- Bagh-e Ferdows
Bāgh-e Ferdows [The literal meaning of "Bāgh-e Ferdows" is "The Garden of Paradise" (see Bāgh). The following is however suggestive that this literal interpretation may not be precise, if correct at all. According to Dehkhoda (in "Loghat'nāmeh-ye" Dehkhoda) and with reference to the pertinent investigations by Dr Mohammad Moin, the word "Ferdows" is an Arabicized word of the Persian origin, referred to twice in
Avesta as "pairi-daēza", where "pairi" stands for "perimeter" and "daēza" originates from the infinitive "daēz", meaning "to accumulate", "to surround" or "to enclose". TheAchaemenid Dynasty built over the entirePersian Empire , especially inAsia Minor , "pairi-daēza"s, or "paradises", which consisted of extensive gardens and parks. According toOED , as well as Dehkhoda,Xenophon was the first to use the word "paradeisos" in the meaning of "enclosed park, orchard, or pleasure ground". Dehkhoda writes that theHebrew word "pārdēs" entered into this language in the 5th century BC, following the arrival ofJews inBabel and that in the sections of theOld Testament that predate this arrival, the notions of "Heaven" and "Hell" are not specific; only later has "pārdēs", originally meaning "garden" and "orchard", been endowed with the spiritual meaning that is signified by this word (as well as "paradise") in later times, up to the present date. Dehkhoda adds that "pārdēs" has been used synonymously as the Hebrew word "gān" in the meaning of "Garden of Eden ". He continues that the word "Ferdows", that has been used twice in Qur'an, has its root inJudaism andChristianity and that theIslamic scholars are generally united in considering that the word "Ferdows" has been used in Qur'an in the meaning of "garden" and "orchard"; there is, however, no consensus amongst these scholars as to the nature of this place. Note that since theArabic language does not accommodate the letter "P", the "P" in the Arabicized Persian words, as well as the Hebrew word in the present context, is replaced by "F" — compare "Ferdows" with "Pairi-daēza" and "Pārdēs".] (Persian: باغ فردوس), also known as Emārat-e Bāgh-e Ferdows ["Emārat" here means "building".] and The Mohammadieh Palace, is part of a historical complex of garden palaces inTajrish ,Shemiran , NorthTehran , betweenZafaraniyeh andJafar Ābād . ["Loghat'nāmeh-ye" Dehkhoda, Third Edition (Tehran University Press , 2006).] This complex consists of two castles, the North Castle and the South Castle, of which the former has decayed. The complex was originally designed by Hāji Mirzā Āqāsi, [Hāji Mirzā Āqāsi is said to have been aSufi believer, and Mohammad Shah to have been influenced bySufism . This has been considered to be the cause of Mohammad Shah not having been on good terms with theShia clergy. See: "Mohammad Shah", [http://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF_%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%87 "Persian Wikipedia"] .] the Prime Minister ofMohammad Shah Qajar , and was used as a summer residence by theQajar family and some nobility. Mohammad Shah Qajar died here in September 1848 and the complex became disused in subsequent years. [Sadeq Dehqan, "A Glorious Complex: Bagh-e Ferdows", Iran Daily, Arts & Culture, Thursday 20 July 2006, [http://www.iran-daily.com/1385/2615/html/art.htm] .] [Khodadad, "Mohammadieh Palace, Bagh-e Ferdows", [http://picasaweb.google.com/hrolfkrake/Tehran/photo#5128470916404164546 "Picasa Web Albums"] . ]During the reign of Nasser ad-Din Shah Qajar, the ownership of the compund was transferred to Nezām od-Dauleh, Mo'ayyer ol-Mamālek, who refurbished the palaces and gave the place the name "Ferdows". Later, Doost-Ali Khan, the brother-in-law of Nasser ad-Din Shah, using the workmenship of architects from
