One of the historical inscriptions of Ganjname in Hamadan, dating back to the Achaemenid era, has been targeted by explosives and has suffered damage. According to images published in Iranian media, none of these 2500-year-old inscriptions were equipped with protective systems, and part of one inscription has turned black due to the impact and explosion of explosives. Hamidreza Heydari, the deputy of cultural heritage in Hamadan, stated in an interview with the state news agency IRNA that the incident occurred on the evening of Wednesday, March 14, one night after the Chaharshanbe Suri festival, and added that the ancient Ganjname inscription was targeted by explosives from two points. He mentioned that the inscription itself was not damaged and promised that cleanup operations would be carried out within 'today and tomorrow.' This comes after the director general of cultural heritage, tourism, and handicrafts in Hamadan province stated in October of this year that the Ganjname inscriptions were not currently at risk of damage. Mohsen Masoum-Alizadeh, in an interview with Mehr News Agency, emphasized that similar Ganjname inscriptions across Iran have not suffered serious damage over time due to their type and location, as well as weather factors. It was previously announced that the 2500-year-old Ganjname inscriptions are nationally registered and subject to cultural heritage regulations. Meanwhile, Marjan Haji-Rahimi, an Instagram user and public relations manager of ICOM Iran, wrote on her page: 'Why has such an event not happened to this inscription, which is carved high on a mountain and in open space, for all these years, and now that people are more sensitive to their cultural heritage and use fewer hand grenades and loud explosives than in previous years, this disaster occurred?' She also wrote: 'Why has there been no protection for this inscription over two thousand years old?' The 'serious negligence' in maintaining historical artifacts and tourism attractions in Iran has been repeatedly criticized by experts and media. ISNA news agency reported in June of this year in response to the risk of destruction of the 'Saadi Tomb' structure in Shiraz: 'The Saadi Tomb in Shiraz is at risk due to serious negligence in technical and specialized maintenance, and if we ignore these risks, we must witness its destruction.' This is while Ezzatollah Zarghami, the Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, announced in December of this year that the approved budget for this ministry has not yet been allocated.
Ancient Inscription of Ganjname in Hamadan Hit by Hand Grenade
An ancient inscription in Hamadan, Iran, was damaged by explosives, raising concerns about the preservation of cultural heritage. Officials claim no serious damage occurred, but critics highlight ongoing negligence in protecting historical sites. This incident reflects broader issues regarding the safeguarding of Iran's cultural heritage.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
An ancient inscription in Hamadan, Iran, was damaged by explosives, raising concerns about the preservation of cultural heritage. Officials claim no serious damage occurred, but critics highlight ongoing negligence in protecting historical sites.
- The Ganjname inscriptions date back to the Achaemenid era, approximately 2500 years ago.
- The incident occurred shortly after the Chaharshanbe Suri festival, raising questions about safety and protection measures.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran is home to numerous ancient sites and inscriptions, many of which are at risk due to neglect and lack of funding for preservation efforts.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%