Persia) has an extraordinary treasure of royal jewellery which is collected during centuries. The history of them is combinated with loves, victories , wars ,defeats and legends stories.
The Iranian crown jewels includes the largest, most amazing and valuable jewel collection in the world and depicts the culture and civilization of Persia.
The actual value of the treasury is not known.
There is no precise information about quality and quantity of the persian treasuries before the Safavid dynasty.
The jewels are displayed in the Central Bank of Iran in Tehran, and are one of the most appealing tourist attractions in Iran.
The past 25 centuries, the Iranian kings were interested to gathering jewels and ornaments.

4. King Nader Shah Afshar (1688-1747 AD)
Cyrus the Great ( BC)

5. Reza Shah Pahlavi(1878 -1944 AD)
Shah Abbas I (1587 – 1629 AD)
Reza Shah Pahlavi( AD)
Nasser al-Din Shah
( AD)

6. Achaemenid dynasty (Hakhamaneshiyan)
Persia has been a centre of civilization for at least 7,000 years, it was during the Achaemenid dynasty (550­333 BC), when the first Persian empire was formed.
Although precedence of Persian history is more than 7000 years but The Achaemenid Persian Empire was known as the First Persian Empire.
After Alexander the Great invasion into Persia, he set fire to Persepolis. Later, Alexander and his soldiers carried-off amount of the unique Persian jewels.
According to archaeological excavations in Iran ,we conclude that women and men adorned themselves with Decorative beads made from pearl, turquoise, copper, silver, gold during 4,600 BC to 1,800 BC

7. Achaemenid jewelry was decorated with mythological, plant and animal shapes.
The Achaemenid jewelry which were found in Oxus river was named Oxus treasure which is collection of 170 gold and silver items. This fabulous collection is located in the Victoria and Albert Museum and in the British Museum (United kingdom).
During this period jewelry art was influenced by cultural and religious beliefs.

8. Ancient bracelet, Achaemenid period, part of Oxus Treasure, 500 BCE, Iran
Achaemenid Gold Earing with inlays of turquoise, carnelian, and lapis lazuli, 5th-4th Century BCE

9. Ancient bracelet, Achaemenid period
Achaemenid Vase Handle, carnelian, Silver and gold, 6th-5th Century BCE

10. Ancient earring , Achaemenid period ,Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York , USA

11. Achaemenid Gold Cloisonne Pectoral
6th-4th century B.C.E. H. 26 cm.; W. 24 cm.
Miho Museum, Kyoto, Japan

12. PARTHIAN( Ashkanian) dynasty
The (Persian Ashkanian), Parthian dynasty was from 250 B.C to about 224 A. D.
Parthian Empire art, specially jewelry art was influenced by Greek and Romans.
Parthians wore pendants, tiny pins, rings, circlets, precious stones and clay or glass beads.

13. Pair of Earrings with Dangling Bells, Parthian, 3rd to 2nd century B.C.E. Gold, H: 6.5 cm. Private Collection

14. Golden Necklace - Parthian Empire 2nd century A
Golden Necklace - Parthian Empire 2nd century A.D, Reza Abbasi Museum , Tehran, Iran

15. Parthian gold jewelry discovered in graves located at Nineveh in northern Iraq, the Persian Empire collection of the British Museum , London, UK

16. Parthian Stag Rhyton; Silver with gilding; inlaid glass eyes, circa 50 BCE - 50 CE, Silver, gold, glass, and garnet /16 x 5 x 18 1/8 in., J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, California,USA

17. Parthian bowl, J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, California, USA

18. Sassanid Dynasty
The Sasanian period marks the end of the ancient and the beginning of the medieval era in the history of the Middle East( A. D.)
Researching at this period prove that ,there was close relationship between Iran, Central Asia, and China in royal iconography and luxury ornamental silver, silk, and gold stuffs.
According to study Sassanid kings worn over than 100 types crowns which had various symbols such as stars, eagle, moon and palm. Each sign related to beliefs of the king.

19. BAHARESTAN CARPET
The Baharestan Carpet(spring carpet), also known as Bahar Khosro ,Bahar Kasra and Nasser Khosrow was the most precious Persian carpet it was weaved in order of Sassanid King Khosro Anooshiravan. the Carpet was 140 meters long and 27 meters wide
In 637 AD during Yazdgerd III empire, the Arabs attacked. This carpet was taken by the Arabs .Omar(The Second Caliph of Islam)decided to divide this carpet into 60,000 pieces among the Muslims.
This brocade Carpet contains rows of emeralds, blue sapphire, rubies ,pearls, yellow sapphire and other precious gemstones.
Unfortunately the picture of carpet isn't accessible.

