Iranian Museums

Iran is the second-largest country in the Middle East and its central location in Eurasia and Western Asia, give it vital strategic importance. Tehran is the country’s capital and largest city, as well as its leading cultural centre.

Iran was home to some of the world’s oldest civilizations and reached its greatest extent during the rule of Cyrus the Great in the sixth century BC, becoming the Persian Empire. Falling to Alexander the Great in the fourth century BC, but reemerged shortly after as the Parthian Empire, followed by the Sasanian Empire, which became a leading world power for the next four centuries.

Arab Muslims conquered the empire in the seventh century AD, ultimately leading to the displacement of the indigenous faiths of Zoroastrianism and Manichaeism with Islam. Iran made significant contributions to the Islamic Golden Age and after numerous upheavals, the rise of the Safavids in the 15th century led to the reestablishment of a unified Iranian state and national identity.

In recent times, the 1979 Revolution led to the establishment of an Islamic republic and with a long history and unique cultural traditions, Iran has many world-class museums of interest. Below is a list of some of the significant museums in Iran: