Iran: Italian team to help restore Cyrus the Great's tomb
Rome, 27 May (AKI) - A team of Italian archaelogists will help restore the tomb of the ancient Persian Empire's founder Cyrus the Great under an agreement recently signed in the country's capital Tehran between Italy's culture ministry and Iran's cultural heritage body.
I am most satisfied by this agreement. A team of highly competent Italian restorers armed with with highly sophisticated equipment will restore Cyrus the Great's tomb to its former spendour," said Italy's culture minister Sandro Bondi.
"Once again, Italy's excellence in restoration work will contribute to preserving an extraordinary ancient monument which is an asset that belongs to humanity," Bondi added.
Under the agreement, signed on Monday, a team of Italian architects, geologists, microbiologists and restorers will work alongside Iranian counterparts in southwest Iran over the next three years, Italian archaeologist and project leader Giuseppe Proietti told Adnkronos International (AKI).
"They will study the condition of the tomb and its micro-climate, scan it and produce the documentation for the project to restore it," Proietti said.
A team of Italian technicians has for the past year been restoring a tower on the ancient Iranian citadel of Bam's walls, Proietti noted. Located in southern Iran, Bam is also a UNESCO world heritage site.
The tomb of Cyrus the Great is located in the ancient city of Pasargadae, the first capital of the Achaemenid Empire founded by Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BC.
It is also close to the ancient palace complex of Persepolis, founded by Darius I in 518 BC. Both cities are UNESCO world heritage sites.
"Cyrus the Great was a giant figure in ancient Persian history. While there are important Islamic sites, his tomb symbolises Iran's identity and its national spirit," said Proietti.
The famous ancient Greek warrior Alexander the Great visited Cyrus the Great's tomb in the 4th century BC as a sign of respect.
http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/CultureAndMedia/?id=3.0.3365050216
