Ask a persian.

[Zelig]

Are you one of the Persians who thinks Persia or anything about Persians is in any way relevant in the modern world?

 

[caketastydelish]

Are you one of the Persians who thinks Persia or anything about Persians is in any way relevant in the modern world?

Yes and no. I think I know what you mean. The answer is yes, but not anymore so than ancient Greece, ancient, Rome, ancient Egypt, etc, is relevant to the modern world.

I am not one of those arrogant persians that think the persians "invented everything" (my uncle is like that and he gets on my nerves) but I do think the persians have made their fair share of contributions.

I'm guessing you think the answer to that question is no, based on the way you worded it.

Like everyone else in the ancient world, the persians were ahead of their time in some ways, and probably behind of their time in others.

The single biggest influence I believe the persians have in the modern world is their state religion, Zoroastrianism.

While some would disagree, I think that religion has influenced Christianity. Certain parts of Zoroastrianism will seem quite familiar to Christians.

It was one of the first monotheistic religions in the world, possibly the very first (whether it is it or Judaism is unknown)

And yes, that in itself is a controversy. Some people say that it has two gods, but true Zoroastrian followers believe in only one.

 

[Absolution]

What do you mean true Zoroastrian followers?
Isn't Zoroastrianism based on the two opposed gods which are characterized by Good and Bad, Shadow and Light, Evilness and Justice...?

And I ask again what I asked before: Do most people in Iran know their history very well?
I mean, do they know all of the empires and the dynasties that ruled Iran, or only Achaemenids and Islam?

 

[ParkCungHee]

So is wrestling really big in Iran? Because I see loads of wrestling and Judo champions coming out of Iran.

 

[Bakspatel]

What made your family decide to leave Iran? And why specifically move to the USA?

 

[caketastydelish]

What do you mean true Zoroastrian followers?
Isn't Zoroastrianism based on the two opposed gods which are characterized by Good and Bad, Shadow and Light, Evilness and Justice...?

And I ask again what I asked before: Do most people in Iran know their history very well?
I mean, do they know all of the empires and the dynasties that ruled Iran, or only Achaemenids and Islam?

I will ask my father about your latter question, as I am not sure.

As to true Zoroastrian followers? There is one god. It is a monotheistic religion. Saying Zoroastrians believe in two gods because they believe in an evil force would be like saying Christians do because they believe in the devil.

"It is the first major monotheistic religion" right out of of wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrian

Zoroastrians only believe in one God. This is something I can not stress enough.

edit: as to all the other questions that have been asked, I am waiting for my dad to come home so I can ask him. I do not know the answer to those questions.

 

[Heretic_Cata]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrian

Zoroastrians only believe in one God. This is something I can not stress enough.

From the wiki.

Zoroastrianism is a tradition that has influenced the lives of its adherents for generations. It combines cosmogonic dualism and escathological monotheism. Zoroastrianism proclaims a movement through time from dualism to monotheism.

This would make more sense.

 

[caketastydelish]

It's still a monotheistic religion at the core, and this is not something that I am here to debate with any of you.

It is monotheistic just as much as Christianity is.

 

[caketastydelish]

I have decided to bump this thread as I now have some time to answer some questions. Besides that, I have a question of my own: Are there any other Iranians that use this site besides SchoolsoKewl? All of you (Persians) are welcome to answer questions on this thread.

So is wrestling really big in Iran? Because I see loads of wrestling and Judo champions coming out of Iran.

I don't know. I do know that Iran has many weightlifters.

What made your family decide to leave Iran? And why specifically move to the USA?

My father came to America first to go to college. The rest of the family joined him after the revolution. They are all very secular people, even in the Muslims in my family (which are few and far-between) are very secular and open minded. None of them are failing to integrate into western society. For example, I have an iranian uncle who lives in Germany. He and his family are Muslims. His muslim daughter married a Jewish man, and that in itself would be unheard of among non-secular Muslims.

Why are persian rugs always so heavily discounted? They are never at retail. My observation tends to be that 80% to 90% off is the going discount.

I don't really know, but my guess is because Persian rugs are starting to be mass produced rather than hand-made.

I'd like to know - How well do people in Iran know about the history of Persia?
Do they know all the dynasties, and every kingdom who ruled in Persia, or just Achaemenids and Islam?


The mesopotamian cultures called them Persians.

Well at least my father seems to be familiar with every dynasty. Practically every Iranian at least knows about Cyrus the great and such, but a lot of them are familiar with the other dynasties as well. At least I am, and my family is.

I'm very fascinated, what do you think about an Israeli attack?
Do you think the Iranian rule can deal with it?[/QUOTE]

Unless you mean a nuclear attack (which they wouldn't be stupid enough to do) I don't see why it could be a problem. A country with less than 10 million people is not a threat to a country with over 70 million people. And if I may comment on Iran's policy towards Israel:

I do not agree with everything Israel does, but the way the Iranian regime treats Israel is completely wrong. I wouldn't be surprised in the least if they sponsor terrorist attacks against Israel's citizens. The Antisemitism of the Iranian government is horrible.

Iranians have a long history of being friends with the Jews, not the enemies. What radical Islam has done to Iran is very sad.

 

[Maimonides]

Iranians have a long history of being friends with the Jews, not the enemies. What radical Islam has done to Iran is very sad.

Amen, brother. Amen.