Esfahan andYazd , built a new building at the Southern edge of this structure, giving it the name "Rashk-e Behesht". ["Rashk-e Behesht" means "Envy of the Paradise". According to Dehkhoda, "Behesht" is the Persian for theAvestan word "Vahishteh" which is rooted in the combination of the words "Vohu" (which is the comparative of the suppressed adjective "Anghu", meaning "good"), and "Isht". Thus "Behesht" means "The better world", "Ferdows" or "Paradise". With reference to an earlier footnote, in which "Ferdows" is discussed, one notes that in principle "Behesht" and "Bāgh-e Ferdows" need not refer to the same metaphysical location. ] Following this, the palace complex changed several hands, until it was bought by Mohammad-Vali Khan, Sepahsālār-e Tonekāboni, [Mohammad-Vali Khan, Sepahsālār-e Tonekāboni, also known as "Sepahsālār-e A'zam-e Tonekāboni", was the leader of the constitutionalist revolutionary forces fromIran 's northern provinvces ofGilan andMazandaran . He was the first to arrive in Tehran and liberate the city from the Royalist forces. He became Minster of Defence in the first constitutionalist government that followed dethroning of Mohammad-Ali Shah Qajar in 1909. He subsequently became Prime Minister, holding this post between October 1909 and July 1910. For the time being see: Haj Ali-Gholi Khan, Sardar Asad II.] from Amin ol-Molk [Amin ol-Molk is the honorific title of Pāshā Khan. Sadeq Dehqan's reference in Iran Daily, "loc. cit.", to "Aminol Malek" (i.e. Amin ol-Mālek) seems incorrect. For Details consult: "Dowlatshahi-Qajar", [http://www.qajarpages.org/dowlatshahi.html "Shajareh'nameh Project"] .] in 1897. Sepahsālār Tonekāboni added some further pools and fountains to "Bāgh-e Ferdows" and regenerated the aqueduct that in earlier years had fed the garden with fresh water. The impressive gate of the garden dates also from this time. Later "Bāgh-e Ferdows" was handed over to Tomanesian Company for repaying debt. In turn, this Company used this complex as a means of obtaining a state loan during the reign of Reza Shah Pahlavi. In 1937 the Ministry of Education ("Vezārat-e Ma'āref") housed a primary and a secondary school, "Shapour" Schools, in this compound. After theIranian Revolution of 1979 until 2002, "Bāgh-e Ferdows" served as a training centre for film-making. Since 2002, it houses "Film Museum of Iran". [See the "History" section in [http://www.filmmuseum.ir/english/index.htm "Film Museum of Iran"] .]Bāgh-e Ferdows is also the name of an area in the South of Tehran, near "
Bāgh-e Jannat ". ["Loghat'nāmeh-ye" Dehkhoda, "ibid."] [According to Dehkhoda, "Jannat" means both Garden (one in which the ground is fully covered by trees) and "Behesht" (concerning "Behesht", see an earlier footnote). It is most likely that theUrdu word "Jinnah", as inMohammad Ali Jinnah , may be the equivalent of the word "Jannat". If this is indeed the case, then it is appropriate to make mention here of the historical garden Bāgh-e Jinnah (formerly known as "Lawrence Gardens") inLahore ,Pakistan .]The Iranian motion picture "Bāgh-e Ferdows, 5 O'clock in the afternoon" (2005) [Written, produced and directed by
Siamak Shayeghi , withReza Kianian ,Ladan Mostofi andAzita Haijan playing in the principal roles.] refers to a public park in front of "Bāgh-e Ferdows", from where the main palace is in view.Notes and References
ee also
* Bāgh
* Paradise Garden
* Bāgh-e Jinnah
*Cinema of Iran External links
* Film Museum of Iran, [http://www.filmmuseum.ir/english/index.htm Home] , [http://www.filmmuseum.ir/english/about.htm History] , [http://www.filmmuseum.ir/english/cinema.htm Cinema Saloon] .
* TaymazG, A photograph of the building of the main palace in "Bāgh-e Ferdows", 12 August 2007, [http://www.flickr.com/photos/taymaz/1097870321/sizes/l/ flickr] .
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.