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Hamadan

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Hamadan is a major mountainous city located in western Iran. It serves as the capital for Hamadan province, Hamadan County, and its local district. The city sits within a green, mountainous region. It is located in the foothills of Alvand Mountain, which reaches a height of 3,574 meters.

Matrakçı Nasuh Hamedan Map
Matrakçı Nasuh Hamedan Map

Hamadan itself sits at an elevation of 1,850 meters above sea level. This high altitude influences the local climate and history. The city is situated approximately southwest of Tehran.

The climate of Hamadan is described as a hot-summer, Mediterranean-influenced continental climate. It is also in transition with a cold semi-arid climate. This means the city experiences hot, dry, and sunny summers. In contrast, the winters are cold and often bring heavy snowfall. This snow can remain on the ground for up to two months.

سنگ نبشته گنج نامه همدان
سنگ نبشته گنج نامه همدان

These weather patterns define the seasonal life of the region.

Hamadan is considered one of the oldest cities in Iran. In classical history, it was known as Ecbatana. It may have been occupied by the Assyrians around 1100 BCE. The Greek historian Herodotus stated it was the capital of the Medes around 700 BCE. The city was later a capital for the Achaemenid Dynasty. During the Parthian era, it served as a summer capital for rulers. The Sasanians also built summer palaces in the city.

Drachma Mithradates II
Drachma Mithradates II

Because of its high elevation, the city was a good place to preserve leather documents.

The city has been a crossroads of many different civilizations. This history has created a mosaic of cultures and dialects. The main language spoken is Persian, which acts as a lingua franca. However, different languages are used in different areas. In the northern parts of the province, people mostly speak Azeri Turkish. Near the provinces of Kurdistan and Kermanshah, Kurdish is common. In cities like Malayer or Nehavand, people speak Lori and Lak.

Zahedifamily
Zahedifamily

Throughout history, Hamadan has faced many shifts in power and periods of conflict. The city was attacked by Mard Avij in 931 AD. He threw a stone lion through the city gates, shattering one of two unique statues. Later, the Seljuks took the city and eventually moved their capital from Baghdad to Hamadan. The Mongols destroyed the city in 1220. It was also damaged during the Timurid invasions. In the 18th century, the Ottomans took control before Nader Shah helped return it to Iran.

Modern history has also brought significant challenges to the city. During World War I, Hamadan was a site of heavy fighting between Russian and Turko-German forces. The city was occupied by several different armies before returning to Iranian control in 1918. During the Iran-Iraq War, the city faced repeated Iraqi bombardments. One intense attack occurred on July 16, 1982. This attack destroyed many houses and caused many injuries and deaths. Despite these hardships, the city continues to grow. The 2016 census recorded a population of 554,406 people living in 174,731 households.

Today, Hamadan is a center for education, tourism, and commerce. It sits on the historic Silk Road, which helped its trade flourish. Tourists visit famous sites like the Ganj Nameh inscription and the Baba Taher monument. The city is also home to the Avicenna monument.

Hut2 mhparni
Hut2 mhparni

Education is a major part of the city, with several large universities. These include Bu-Ali Sina University and the Hamadan University of Technology. Many famous people are connected to the city. The scientist Avicenna once taught in Hamadan. The poet Baba Taher is another notable figure.

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🖼️ Images & Media (6)
File:Matrakçı Nasuh Hamedan Map.JPG
Matrakçı Nasuh Hamedan Map.JPG
File:Drachma Mithradates II.jpg
Drachma Mithradates II.jpg
File:سنگ نبشته گنج نامه همدان.jpg
سنگ نبشته گنج نامه همدان.jpg
File:Hut2 mhparni.jpg
Hut2 mhparni.jpg
File:Shirin-Ebadi-Amsterdam-2011-Photo-by-Persian-Dutch-Network.jpg
Shirin-Ebadi-Amsterdam-2011-Photo-by-Persi...
File:Zahedifamily.jpg
Zahedifamily.jpg
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