"Kermanshah" derives from theSasanian-era titleKirmanshah, which translates as "King of Kerman".[7]
Famously, this title was held by the son ofShapur III, Prince Bahram, who was bestowed with the title upon being appointed governor of the province ofKirman (present-dayKerman Province).[8][7]
Later, in 390, when he had already succeeded his father as Bahram IV Kirmanshah (r. 388–399), he founded the city and his title was applied to it, i.e. "(City of the) King of Kirman".[9][10]
A view of Kermanshah in mid.-19th century- toward south, Farokhshad Mt. and Wasi Mt. are visible at background
Because of its antiquity, attractive landscapes, rich culture andNeolithic villages, Kermanshah is considered one of thecradles ofprehistoric cultures. According to archaeological surveys and excavation, the Kermanshah area has been occupied by prehistoric people since theLower Paleolithic period, and continued to laterPaleolithic periods until latePleistocene period. The Lower Paleolithic evidence consists of somehand axes found in the Gakia area to the east of the city. TheMiddle Paleolithic remains have been found in various parts of the province, especially in the northern vicinity of the city in Tang-e Kenesht,Tang-e Malaverd and nearTaq-e Bostan.
Neanderthal Man existed in the Kermanshah region during this period and the only discovered skeletal remains of this early human in Iran was found in three caves androck shelter situated in Kermanshah province.[12] The known Paleolithic caves in this area areWarwasi,Qobeh,Malaverd andDo-Ashkaft Cave. The region was also one of the first places in which human settlements includingAsiab,Qazanchi, Sarab,Chia Jani, andGanj-Darreh were established between 8,000 and 10,000 years ago.
This is about the same time that the firstpotteries pertaining to Iran were made inGanj-Darreh, near present-dayHarsin.
Hellenistic-era depiction ofBahram asHercules carved in 153 BC
In ancientIranianmythology, construction of the city is attributed toTahmuras, the third king ofPishdadian dynasty. It is believed that theSassanids have constructed Kermanshah andBahram IV (he was called Kermanshah, meaning king ofKerman) gave his name to this city.[15]
It was a glorious city inSassanid period about the 4th century AD when it became the capital city ofPersian Empire and a significanthealth center serving as the summer resort forSassanid kings. In AD 226, following a two-year war led by the Persian Emperor,Ardashir I, against "Kurdish" tribes in the region, the empire reinstated a local "Kurdish" prince,Kayus of Medya, to rule Kermanshah.[citation needed] At the time, the term "Kurd" was used as a social term, designating Iraniannomads, rather than a concrete ethnic group.[16][17] The word became anethnic identity in the 12th and 13th century.[18][19] Within the dynasty known as theHouse of Kayus (alsoKâvusakân) remained a semi-independent kingdom lasting until AD 380 beforeArdashir II removed the dynasty's last ruling member.[citation needed]
Kermanshah was conquered by theArabs in 629 AD. UnderSeljuk rule in the eleventh century, it became the major cultural and commercial center in westernIran and the southernKurdish-inhabited areas as a whole. It was sacked by theMongols underHulegu in 1257, shortly before thesack of Baghdad. TheSafavids fortified the town, and theQajars repulsed an attack by theOttomans duringFath Ali Shah's rule (1797–1834). Kermanshah was occupied byOttomans between 1723–1729 and 1731–1732.[citation needed]
At the time of the 2006 census, the city's population was 784,602 in 202,588 households.[20] The following census in 2011 counted 851,405 people in 242,311 households.[21]
The language of the native people in Kermanshah isSouth Kurdish, but the people of Kermanshah can also speak standardPersian. A minority in the city speakKermanshahi Persian, a local dialect which differs from standard Persian.[22] The city has the largest Kurdish population in Iran.[23][24][25] Kermanshah has a moderate and mountainous climate.[26][27][28][29] Most of the inhabitants of Kermanshah areShia Muslims, but there are alsoSunni Muslims,Christians,[30] and followers ofYarsanism.[31][32]
Kermanshah has a climate which is heavily influenced by the proximity of theZagros mountains, classified as a hot-summerMediterranean climate (Köppen:Csa;Trewartha:Dohk) bordering on ahumid continental climate (Dsa). The city's altitude and exposed location relative to westerly winds makes precipitation a little bit high (more than twice that ofTehran), but at the same time produces hugediurnal temperature swings especially in the virtually rainless summers, which remain extremely hot during the day. Kermanshah experiences rather cold winters and there are usually rainfalls in fall and spring. Snow cover is seen for at least a couple of weeks in winter.