 

[christos200]

How Iranians/Persians view the Invasion of Greece and the battle of Thermopyles? Also how you view Alexander the Great and the Seleuckids?

I've heard that the Persians are a sub-group of the Iranians (the Parsi people or something like that. I read about it in Wikipedia). Is this true? Or Persians is just another name for the Iranians?

 

[caketastydelish]

How Iranians/Persians view the Invasion of Greece and the battle of Thermopyles?

On the one hand I think trying to rob someone else's land is wrong, but on the other hand the Persians Monotheistic faith and religious tolerance reaching Greece surely had a positive effect on the western world.

Also how you view Alexander the Great

Alexander the great was a good man, but what he did to the city of Persepolis (burn it) was simply unforgivable. He was actually a tolerant ruler, and a very good military strategist. However, the western calculations of the battles that took place are way off. The idea that the Greek army could be heavily outnumbered and still slaughter the Persians in one battle after another defies logic.

and the Seleuckids?

I have never heard of them.

I've heard that the Persians are a sub-group of the Iranians (the Parsi people or something like that. I read about it in Wikipedia). Is this true? Or Persians is just another name for the Iranians?

Most Iranians just call themselves Persians, at least the ones in western countries do. Some say they're Iranian, some say they're Persian. As has been stated before, we often call ourselves Persians in western countries because we're looking for a word that doesn't come with the stigma of being Iranian. Besides that, we consider the Persian empire to be our golden age, and we are quite proud of it.

 

[MagisterCultuum]

Alexander, a good man? I really don't see how you could say that?


The Seleuckids are the dynasty founded by Seleucus, one of Alexanders generals who ended up ruling the eastern portions of his empire. At their height, they ruled pretty much the same territory as Cyrus the Great did. They were a very Hellenistic empire, and generally considered less tolerant than Ptolemaic Egypt. Its rulers included Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who outlawed Judaism and sacrificed pigs to a idol of Zeus within the Temple of Jerusalem.

 

[caketastydelish]

Alexander, a good man? I really don't see how you could say that?


The Seleuckids are the dynasty founded by Seleucus, one of Alexanders generals who ended up ruling the eastern portions of his empire. At their height, they ruled pretty much the same territory as Cyrus the Great did. They were a very Hellenistic empire, and generally considered less tolerant than Ptolemaic Egypt. Its rulers included Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who outlawed Judaism and sacrificed pigs to a idol of Zeus within the Temple of Jerusalem.

I did not know this. This makes me think less of Alexander. Still, he was far more respectful and tolerant of the Persians than the Arabs or Mongols were.

Alexander had respect for Darius III, and also had respect for the Persian culture and traditions.

 

[christos200]

Alexander married a Persian woman and ecucated young Persians to join his army.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Alexander the great was a good man,

You are certainly the first to think so.

but what he did to the city of Persepolis (burn it) was simply unforgivable.

It was a show city anyway, not a metropolis.

He was actually a tolerant ruler, and a very good military strategist. However, the western calculations of the battles that took place are way off. The idea that the Greek army could be heavily outnumbered and still slaughter the Persians in one battle after another defies logic.

The Ten Thousand managed it, as did other Greeks at various intervals. The contrast of an unmotivated tribute army protected by wicker shields and used to light warfare, and citizen volunteers sporting heavy arms and armor, and advanced training, should not be underestimated. That said, it's already known and accepted by the academic community that the numbers given by Alexander's biographer (Arrian) are probably falsified in his favor. The stupidly unbalanced numbers, with the important exception of Gaugamela, are really only quoted by pop historians and the Military Channel any more.

I did not know this. This makes me think less of Alexander. Still, he was far more respectful and tolerant of the Persians than the Arabs or Mongols were.

Alexander had respect for Darius III, and also had respect for the Persian culture and traditions.

Alexander didn't create heirs, he died suddenly and young while in Babylon on his return trip from India. After his death, his various generals split the empire up, and them and the dynasties they founded spent the next several hundred years fighting, first over the right to the entire empire and the legacy of Alexander, and then just, well, because. This continued until they were conquered, either by the Romans or the Pahlava.

 

[Graceheart the Leopard]

Is there a neutral Persian translation of the term "magus"?

 

[plarq]

Questions: How to date Iranian women?

 

[caketastydelish]

I've pretty much left this site, but since this is a question and answer thread, I suppose I can stay here. I may be slow though, as I've kind of left the site (except for civ 5 strategy).

Questions: How to date Iranian women?

Not a fan of such generalizations. No two women are the same, even if they're of the same nationality. That said, a lot of the Iranian women I know (and Iranians in general) are over ambitious. They're always going into law, engineering, medical field, or even real estate. They often drive a very nice car, even if they basically can't afford it.

All of this said, I'd say your best bet to date an Iranian woman is to work hard and earn some cash. Just like Iranian men, they're really into status symbols.

Is there a neutral Persian translation of the term "magus"?

Never heard of the term before, so I can not say.

 

[Graceheart the Leopard]

Never heard of the term before, so I can not say.

"Magus" was an old term used for Zoroastrians, and is where the word "magic" comes from (since the Greeks believe Zoroaster invented it). According to Wiktionary, there are two Persian equivalents, majusi (which is derogatory), and mogh, which I don't know about since it was a redlink. I'm assuming that since "mogh" is the Persian term used on Wikipedia, it's not derogatory, but I wanted to make sure.