Thread by @ssbeltran

These are some of the #IranianCulturalSites that @realDonaldTrump threatened to destroy.

Persepolis. Of of the last standing massive archaeological complexes from ancient Persia. The Iranians and their cultural institutions have done a fantastic job in protecting it.

1/12

Several shrines are completely covered in extremely intricate geometrical cut mirrors. Going inside any of them makes you feel like Iranians have found a way to capture all of the galaxy’s stars in a single building.

#IranianCulturalSites
2/12

Iranian Islamic architecture is... just too beautiful for words. A perfect harmony of materials, engineering, symbolism and function.

Muqarnasas: representations of God’s honey blessing us from heaven.

Wooden bricks for earthquake-proofing.

#IranianCulturalSites
3/12

Iranians are artists of light, revealing and concealing it with masterful intent.

There also hide meaning: a hypostyle room will suggest patterns, only to be intentionally broken by the architect, for only God is perfect.

#IranianCulturalSites
4/12

Not only is #IranianCulturalSites about ancient architecture, but living spaces of everyday activity as well. Markets thrive offering unheard of spices, nuts, fabrics which we cannot allow to lose.

5/12

An example of a building ancient Persians used for creating and storing ice, using passive systems and waters’ physical properties. Technologies we could still learn from in today’s energy and climate crisis.

#IranianCulturalSites
6/12

We still have much to learn from Islamic architecture in Iran. These buildings’ quality is unsurpassable, Iranians have cared for it so well for the world to enjoy.

That last picture: a vault with Allah’s 999/1000 names written...with bricks! 😱

#IranianCulturalSites
7/12

That first vault uses optical illusion to make it seem like it’s meters high, and it’s only under 2m.

I find the combination of bare brick and lapis lazuli-glazed elements beautiful beyond description.

#IranianCulturalSites
8/12

More vaults. More mathematical and engineering perfection. Just look at these shapes and shadows. Only an ignorant who hates humanity’s greatest achievements could ever even think of destroying them.

#IranianCulturalSites
9/12

The crown of the jewel: The entrance of Esfahan’s Shah Mosque. I would protect this with my life. Anyone of us should.

Also the Sheikh Lotfollah mosque, outside proportions are sublime, inside a 360° peacock.

#IranianCulturalSites
10/12

A double vaulted plafond with musical instrument shapes... because it is a chamber for music (the double ceiling changes sound reverberation).

These spaces aren’t swarmed with foreign tourists: Iranians live, pray, love and laugh here.

#IranianCulturalSites
11/12

Finally: #IranianCulturalSites are given meaning by Iranians. They‘re the ones who protect, research, keep building/revisiting their extremely rich culture. Here, an artisan shows how he creates geometrical tiles.

We cannot allow senseless war to harm them/their identity.

12/12

*crown jewel 😅