Travel with The Met. April 5 21, 2018

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1 Travel with The Met BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB April 5 21, 2018 Iconic Iran: A Journey Through Persia with Dr. Yelena Rakic, Associate Curator, Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB

2 BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB Iconic Iran: A Journey Through Persia Dear Members and Friends of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, From the imperial jewels of to the blue-tiled mosques of, Iran reveals an endless array of cultural splendors. For millennia, ancient Persia was the most powerful empire on earth, while the Arab conquest centuries later brought Islam s devotion to aesthetic beauty. Please join me next spring to trace the influences of these civilizations and the many others that held sway over this great region. As a scholar of the Ancient Near East, I am thrilled at the thought of all the treasures to behold. Superb museums, majestic monuments, graceful gardens, exquisite mosques, historic caravanserai... all enhanced by stunning landscapes and warmhearted people whose hospitality is unsurpassed. Begin in, and marvel at the 7,000-year-old pottery fragments at the National Museum and dazzling Peacock Throne at the Jewels Museum. Fly to Kermanshah to view the enigmatic rock reliefs at Taq-i Bustan and honor the achievements of Darius the Great at Bisotun. To the south, Ahwaz is our base for excursions to the impressive ziggurat at Chogha Zanbil; the fascinating remains of Darius once-great capital at Susa; and Shushtar s ancient waterworks, described by UNESCO as a masterpiece of creative genius. In Shiraz, stroll in celebrated gardens and discover the tomb of Hafez, whom Ralph Waldo Emerson deemed a poet for poets. Spend a day amid the vast ruins of Persepolis, nearly unchanged since its destruction by Alexander; and admire the proud remains of Cyrus tomb at Pasargadae. In, 17th-century capital of the Safavid Dynasty, stroll in her magnificent square the Maidan-e-Naghsh-e- Jahan and stop at the Qeisarieh Bazaar to browse its renowned textiles, miniatures, and other handicrafts. Finally, return to to explore the Pahlavi Dynasty palaces, including the home of the last shah. By the time our 15-day tour is completed, we will have visited 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. I hope you will join me for this unparalleled exploration of the iconic sites of Iran. Sincerely, Yelena Rakic Associate Curator, Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art The Metropolitan Museum of Art BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB Traveling with you Dr. Yelena Rakic Dr. Yelena Rakic is an Associate Curator in the Department of Ancient Near Eastern Art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. A graduate of Barnard College, she received her PhD from The University of Pennsylvania and is currently a consulting scholar at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Her research has focused on cylinder seals in the ancient Near East and the early history of collecting ancient Near Eastern objects in the United States. She has taught at the University of Pennsylvania, University of Connecticut, Cooper Union, and the CUNY Graduate Center, and has participated in archaeological excavations in Egypt, Syria, and Jordan. Dr. Rakic has edited and co-edited several books, including Assyria to Iberia at the Dawn of the Classical Age (2014, co-editor) and has worked on numerous exhibitions at The Met including The Cyrus Cylinder and Ancient Persia (2013, co-curator). BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB Trip Highlights Visit World Heritage Sites including Choga Zanbil, one of the few remaining ziggurats outside of Mesopotamia, and ancient Susa See s outstanding museums and palaces, and the legendary Peacock Throne Experience Shiraz, city of the great poets Hafez and Sa di Discover Persepolis, former ceremonial capital of the Persian Empire, during a full-day excursion Admire s splendidly tiled mosques, elegant palaces, and the Maidane-Naghsh-e-Jahan, one of the grand public squares of the world Garden of Fin, Kashan, photo by Erwin Bolwidt

3 BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB Caspian Sea Kermanshah Susa Shustar Choga Zanbil Ahwaz IRAN Persepolis Shiraz Persian Gulf Photos clockwise from top right: regional map; Tomb at Naqsh-é-Rostam, photo by Gloria De Luca; Angel painting in the Cathedral of Vank, ; Eram Garden, Shiraz, photo by Iran s Window; Maidan-e-Naghsh-e-Jahan, ; Tiles in the Shah Mosque, ;. Front cover: The Feast of Sada, Folio 22v from the Shahnama (Book of Kings) of Shah Tahmasp. ca Opaque watercolor, ink, silver, and gold on paper. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Arthur A. Houghton Jr., 1970 [ ].