Highest recorded temperature: 44.1 °C (111.4 °F) on 13 July 1998 Lowest recorded temperature: −27.0 °C (−16.6 °F) on 6 February 1974[33]
Climate data for Kermanshah (1991–2020, extremes 1951–2020)
The carvings, some of the finest and best-preserved examples of Persian sculpture under the Sassanids, include representations of the investitures ofArdashir II (379–383) andShapur III (383–388).[citation needed] Like other Sassanid symbols,Taghbostan and its relief patterns accentuate power, religious tendencies, glory, honor, the vastness of the court, game and fighting spirit, festivity, joy, and rejoicing.[citation needed]
Sassanid kings chose a beautiful setting for their rock reliefs along an historicSilk Road caravan routewaypoint and campground. The reliefs are adjacent a sacred spring that empties into a large reflecting pool at the base of a mountain cliff.[citation needed]
Taghbostan and its rock relief are one of the 30 survivingSassanid relics of theZagros Mountains. According toArthur Pope, the founder of Iranian art and archeology Institute in the US, "art was characteristic of the Iranian people and the gift which they endowed the world with."[citation needed]
One of the most impressive reliefs inside the largest grotto orivan is the giganticequestrian figure of the Sassanid kingKhosrow II (591-628 AD) mounted on his favorite charger,Shabdiz. Both horse and rider are arrayed in full battle armor.[citation needed] The arch rests on two columns that bear delicately carved patterns showing the tree of life or the sacred tree. Above the arch and located on two opposite sides are figures of two winged angels withdiadems. A noticeable border with flower patterns has been intricately carved around the outer layer of the arch. These same patterns can be seen on the official costumes of Sassanid kings.Equestrian relief panel measured on 16.08.07 approx. 7.45 m across by 4.25 m high.[citation needed]
The inscription is approximately 15 metres high by 25 meters wide, and 100 meters up alimestone cliff from an ancient road connecting the capitals ofBabylonia andMedia (Babylon andEcbatana).[citation needed] It is extremely inaccessible as the mountainside was removed to make the inscription more visible after its completion. The Old Persian text contains 414 lines in five columns; the Elamite text includes 593 lines in eight columns and the Babylonian text is in 112 lines.[citation needed] The inscription was illustrated by a life-sized bas-relief ofDarius, holding abow as a sign of kingship, with his left foot on the chest of a figure lying on his back before him. The prostrate figure is reputed to be thepretenderGaumata.[citation needed] Darius is attended to the left by two servants, and ten one-metre figures stand to the right, with hands tied and rope around their necks, representing conquered peoples.Faravahar floats above, giving his blessing to the king. One figure appears to have been added after the others were completed, as was (oddly enough) Darius' beard,[citation needed] which is a separate block of stone attached withiron pins andlead.[citation needed]
Tekyeh Biglarbeygi is well known for unique mirror decoration.Tekyeh Biglarbeygi was made during Qajar dynasty by efforts of Abdullah khan Biglarbeygi.
Tekyeh Moaven al-molk is unique because it has many pictures on the walls that relate toshahnameh, despite some of its more religious ones.
Khajeh Barookh's House is located in the old district of Faizabad, aJewish neighborhood of the city. It was built by a Jewish merchant of theQajar period, named Barookh/Baruch. The house, an historical depiction of Iranian architecture, was renamed "Randeh-Kesh House", after the last owner, is a "daroongara"(inward oriented) house and is connected through a vestibule to the exterior yard and through a corridor to the interior yard.[38] Surrounding the interior yard are rooms, brick pillars making the iwans(porches) of the house, and step-like column capitals decorated with brick-stalactite work. This house is among the rare Qajar houses with a private bathroom.
Khajeh Barookh's HouseInterior of the second room of Zagros Paleolithic Museum.
Kermanshah is home to at least onebazaar dating back to the Qajar period.Kermanshah Grand Bazaar orTarike Bazaar was built around 1820 whenPrince Mohammad Ali Mirza Dowlatshah ofQajar dynasty governed over Kermanshah, and used to be the largest grand bazaar ofMiddle East during its time.[39]
Kermanshah is one of the western agricultural core of Iran that produces grain, rice, vegetable, fruits, and oilseeds, however Kermanshah is emerging as a fairly important industrial city; there are two industrial centers with more than 256 manufacturing units in the suburb of the city. These industries includepetrochemical refinery,textile manufacturing,food processing, carpet making, sugar refining, and the production of electrical equipment and tools.Kermanshah Oil Refining Company (KORC) established in 1932 by British companies, is one of the major industries in the city.After recent changes inIraq, Kermanshah has become one of the main importing and exporting gates ofIran.
More than 49 thousands students are educating in 9 governmental and private universities in the city. Established in 1968 as theKermanshah Graduate School of Nursing, theKermanshah University of Medical Sciences was the first university in the west part of Iran. The medical school as a division ofRazi University was established in 1976 and admitted some students in general practice.Razi University established in 1972 was the second university in the west part of Iran and is the most-prominent higher education institute in Kermanshah province and also west part of the country.[40] In 2020, Razi University ranked 24th in Iran and 1300th in the world by theU.S. News in universities of all countries of the world based upon 13 factors.[41]
Mohtashamiyeh (Persian: محتشمیه), established in 1899, was the first modern school in Kermanshah founded by Husseinali-Khan Mohandes-e Guran. Khalq Study Hall (Persian: قرائتخانۀ خلق) was the first study hall in Kermanshah and also an adult school founded in 1909.[44]Alliance Israélite school of Kermanshah founded by theAlliance Israélite Universelle in 1904.[45] The Azodiyeh State School for Misses (Persian: مدرسه دولتی دوشیزگان عضدیه) was the first girls' school, founded in 1922. The first private school in Kermanshah was founded in 1991.
^Kermanshah can be found atGEOnet Names Server, atthis link, by opening the Advanced Search box, entering "-3070245" in the "Unique Feature Id" form, and clicking on "Search Database".
^J. Limbert. (1968). The Origins and Appearance of the Kurds in Pre-Islamic Iran.Iranian Studies, 1.2: pp. 41-51.
^G. Asatrian. (2009). Prolegemona to the Study of Kurds.Iran and the Caucasus, 13.1: pp. 1-58.
^James, Boris. (2006). Uses and Values of the Term Kurd in Arabic Medieval Literary Sources.Seminar at the American University of Beirut, pp. 6-7.
^Martin van Bruinessen, "The ethnic identity of the Kurds," in:Ethnic groups in the Republic of Turkey, compiled and edited by Peter Alford Andrews with Rüdiger Benninghaus [=Beihefte zum Tübinger Atlas des Vorderen Orients, Reihe B, Nr.60]. Wiesbaden: Dr. Ludwich Reichert, 1989, pp. 613–21. excerpt: "The ethnic label "Kurd" is first encountered in Arabic sources from the first centuries of the Islamic era; it seemed to refer to a specific variety of pastoral nomadism, and possibly to a set of political units, rather than to a linguistic group: once or twice, "Arabic Kurds" are mentioned. By the 10th century, the term appears to denote nomadic and/or transhumant groups speaking an Iranian language and mainly inhabiting the mountainous areas to the South of Lake Van and Lake Urmia, with some offshoots in the Caucasus. ... If there was a Kurdish-speaking subjected peasantry at that time, the term was not yet used to include them."[1]Archived 2015-10-15 at theWayback Machine
^Mohammad-Ja'far Panahi."Libraries of Kermanshah".Encyclopedia of Library and information science (in Persian). Archived fromthe original on 19 January 2011. Retrieved1 September 2010.
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