20. The Persian lady portrayed in five medallions on this bowl has a hairstyle that suggests that she may have been a Queen in the Sassanid royal family at the time of King Narseh, It was destroyed by the Arabs.

21. Sassanian Silver-gilt Vessels, The George Ortiz Collection, Geneva, Switzerland

22. Sassanid vase , the SMITHSONIAN Museum, Washington, USA

23. Sassanid vase , the SMITHSONIAN Museum, Washington, USA

24. Sassanian plate , The George Ortiz Collection, Geneva, Switzerland

25. Safavid dynasty
The Safavid is one of the most important dynasties who ruled from 1501 to in Iran
During Safavid period For the first time, the jewelry was recorded and they took maximum care in inventorying and keeping safe the collection.
In this period many foreign traveler such as Anthony Jenkins, John Baptist Tavernier, Knight Chardin, Shirley Brothers and George Minvaring came To Iran and they had major rule in preserving of the royal treasury.

26. The royal collection of Safavid jewelry could be categorized as follows :
1. Jewels and jewelry that were inherited from previous empires.
2. Gifts sent in by foreign kings and local rulers, such as governors of the provinces.
3. Trophies of War
4. Items purchased from jewelry dealers such as John Baptiste Tavernier, Knight Chardin and others.
5. Gems extracted from the mines at Khorasan and Turkestan.The most important was Persian turquoise
7. Pearls caught from Persian Gulf.
Unfortunately the picture of ornaments aren't accessible.

27. Glamorous red Spinel (balas ruby) weighing 249. 3 carats
Glamorous red Spinel (balas ruby) weighing carats. It was a gift from the Safavid Shah Abbas the Great of Safavid dynasty to the Mughal emperor Jahangir in 1621.

28. Afsharid dynasty the Afsharids ruled Iran from 1736 to 1796
In 1722, the Afghan ruler of Kandahar, Mahmud, attacked Iran and plundered parts of treasures
Nadir, successfully driving all foreign forces out and established Afsharid dynasty
During the Afghans and Persian war, some jewels transported to India .after the victory of Nader ,he wrote several letters to the Indian court but didn’t receive any reply so he decided to take them back.
The most important part of Persian jewels was collected by Nadir Qoli Afshar

29. Naderi shield
This shield made of the rhinoceros hide and it is about 1.5 ft ( 46 cm or 18 ins) in diameter. Nadir Shah carried it during his battle.
The shield was decorated with jewels like emeralds, rubies, spinels and diamonds by command of Fath Ali Shah(Qajar King).
one of the largest Spinels in the world (225 carats) placed in the center of the shield.
The Naderi Shield is a combination of mathematic and art. It is a fantastic creation and unique example of symmetry and mathematical precision.

30. Naderi shield- Treasury of national jewels.Tehran.Iran

31. The Nadir Aigrette It made of diamonds and emeralds.
This Aigrette Weighing 781 carats in all, and standing 13 cm high (Approx. 6")
It was worn by Nader shah ( A.D.) on the front of his Persian-style hat.
The emerald which placed in center is a great color cabochon.
Reza Khan Pahlavi often used this aigrette, which weights 781 carats.

33. Darya-i-Nur(Sea of tligh)
This rare pink diamond is approximately 182 carat
Nasser-ed-din Shah believed that this diamond was belong to Cyrus( BC)
The famous jeweler ,Tavernier, mentioned it in his book(1642 AD- safavid dynasty period ) as a large pink diamond with 242 carat wieght. He named it “Diamanta Grand Table”.
Canadian researcher believed Daryay-i-nur and Nour-ol-Eyn( 60 carat pink diamond) were originally one stone that later separated in tow pieces.

35. Qajar dynasty
Qajar is an Iranian royal family which ruled Persia (Iran) from 1785 to 1925.
Nasser-ed-Din Shah and Fath Ali Shah ( ), are famous for recreation, assembling and enriching the Iranian Crown Jewels
During the Qajar period ,the treasury was collected and recorded officially.

36. Globe of Jewels
Without any doubt The jewel globe is a masterpiece in the jewelry art.
This globe was created in order of Nasser-ed-Din Shah ( ) .It made by Iranian jeweler.
This globe was made by 34 Kg gold and 3656 gr precious stones.
It contains gemstones.
The diameter of the globe is about 66 cm

37. Oceans and seas are identified in emerald
Lands are shown by rubies
South Asia, Iran, England and France are mentioned with diamonds
India is demonstrated by pale rubies
Central and South Africa are shown in sapphire

39. Kiani Crown Crown of fath-ali shah Qajar(1212-1250 sh).
First crown made after Sassanid dynasty.
This stuff set with diamonds, emeralds, rubies and pearls and the final red stone is Aurangzib spinel.

41. Peacock Throne(Sun Throne)
Made by order of Fath-ali shah