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Iran
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- 17 June till 18 November 2018
- Drents Museum
Cradle of Civilisation
Like strolling around a fairytale bazar in Isfahan and coming across the most exotic merchandise - from 17 June onwards visitors of the major archaeological exhibition Iran – Cradle of civilisation will find themselves eye to eye with around two hundred unique finds from Iran. Cuneiform clay tablets, gold beakers and ornaments, bronze weapons and beautifully painted ceramics will guide you through the history of one of the oldest and most interesting cultures in the world.
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A journey through Iran’s cultural history
Iran – Cradle of civilisation will take you on a journey through Iran’s cultural history spanning a staggeringly long period from 7000 BC until AD 1700. From the very beginning - the earliest development of agriculture and livestock farming - to the civilisation of the Elamites, the Persian Empire and the Islamic period. The Drents Museum will be presenting masterpieces from all those different periods from various findspots in Iran and on loan from the National Museum of Iran in Tehran. These treasures have long been hidden from the Western world. Many of them have never been exhibited in the Netherlands before, and have even never been on show outside Iran before.
The Persian Empire
One by one the exhibited objects will illustrate the highly developed culture, refinement and wealth of the successive Iranian kingdoms. The powerful Persian Empire (559-330 BC), larger than the Roman Empire at its greatest expanse, will feature prominently in the exhibition. It is symbolised by the enormous victory relief dating from around 520 BC that King Darius I had carved in a 100-metre high rock at Behistun, along the ancient caravan route from Babylon to Central Asia. With its inscriptions in three languages (Elamite, Old Persian and Babylonian) it magically records the foundation of the new Persian Empire. A life-size copy of this relief measuring 15 x 6 metres will be on show at the exhibition.
Iran – Cradle of Civilisation is the latest in a series of major international archaeological exhibitions with which the Drents Museum aims to distinguish itself. WBOOS will be publishing a lavishly illustrated book to accompany the exhibition. The book, which will cost € 24.95, will be on sale at the museum shop.
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Most of the museum is easily accessible for people with reduced mobility. Most floors are accessible by elevator and there are wheelchair-accessible toilets. The museum has free wheelchairs, walkers and folding stools for anyone who wants to use them. Unfortunately, part of the monumental section of the museum is less accessible.
Because of the number of wheelchairs and walkers being limited, you can reserve them via +31 (0)592 - 377 773.
More information about the accessibility of the building can be found here.
Supervisors (on presentation of a public transport companion card) and registered assistance and guide dogs are of course very welcome and can enter the museum free of charge.
The Drents Museum always has a number of changing exhibitions and also a rich collection of our own. Our own collection is currently mainly in the depot due to the renovation. That is why our archeology collection (including Pesse canoe, The Yde girl and the other peat bodies), the Drenthe history collection, Art around 1900 and contemporary realism cannot be seen at this moment. We expect Labyrinthia to open sometime in 2024. Click here for an overview of current exhibitions.
More and more objects can be found online. Learn all about your favorite object or discover new treasures!
Registered assistance or guide dogs are welcome in the museum, other pets are not.
Bar Brasserie Pingo can be found in the heart of the old museum section. Pingo's opening hours are the same as the museum, from Tuesday to Sunday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Here you can drink coffee and eat cake, however meal salads, sandwiches and appetizers are also on the menu.