4 Iconic Iran: A Journey Through Persia April 5-21, 2018 BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB Departure Thursday, April 5 Depart on an overnight flight to Iran., Iran Friday, April 6 Following an afternoon arrival in, transfer to the centrally located Hotel Espinas. Dinner is at the hotel. Saturday, April 7 At the National Museum, view the impressive collection of pre-historic and ancient artifacts. Continue to the elegant Islamic Era Museum. After lunch, drive to the Jewels Museum, housed in the vaults of the Central Bank of Iran, displaying one of the most dazzling collections in the world, including the legendary Peacock Throne. Gather this evening for welcome remarks by Yelena Rakic, followed by dinner. Sunday, April 8 Depart this morning for the Golestan Palace complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating from the 18th to early 20th century. Visit the Marble Hall and the Hall of Mirrors, used as a coronation room, and stroll the garden to view the ornate tile-covered walls. Following lunch, visit the Carpet Museum, where a fine array of carpets from ancient to contemporary is on display. Then explore the Glass Museum, housed in an elegant mansion from the Qajar period. / Kermanshah Monday, April 9 A morning flight takes us to Kermanshah, in the heart of the Zagros Mountains. Continue to the Parsian Hotel for lunch and check-in. In the afternoon visit the site of Taq-i Bustan, whose extraordinary bas reliefs exalt Sassanian kings. Carved along an ancient Silk Road mountain pass, these well-preserved reliefs display epic hunting scenes and ceremonial coronations. Dinner is at the hotel. Kermanshah Tuesday, April 10 Depart for the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bistotun to view the bas relief and cuneiform inscription ordered by Darius the Great and D strategically located along an ancient trade route. Written in three languages, the text documents Darius divine connection, his conquests, and his re-establishment of the Persian Empire in 521 B.C. Continue east to Kangavar and the Temple of Anahita. The temple s Hellenistic characteristics represent architectural influences in Persia that appeared after the conquest by Alexander the Great and blend seamlessly with existing Achaemenid elements. Return to Kermanshah for a walk in the city s lively Grand Bazaar. Kermanshah / Ahwaz Wednesday, April 11 A full day s drive takes us south, through beautiful landscapes to Ahwaz. Stop en route to see the Pol-e Dokhtar, or Bridge of the Daughter, part of the Persian Royal Road. Arrive in Ahwaz in the early evening for dinner and check-in at the Fajr Hotel. Ahwaz / Choga Zanbil, Susa & Shustar Thursday, April 12 Drive to Choga Zanbil, built in 1250 B.C. and one of the few remaining ziggurats outside of Mesopotamia. At ancient Susa explore the remains of the Achaemenid palace built during the reign of Darius I. After lunch, see the fascinating Sassanian water mills of Shustar, on the Karun River. Return to Ahwaz in time for dinner. Ahwaz / Shiraz Friday, April 13 Depart this morning for Shiraz, stopping to visit the site of Bishapur, the third-century hunting palace of the Sassanian king, Shapur. See the reliefs celebrating his victories over the Roman armies. Following lunch en route, continue through dramatic mountain scenery and descend into the valley towards Shiraz. Arrive in the early evening for check-in and dinner is at the Hotel Homa. Shiraz Saturday, April 14 This morning discover the celebrated gardens of this city of roses and nightingales. Begin at Eram Garden before visits to the pink-tiled 19th-century Nasir al-mulk Mosque and the Qajar-period Naranjestan Palace. After lunch, see the 18th-century citadel of Arg-e Karim Khan, the elegant Pars Museum, and the Atiq Mosque, Masjid-i-Vakil. Conclude the day at the colorful Vakil Bazaar of Shiraz. Shiraz / Persepolis Sunday, April 15 Once the center of the Persian Empire, Persepolis, was one of the most important sites of the ancient world. Explore the remains of the palaces of Darius the Great, Xerxes, and Artaxerxes. Continue to Naghsh-é- Rajab, a nearby grotto with Sassanian reliefs. At the fascinating necropolis of Naghsh-é-Rostam, see the Royal Tombs and the Ka bé-zardosht fire temple. Return to Shiraz to stroll in the Musalla gardens, site of the tomb of Iran s greatest lyric poet, Hafez. Dinner is at the hotel. Shiraz / Monday, April 16 Following breakfast, depart for stopping in Pasargadae to explore the ruins of the capital, palaces, and majestic tomb of Cyrus the Great. After lunch, stop to view the castle and remarkable caravanserai ruins at Izad Khast. Arrive in for check-in and dinner at the elegant Hotel Abbasi. BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB More Travels with The Met Cuba by Sea: Cienfuegos to Havana Aboard Variety Voyager January 25 February 2, 2018 The Enchanting Douro River Aboard AmaVida April 16-24, 2018 The Alluring Aegean: Enchanting Greek Islands Aboard Sea Cloud June 24 July 2, 2018 For details, please go to metmuseum.org/travel BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB

5 BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB Tuesday, April 17, the 17th-century capital of the Safavid Dynasty, is referred to as Nesf-e-Jahan, or Half of the World. Explore the magnificent Friday Mosque, considered a museum of a thousand years of Persian religious architecture. In the Armenian Quarter, discover the Cathedral of Vank and the nearby museum. Following lunch, visit the Palace of Chehel Sotun, built by Shah Abbas II in the 17th century. Twenty wooden columns reflected in the surface of the garden pool give the palace its name, The Palace of Forty Columns. Then see three of the famous eleven bridges of. Dinner is at a local restaurant. Wednesday, April 18 Depart the hotel on foot for the 17th-century Hasht Behesht pavilion, a small but intricate building set amongst tree-lined alleys, a reflecting pool, and water rills. Continue to the breathtaking square, Maidan-e-Naghshe-Jahan. The maidan (town square) is flanked by the Ali-Qapu Palace with its royal balcony, from where the kings watched polo games, and two of the world s greatest mosques with their splendid tilework: the Sheikh Lotfollah and the Masjid-i Iman. Conclude at the Qeisarieh Bazaar with time to browse the hundreds of shops displaying the arts and handicrafts for which is famous. / Thursday, April 19 On today s drive to, stop in Natanz to visit the 12th-century Masjed-e Jame built with a four-iwan (an open, vaulted space) BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB Iconic Iran: A Journey Through Persia April 5 21, 2018 Reservation Form To secure your reservation, please call Arrangements Abroad at 844-TRVLMET ( ); or complete this form and return it with your deposit of $1,000 (of which $500 is non-refundable for administrative fees), to be paid by debit card, credit card, wire transfer, or check payable to Arrangements Abroad. Mail to: Arrangements Abroad, 1040 Avenue of the Americas, 23rd Floor, New York, NY Name(s) in full as on passport(s). Please print. Address City State Zip Telephone (home) (business) Fax Accommodations Hotel room preference One bed Two beds Single (at a supplement of $TBA) I wish to share a room with courtyard. Continue to Kashan and the historic Garden of Fin, first planted during the Safavid period and expanded by the Zand and Qajar monarchs. Visit Tabatabai House, a 19thcentury merchant residence with a beautiful stucco dome and inlaid mirror work, and some of the best examples of existing badgirs (wind-catchers). Arrive at the Hotel Espinas in in the late afternoon. / Return Friday, April 20 / Saturday, April 21 Drive to fashionable northern for a visit to Niyavaran Palace complex, set among the foothills of the Alborz Mountains. See the former Pahlavi residences and tour the museum of paintings and artifacts collected by Farah Diba, the last Empress of Iran. Return to central for lunch. This afternoon, visit the Reza Abassi Museum whose galleries include ceramics, important finds in gold and silver, and masterpieces of classical Persian book painting. Following an early dinner, transfer to s Imam Khomeini Airport for the flights home, departing very early the morning of April 21. and Alborz Mountains This itinerary is subject to change at the discretion of The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Arrangements Abroad. For complete details, please carefully read the terms and conditions at Form of Payment Check (payable to Arrangements Abroad) Debit card Credit card Name on debit/credit card Debit/credit card number 3- or 4-digit security code Expiration date Each participant must sign below. I/We have read, understand and agree to the Terms & Conditions at and detailed in forthcoming program documents. I/We agree to full payment 120 days prior to departure. Signature (required) Signature (required) For additional information, please call 844-TRVLMET ( ) A Note About Travel in Iran Driving is often the most efficient way to access the cities and villages we will visit. Long drives are to be expected during this program, however the remarkably varied landscapes of Iran will offer a scenic panorama along the way. Iranian people are warm and hospitable towards visitors. They enjoy engaging foreigners in English conversation and are especially curious about life in America. Certain rules of dress and conduct are strictly observed in Iran and all trip participants are expected to adhere to local laws and customs. Women are required to cover their heads with a scarf whenever outside the privacy of their hotel room and to wear loose clothing that covers their arms and legs. Loose trousers with a top that reaches mid-thigh, are recommended. Except for shorts, which are discouraged, men may wear the same clothes as when traveling in any western country although we suggest you leave your ties at home! (Ties are rarely seen and never necessary.) Alcohol is forbidden at all times. After a brief period of adjustment to these regulations, western travelers should feel quite comfortable and at ease. BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB Program Rate $9,999 per person double occupancy $1,599 single supplement Rate Includes 14 nights hotel accommodations as per itinerary Meals as indicated in the itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner); bottled water and coffee/ tea with all meals (alcohol is forbidden at all times in Iran) Airport/hotel/airport group transfers for all participants on suggested flights Enrichment program of lectures and talks Escorted sightseeing by private motor coach; entrance fees for included visits Internal flights: /Kermanshah Taxes, service, and porterage charges; gratuities to local guides and drivers Not included in rate International airfare; passport/visa fees; meals not specified; personal items and expenses; airport transfers other than for those on suggested flights; trip insurance; any other items not specifically mentioned as included. Date Date B_18LNDIKA0405_MET BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB