Ardabil 995890 225914859 2008-07-16T00:11:55Z Barticus88 1396480 [[Persian]]→[[Persian language]] in the holy name of [[WP:DPL|WikiProject Disambiguation]] using [[WP:POP|Popups]] {{Cleanup|date=March 2008}} <!-- Infobox begins -->{{Infobox City |official_name = Ardabil |other_name = |native_name = اردبیل |nickname = |motto = |image_skyline = Sheikh-safi.jpg |imagesize = 200px |image_caption = [[Safi Al-Din|Sheikh Safi]]'s Tomb |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_shield = |shield_size = |image_blank_emblem = |blank_emblem_size = |image_map = |mapsize = |map_caption = |pushpin_map = Iran |pushpin_label_position = |subdivision_type = Province |subdivision_name = [[Ardabil province|Ardabil]] |subdivision_type1 = Regional District |subdivision_name1 = Ardabil |subdivision_type2 = |subdivision_name2 = |subdivision_type3 = |subdivision_name3 = |subdivision_type4 = |subdivision_name4 = |government_type = |leader_title = M.P. |leader_name = Nouradin Pirmoazen, Vali Azarvash, Hassan No'i-Aghdam |leader_title1 = <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager --> |leader_name1 = |leader_title2 = Governing Body |leader_name2 = Ardabil City Council |leader_title3 = |leader_name3 = |leader_title4 = |leader_name4 = |established_title = <!-- Settled --> |established_date = |established_title2 = <!-- Incorporated (town) --> |established_date2 = |established_title3 = <!-- Incorporated (city) --> |established_date3 = |area_magnitude = |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 = 18.011 |area_land_km2 = |area_water_km2 = |area_total_sq_mi = |area_land_sq_mi = |area_water_sq_mi = |area_water_percent = |area_urban_km2 = |area_urban_sq_mi = |area_metro_km2 = |area_metro_sq_mi = |population_as_of = 2001 |population_footnotes = |population_note = |settlement_type = <!--For Town or Village (Leave blank for the default City)--> |population_total = 340386 |population_density_km2 = 18857 |population_density_sq_mi = |population_metro = |population_density_metro_km2 = |population_density_metro_sq_mi = |population_urban = |population_density_urban_km2 = |population_density_urban_mi2 = |timezone = [[Iran Standard Time|IRST]] |utc_offset = +3:30 |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |latd=38 |latm=15 |lats= |latNS=N |longd=48 |longm=17 |longs= |longEW=E |elevation_m = 1500 |elevation_ft = |postal_code_type = <!-- enter ZIP code, Postcode, Post code, Postal code... --> |postal_code = |area_code = 451 |website = |footnotes = }} <!-- Infobox ends --> '''Ardabil''' ([[Persian language|Persian]] and [[Azerbaijani language|Azeri]]: اردبیل) also known as '''Ardebil'''; [[Old Persian]]: '''Artavil''') is a historical city in north-western [[Iran]]. The name Ardabil comes from the [[Zoroastrian]] name of "Artavil" (mentioned in [[Avesta]]) which means a holy place.<ref>[http://www.iranchamber.com/provinces/06_ardabil/06_ardabil.php Iranian Provinces: Ardabil<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Ardabil is the center of [[Ardabil Province|Ardabil]] [[Provinces of Iran|province]]. Its population is estimated to be around 340,386, the majority of whom are ethnic [[Azerbaijani people|Azerbaijanis]] . Famed for its [[silk]] and [[carpet]] trade tradition, the ancient [[Ardabil Carpet]]s are considered some of the best of the classical [[Persian Rug]] creations. Ardabil is also known as the seat of the sanctuary and tomb of [[Shaikh]] [[Safi Al-Din|Safî ad-Dîn]], [[eponym]] of the [[Safavid Dynasty]]. Its [[geographic coordinates]] are {{coor dm|38|15|N|48|17|E|type:city}}. == Location == Ardabil is located about 70 km from the [[Caspian Sea]], 210 km from the city of [[Tabriz]] and 25 km from [[Republic of Azerbaijan]]'s border. It has an average altitude of 1263 m and total area of 18.011 km². Neighboring on the [[Caspian Sea]] and the [[Republic of Azerbaijan]], this city is of great political and economical significance. The [[province]] of Ardabil has been blessed with splendid natural beauty and numerous sights. It is located on an open plain 1,500 m above sea level, just east of Mount [[Sabalan]] (4,811 m), where cold spells occur until late spring. == Climate == Cold and semi-arid, many tourists come to the region for its cool climate during the hot summer months maximum temperatures reaching to 35 °C . The winters are long and bitter cold, with a temperature plummeting to -25 °C. The annual rainfall is around 380 mm. ==History== The province is believed to be as old as the [[Achaemenid]] era 2500 BC. It is mentioned in the [[Avesta]], where prophet [[Zoroaster]] was born by the river [[Aras]] and wrote his book in the [[Sabalan]] Mountains. During [[Parthia]]n era the city had a special importance among the cities of [[Azerbaijan (Iran)|Azarbaijan]]. Some Muslim historians attribute foundation of Ardabil to king [[Peroz I]] of [[Sassanid Empire]]. The Persian poet [[Ferdowsi]] also credits the foundation of the city to Peroz I. Ardabil suffered some damages caused by occasional raids of [[Hun]]s between 4th to 6th century AD. Peroz repaired those damages and fortified the city. Peroz made Ardabil the residential of provincial governor ([[Marzban]], in Persian: مرزبان) of Azarbaijan. During the [[Islamic conquest of Iran]], Ardabil was the largest city in North Western Iran, and remained so until the [[Mongol]] invasion period. Ardabilis fought the Mongols three times, however the city fell after the third attempt by Mongols. They massacred not only the Ardabilis but inhabitants of neighboring villages and killing everyone they could find. Incursions of Mongols and [[Georgia (country)|Georgian]]s left the city in ruins for nearly three centuries til the advent of [[Safavid]]s. Safavid Shah [[Ismail I]] started his campaign to nationalize Iran's government and land from here, but consequently announced [[Tabriz]] as his capital in 1500CE. Yet Ardabil remained an important city both politically and economically until modern times. === Demographics === * Population (Metropolitan): about 650,000 * Religion: Mainly [[Shi'a Islam]] * Ethnicity: [[Azerbaijani people|Azeris]] * Language: [[Azerbaijani language]] (local language) and [[Persian language|Persian]] (Iranian national language) ---- == Ardabil Carpet == [[Image:ardabil_carpet.jpg|frame|right|The Ardabil Carpet, Persia, dated 946 AH. V&A Museum no. 272-1893. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London]] The '''Ardabil Carpet''' ('''Ardebil Carpet''') is either of two famous [[Persian carpet]]s which are currently held in the collections of the [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] in [[London]] and the [[Los Angeles County Museum of Art]]. Completed during the rule of the [[Safavid]] [[Shah]] [[Tahmasp I]] in the mid-[[16th century]], probably in [[Tabriz]], the carpets are considered some of the best of the classical Persian school of carpet creation. They were first placed in a [[Mosque]] in [[Ardabil]], but they had been damaged in [[Iran]] and were sold in 1890<ref name="Getty autobiography">{{cite book |last= Getty |first= J. Paul |authorlink= J. Paul Getty |title= As I See It: The Autobiography of J. Paul Getty |url= |format= [[html]] |date= Revised 2003 edition |publisher= Getty Trust Publications |location= Los Angeles |isbn= 978-0-89236-700-9 |pages= pp. 270-271 |quote= }}</ref> to a [[United Kingdom|British]] carpet broker who restored one of the carpets using the other and then resold it to the Victoria and Albert Museum. [[William Morris]], then an [[Peer review|art referee]] for the V&A, was instrumental in the acquisition.<ref name="Perspective">{{cite web |url= http://www.vam.ac.uk/res_cons/conservation/journal/number_49/ardabil_carpet/index.html |title= "The Ardabil Carpet - a new perspective." |author= Lynda Hillyer (Head of Textile Conservation) and Boris Pretzel (Materials Scientist) |format= [[html]] |work= [[Victoria and Albert Museum]], [http://www.vam.ac.uk/res_cons/conservation/journal/index.html Conservation Journal] Spring 2005: Number 49 |quote= It was [[William Morris]], in his capacity as one of the V&A's Art Referees, who persuaded the Museum to raise, with the aid of public subscription, the then vast sum of [[Pound sterling|£]]2000 to purchase the carpet in March 1893. }}</ref> The second "secret" carpet was sold to American businessmen [[Clarence Mackay]] and was exchanged by wealthy buyers for years. Passing through the Mackay, [[Charles Yerkes|Yerkes]], and De la Mare art collections, it was eventually revealed and shown in [[1931]] at an exposition in [[London]]. American industrialist [[J. Paul Getty]] saw it, and bought it from Lord Duveen for approximately $70,000 several years later. Getty was approached by agents on behalf of King [[Farouk of Egypt]] who offered $250,000 so that it could be given as a wedding present.<ref name="Farouk">{{cite web |url= http://www.raken.com/american_wealth/Wildcatter_Oil_Barons/Jean_Paul_Getty_14.asp |title= "J. Paul Getty buys art in Europe and the Pierre Hotel in New York." |format= [[html]] |work= Raken.com |quote= He [Getty] paid £14000 for the piece once declared “not for sale” by Lord [[Joseph Duveen, 1st Baron Duveen|Joseph Duveen]]. Years later [in 1938] he turned down an offer of $250,000 from King [[Farouk of Egypt]], who wanted the rug as a wedding present for [[Fawzia Shirin|his sister]], when she married the [[Mohammad Reza Pahlavi|Shah of Iran]]. }}</ref> Getty later donated the carpet to the Museum of Science, History, and Art in the [[Exposition Park (Los Angeles)|Exposition Park]] in [[Los Angeles]]. This most famous of Persian carpets has been the subject of endless copies ranging in size from small rugs to full scale carpets. There is an 'Ardabil' at [[10 Downing Street]] and even [[Hitler]] had an 'Ardabil' in his office in [[Berlin]].<ref name="Perspective"/><ref name="Geometry">{{cite web |url= http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/asia/object_stories/ardabil/index.html |title= "The Surprising Geometry of the Ardabil Carpet." |author= Jennifer Wearden (paper presented at [http://www.vam.ac.uk/res_cons/research/research_reports/1995-1997/conf_papers/index.html Ars Textrina International Textiles Conference] July 1995, [[University of Leeds]]) |format= [[html]] |work= [[Victoria and Albert Museum]] |quote= }}</ref> The foundation is of [[silk]] with [[wool]] pile of a knot density at 300-350 knots per square inch (470-540.000 knots per square metres, i.e. 26 million total knots). The size of the carpets are 34 1/2 feet by 17 1/2 feet ( 10,5 metres x 5,3 metres).<ref name="Jozan">{{cite web |url= http://www.jozan.net/2004/Ardabil-carpet.htm |title= "The Ardabil Carpets." |author= |format= [[html]] |work= Jozan Magazine on Oriental Rugs |date= [[31 January]] [[2003]] |quote= Sources: [[Los Angeles County Museum of Art]], ''The Oriental Rug Lexicon'' by Peter F. Stone. }}</ref> The carpets have an inscription: a [[couplet]] from a [[ghazal]] by Persian mythic poet [[Hafez]] and a signature.<ref name="Inscription">{{cite web |url= http://www.worldisround.com/articles/73022/photo2152.html |title= "The famous Ardebil Persian rug." |author= Shahram Razavi |format= [[html]] |work= WorldIsRound.com (includes closeup photograph of central medallion) |quote= }}</ref> {{Quotation|The 'Ardebil' carpet, now in the [[Victoria and Albert Museum|Victoria & Albert Museum]] in [[London]], is probably the best known of all old Persian carpets. It is one of a pair which came to [[England]] in [[1893]] virtually in tatters. The decision was made to sacrifice one carpet so that the other could be restored. The cost of this work was prohibitively high, even for a museum, and it was only after an extensive public appeal that sufficient funds were raised for work to go ahead. There can be little doubt that in this case the end justified the means. The carpet, measuring 38′ long by 18′ wide, is an extremely fine speciment bearing an inscription by the weaver. This inscription reads:<br /><br /> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ''I have no refuge in the world other than thy threshold.<br /> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; There is no protection for my head other than this door.''<br /> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ''The work of the slave of the threshold Maqsud of Kashan in the year 946.''<br /><br /> Translating this date into the Christian calendar shows that the carpet was woven around the years 1539-40 during the reign of [[Tahmasp I|Shah Tahmasp]], one of the great patrons of carpet weaving. The incomplete remainder of the other 'Ardebil' carpet, which bears the same inscription and date, was given by [[J. Paul Getty]] to the [[Los Angeles County Museum of Art|Los Angeles County Museum]].|[[Essie Sakhai]]|The Story of Carpet. <ref name="Sakhai">{{cite book |last= Sakhai |first= Essie |authorlink= Essie Sakhai |title= The Story of Carpet |url= |format= [[html]] |date= 1991 |publisher= Studio Editions, Ltd. |location= Princess House, [[London]] |isbn=1-85170-727-1 |pages= pp. 10-11 |chapter= Chapter 1: In the Beginning |quote= }}</ref> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; }} == References == {{reflist}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Ardabil Carpet}} [[Category:Persian rugs]] [[Category:Textile arts]] [[Category:History of Iran]] [[Category:Collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum]] [[fa:قالی اردبیل]] [[pt:Tapete Ardabil]] [[sv:Ardabilmattan]] ==Other site for ardabil carpet== * http://www.oldcarpet.com/ardabil.htm * http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/asia/object_stories/ardabil/index.html * http://www.vam.ac.uk/res_cons/conservation/journal/number_49/ardabil_carpet/index.html * http://www.rugidea.com/ardabil_carpet.html * http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/33282/Ardabil-Carpet * http://www.1001persianrugs.com/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?&product=Ardabil.Rugs * http://www.persian-rugs.biz/rugs.php?items=Ardabil * http://www.metmuseum.org/store/st_family_viewer.asp/familyID/%7B1D1B5E5F-590C-40FD-993C-4753A77EC1DB%7D/FromPage/catForHome/familyNo/4/catID/%7B591F8902-DCF4-11D6-94A2-00902786BF44%7D * http://www.better-rugs.com/RugsImage.asp?Name=Ardabil * http://tapishoma.com/Tribal%20Ardabil.html * http://www.vrouyr.com/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=6&tabindex=5&objectid=16149&categoryid=1504 * http://www.persiancarpetexport.com/Ardebil.asp * http://www.thefind.com/homefurnishings/info-ardabil-persian-rugs * http://www.rugman.com/Rugs/ardabil.html * http://www.aladdinscarpet.com/Ardabil-rugs.html == Attractions == [[Image:Ardabil-Meusume.jpg|frame|Ardabil Museum]] === Historical === *'''The complex of Sheikh [[Safi-ad-din Ardabili]]:''' is an impressive ancient monument, comprising the following components: the mausoleums of Sheikh Safi and Shah Isma'il, Chini khaneh (meaning the house of chinaware), a mosque, Jannat Sara (meaning the house of paradise), Khanaqah (the house of Dervishes), Cheragh Khaneh (the house of lamps), Shahid khaneh (the house of martyrs) and Chelleh Khaneh (the place where devotees shut themselves up during the forty days of Lent). The mausoleum of Sheikh Safi, the famous dome of which is called "Allah-Allah" has an octagonal interior.[http://www.virtualtourengine.com/tour.aspx?id=5 (Virtual tour)] *'''Masjid Jameh :''' Ruins of once magnificent and unique Mosque. *'''Mirza Ali Akbar mosque and school :''' This comlex dates back to [[Qajar]] period *'''Ardabil bazaar :''' This beautiful Persian bazaar was built during Safavid period and in addition to main bazaar hall with open vaults has a [[hammam]] and a small yet mystifying mosque. *'''Ardabil bridges :''' Ardabil host numerous historical bridges namely ''Pol-e Gilandeh'', ''Pol-e Nayer'', ''Pol-e Haft Cheshmeh'', ''Pol-e Panj Cheshmeh'' and ''Pol-e Seh Cheshmeh'' most were built during Safavid era. *'''Imamzadeh Saleh mausoleum :''' The mausoleum of Imamzadeh Saleh who is a descendant of a [[Shia]] Imam was built 250 years ago. *'''Saint Mary church :''' This [[orthodox church|Armenian orthodox]] church has a beautiful wooden main door and painted dome built in 1876. ''Being a city of great antiquity, the origins of Ardabil go back 4000 to 6000 years (according to historical research in this city).'' This city was the capital of Azerbaijan province in different times, but its golden age was in the [[Safavid]] period. The other significant historical monuments are as follows: the mausoleum of Sheikh Jebra'il, located 2 km north of Ardabil, the old but always lively bazaar, the babadavood anbaran the Friday mosque, and a few ancient bridges. In addition to these, in many villages of Ardabil, relics of ancient monuments, including tombs have been found. === Geographical === [[Image:Shorabil Lake.jpg|thumb|[[Shorabil]] Lake]] It has many hot springs and beautiful natural landscapes and these attract tourists. The mineral springs of Ardabil are Beele-Darreh, Sar'eyn, Sardabeh and Booshloo, being famous for their medicinal qualities throughout Iran. It has also many beauty lakes: the largest of which are Ne'or, [[Shorabil]], ShoorGel, NouShahr and Aloocheh that are the habitats of some species of water birds. The beautiful Lake Ne'or is located in a mountainous area 48 km south-east of the city of Ardabil. It covers an area of 2.1 km² and has an average depth of 3 metres. It is fed by springs in the lake bed. Lake [[Shorabil]] is located in a hilly area south of the city of Ardabil and covers an area of 640,000 m². The surface of the lake is covered with a thin white layer of minerals, being useful for healing skin diseases and rheumatism. Near the lake there is the leisure complex of [[Shorabil]]. *'''Baliqly Chay River :''' Meaning "a river with many fish" in Azarbayjani language, this river originates from the Sabalan Mountains and passes through Ardabil city. As a result, many villages and townships have settled around this river. It also irrigates much of the agricultural lands in this province. ---- ==Safavi== [[Image:Safavid Empire 1501–1722 (AD).PNG|300px|thumb|Safavid Empire at its Greatest Extent]] {{History of Greater Iran}} The '''Safavids''' ({{PerB|صفویان}}; {{lang-az|صفوی, Səfəvilər }}) were an [[Iran]]ian<ref>Helen Chapin Metz. Iran, a Country study. 1989. Original from the University of Michigan. pg 313. Emory C. Bogle. Islam: Origin and Belief. University of Texas Press. 1989. pg 145. Stanford Jay Shaw. History of the Ottomon Empire. Cambridge University Press. 1977. pg 77 </ref> [[Shia]] dynasty of mixed [[Azerbaijani people|Azeri]]<ref name="fryeiranica">[http://www.iranica.com/newsite/articles/v13f3/v13f3004a.html Encyclopaedia Iranica. R. N. Frye. Peoples of Iran.]</ref> and [[Kurdistan|Kurdish]]<ref name="R.M.">[http://www.iranica.com/newsite/articles/v8f1/v8f1010.html R.M. Savory. Ebn Bazzaz. Encyclopedia Iranica]</ref> origins, which ruled [[Persia]] from 1501/1502 to 1722. Safavids established the greatest Iranian empire<ref>Andrew J. Newman, Safavid Iran: Rebirth of a Persian Empire, I. B. Tauris (March 30, 2006)</ref> since the [[Islamic conquest of Persia]], and established the [[Twelvers|Ithnāˤashari school]] of [[Imamah (Shi'a twelver doctrine)|Shi'a Islam]]<ref name="savoryeiref"> R.M. Savory, ''Safavids'', [[Encyclopedia of Islam]], 2nd edition</ref> as the official [[religion]] of their empire, marking one of the most important turning points in the [[history of Islam]]. The Safavid dynasty had its origin in the [[Safaviya (sufi order)|"Safawiyyah"]] which was established in the city of [[Ardabil]] in the [[Iranian Azerbaijan|Azerbaijan]] region of [[Iran]]. From their base in [[Ardabil]], the Safavids established control over all of [[Persia]] and reasserted the [[Iranian culture|Iranian identity]] of the region<ref>''Why is there such confusion about the origins of this important dynasty, which reasserted Iranian identity and established an independent Iranian state after eight and a half centuries of rule by foreign dynasties?'' in R.M. Savory, Iran under the Safavids (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1980), page 3.</ref>, thus becoming the first native dynasty since the [[Sassanids]] to establish a unified Iranian state. Despite their demise in 1722, the Safavids have left their mark down to present era by establishing and spreading Shi'a Islam in major parts of the [[Caucasus]] and West Asia, especially in Iran. ==Background and Origin== Unlike many other dynasties founded by warlords and military chiefs, one of the unique aspects of the Safavids in the post-Islamic Iran was their origin in the Islamic [[Sufi]] order called the [[Safaviya (sufi order)|Safaviyeh]]. This uniqueness makes the Safavid dynasty comparable to the pre-Islamic [[Sassanid]] dynasty, which made Zoroastrianism into an official religion, and whose founders were from a priestly class. It should be noted that the [[Safaviya (sufi order)|Safaviyeh]] was not originally [[Shia]] but it was from the [[Shafii]] branch of Sunni Islam<ref>Hamdullah Mustaufi, a contemporary of Shaykh Safi al-Din remarks under Ardabil: They were also a mostly Scholar society and did not try to wage war. --- اکثر (مردم) بر مذهب شافعی اند، مرید شیخ صفی الدین علیه الرحمه اند The majority of the people are followers of Shafii sect and students of Shaykh Safi al-Din Ardabili (May God Bless him).</ref><ref name="Ira">Ira Marvin Lapidus, A History of Islamic Societies, Cambridge University Press, 2002. pg 233: "The Safavid movement, founded by Shaykh Safi al-Din (1252–1334), a Sunni Sufi religious teacher descendant from a Kurdish family in north-western Iran..</ref><ref>R.M. Savory, "Safavid Persia" in: Ann Katherine Swynford Lambton, Peter Malcolm Holt, Bernard Lewis, "The Cambridge History of Islam", Cambridge University Press, 1977. pg 394: "Such evidences we have seems to suggest that the family hailed from Kurdistan. What does seem certain is that the Safavids were of native Iranian stock, and spoke Azari, the form of Turkish used in Azerbaijan. Shaykh Safi al-Din the founder of the Safavid Tariqa was not a Shi'i (he was probably a Sunni of the Shafi'i Madhhab)</ref>. The Safavid dynasty was [[Azerbaijani language|Azerbaijani]] speaking but their father-line has been classified as [[Kurdish people|Kurdish]], [[Azerbaijani people|Azerbaijani]] and [[Arabic]] by various scholars. Nevertheless, what is certain is that the Safavids were a mixture of ethnic [[Azerbaijani]], Kurdish, and [[Greeks|Greek]]<ref>Roger Savory, "Iran Under the Safavids", p.18</ref> lines. The Safavid Kings themselves claimed to be [[Seyyed]]s<ref>In the Silsilat an-nasab-i Safawiya (composed during the reign of Shah Suleiman)(1667–1694), written by Shah Hussab ibn Abdal Zahidi, the ancestory of the Safavid is traced back to Hijaz and the first Shi'i Imam as follows: Shaykh Safi al-din Abul Fatah Eshaq ibn (son of) Shaykh Amin al-Din Jabrail ibn Qutb al-din ibn Salih ibn Muhammad al-Hafez ibn Awad ibn Firuz Shah Zarin Kulah ibn Majd ibn Sharafshah ibn Muhammad ibn Hasan ibn Seyyed Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn Seyyed Ja'afar ibn Seyyed Muhammad ibn Seyyed Isma'il ibn Seyyed Muhammad ibn Seyyed Ahmad 'Arabi ibn Seyyed Qasim ibn Seyyed Abul Qasim Hamzah ibn Musa al-Kazim ibn Ja'far As-Sadiq ibn Muhammad al-Baqir ibn Imam Zayn ul-'Abedin ibn Hussein ibn Ali ibn Abi Taleb Alayha as-Salam. There are differences between this and the oldest manuscript of Safwat as-Safa. Seyyeds have been added from Piruz Shah Zarin Kulah up to the first Shi'i Imam and the nisba "Al-Kurdi" has been excised. The title/name "Abu Bakr" (also the name of the first Caliph and highly regarded by Sunnis) is deleted from Qutb ad-Din's name. ُSource: Husayn ibn Abdāl Zāhidī, 17th cent. Silsilat al-nasab-i Safavīyah, nasabnāmah-'i pādishāhān bā ʻuzmat-i Safavī, ta'līf-i Shaykh Husayn pisar-i Shaykh Abdāl Pīrzādah Zāhidī dar 'ahd-i Shāh-i Sulaymnān-i Safavī. Berlīn, Chāpkhānah-'i Īrānshahr, 1343 (1924). 116 pages. Original Persian language source of the lineage: شیخ صفی الدین ابو الفتح اسحق ابن شیخ امین الدین جبرائیل بن قطب الدین ابن صالح ابن محمد الحافظ ابن عوض ابن فیروزشاه زرین کلاه ابن محمد ابن شرفشاه ابن محمد ابن حسن ابن سید محمد ابن ابراهیم ابن سید جعفر بن سید محمد ابن سید اسمعیل بن سید محمد بن سید احمد اعرابی بن سید قاسم بن سید ابو القاسم حمزه بن موسی الکاظم ابن جعفر الصادق ابن محمد الباقر ابن امام زین العابدین بن حسین ابن علی ابن ابی طالب علیه السلام </ref>, family descendants of the prophet [[Muhammad]], although many scholars have cast doubt on this claim<ref>R.M. Savory, "Safavid Persia" in: Ann Katherine Swynford Lambton, Peter Malcolm Holt, Bernard Lewis, "The Cambridge History of Islam", Cambridge University Press, 1977. pg 394: "They (Safavids after the establishment of the Safavid state) fabricated evidence to prove that the Safavids were Sayyids."</ref>. There seems now to be a consensus among scholars that the Safavid family hailed from Persian Kurdistan<ref name="savoryeiref"/>, and later moved to Azerbaijan, finally settling in the 5th/11th century at [[Ardabil]]. But even before their ascent to political power in the 15th century, the Safavids had become Turkic-speaking and used [[Azerbaijani language|Azerbaijani Turkish]] as a medium of communication with their followers<ref>[http://www.iranica.com/newsite/articles/v13f3/v13f3001d.html E. Yarshater ''Iran: The Safavid period'', Encyclopedia Iranica]</ref> as well the official language of their court. [[Image:Safwatsafa0001.jpg|thumb|right|100px|Excerpt from the Safvat Al-Safa, which describes the lineage of Shaykh Safi al-Din as being Kurdish]] ===Azerbaijani Turkic father-line=== According to Lawrence Davidson et al <ref>Lawrence Davidson and Arthur Goldschmidt. ''A Concise History of the Middle East'', Westview Press, 2005, p. , ISBN 0813342759</ref>: {{cquote|Even though most Turkish nomads and Persian peasants under the Safavid rule were Sunni, Ismail was determined to unite the country politically and religiously. Within a decade the Safavids, though Turkish by race, had taken control of all of Persia.}} According to [[Richard Frye]]<ref name="fryeiranica" />, {{cquote|The Turkish speakers of Azerbaijan (q.v.) are mainly descended from the earlier Iranian speakers, several pockets of whom still exist in the region. A massive migration of Oghuz Turks in the 11th and 12th centuries not only Turkified Azerbaijan but also Anatolia. Azeri Turks were the founders of Safavid dynasty}} Some other scholars have also claimed Azerbaijani origin<ref name="sonn">Tamara Sonn. ''A Brief History of Islam'', Blackwell Publishing, 2004, p. 83, ISBN 1405109009</ref><ref name = "csatoetal">É. Á. Csató, B. Isaksson, C. Jahani. ''Linguistic Convergence and Areal Diffusion: Case Studies from Iranian, Semitic and Turkic'', Routledge, 2004, p. 228, ISBN 0415308046</ref><ref>Tamara Sonn. A Brief History of Islam, Blackwell Publishing, 2004, p. 83, ISBN 1405109009</ref>. ---- ==Founding of the dynasty by Shāh Ismāil I== {{main|Ismail I}} {{Twelvers}} The Safavid ruling dynasty was founded by Ismāil, from now known as [[Shah Ismail I|Shāh Ismāil I.]]<ref name="ismailsafaviiranica">[http://www.iranica.com/newsite/articles/v8f6/v8f665.html Encyclopedia Iranica. ''ٍIsmail Safavi'']</ref> The language used by Shah Ismail is not identical with that of his "race" or "nationality" and he was bilingual at birth<ref name="Mino">V. Minorsky, The Poetry of Shah Ismail, Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, Vol. 10, No. 4. (1942), pp. 1053)</ref>. Ismāil was of mixed [[Turkic peoples|Turkic]], [[Iranian peoples|Iranic]], and [[Pontic Greeks|Pontik Greek]] descent<ref>[http://www.iranica.com/newsite/articles/v13f3/v13f3004a.html Encyclopaedia Iranica. R. N. Frye. Peoples of Iran.]</ref>, although others speculate that he was non-Turkic<ref name="Mino"/>, and was a direct descendant of [[Safi al-Din|Sheikh Safi al-Din]]. As such, he was the last in the line of hereditary Grand Masters of the Safaviyeh oder, prior to its ascent to a ruling dynasty. Ismāil was a brave and charismatic youth, zealous with regards to his [[Shi’a]] faith, and believed himself to be of divine descent. Practically worshipped by his [[Qizilbash|Qizilbāsh]] followers, Ismāil invaded Shirvan and avenged the death of his father. Afterwards, he went on a conquest campaign, capturing [[Tabriz]] in July 1501, where he enthroned himself the Shāh of Azerbaijan<ref>Richard Tapper. "Shahsevan in Safavid Persia", ''Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies'', University of London, Vol. 37, No. 3, 1974, p. 324</ref><ref>Lawrence Davidson, Arthur Goldschmid, "A Concise History of the Middle East", Westview Press, 2006, p. 153</ref><ref>[http://concise.britannica.com/ebc/article-9377424/Safavid-dynasty Britannica Concise. "Safavid Dynasty", Online Edition 2007]</ref> and minted coins in his name, proclaiming Shi’ism the official religion of his domain<ref name="savoryeiref" />. Although initially the masters of Azerbaijan only, the Safavids had, in fact, won the struggle for power in Persia which had been going on for nearly a century between various dynasties and political forces. A year after his victory in Tabriz, Ismāil proclaimed most of Persia as his domain<ref name="savoryeiref" />, and within 10 years established a complete control over all of it, showing extraordinary valor in battle. Ismāil continued to expand his territory adding [[Hamadan]] in 1503, [[Shiraz, Iran|Shiraz]] and [[Kerman]] in 1504, [[Najaf]] and [[Karbala]] in 1507, [[Van Province|Van]] in 1508, [[Baghdad]] in 1509, and [[Herat]], as well as other parts of [[Greater Khorasan|Khorasan]], in 1510. By 1511, the [[Uzbeks]] in the north-east, led by their Khan [[Muhammad Shaybani|Muhammad Shaybāni]], were driven across the [[Oxus River]] where they continued to attack the Safavids. His decisive victory over the Uzbeks, who had occupied most of Khorasan, ensured Iran’s eastern borders and the Uzbeks never since expanded beyond the [[Hindukush]]. Although the Uzbeks continued to make occasional raids to Khorasan, the Safavid empire throughout their whole reign was able to keep them at bay. ==== Clashes with the Ottomans ==== {{main|Battle of Chaldiran|Qizilbash}} More problematic for the Safavids was the powerful [[Ottoman Empire]]. The Ottomans, a [[Sunni]] dynasty, considered the active recruitment of Turkmen tribes of Anatolia for the Safavid cause as a major threat. To counter the rising Safavid power, in 1502, [[Bayezid II|Sultan Bayezid II]] forcefully deported many Shi'as from Anatolia to other parts of the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] realm. In 1514, [[Bayezid II|Bayezid]]'s son, Sultan [[Selim I]] marched through Anatolia and reached the plain of Chaldiran near the city of [[Khoy]], and a decisive war was fought there. Most sources agree that the Ottoman army was at least double the size of that of [[Shah Ismail I|Ismāil]]<ref name="ismailsafaviiranica" />, however, what gave the Ottomans the advantage was the artillery which the Safavid army lacked. According to R. M. Savory, ''"Salim's plan was to winter at Tabriz and complete the conquest of Persia the following spring. However, a mutiny among his officers who refused to spend the winter at Tabriz forced him to withdraw across territory laid waste by the Safavid forces, eight days later"''<ref name="ismailsafaviiranica" />. Although Ismāil was defeated and his capital was captured, the Safavid empire survived. The war between the two powers continued under Ismāil's son, [[Tahmasp I|Shāh Tahmāsp I]] (q.v.), and the Ottoman Sultan [[Suleiman I]], until Shāh Abbās (q.v.) retook the area lost to the Ottomans by 1602. The consequences of the defeat at Chaldiran were also psychological for Ismāil: the defeat destroyed Ismāil's belief in his invincibility, based on his claimed divine status<ref name="savoryeiref" />. His relationships with his Qizilbāsh followers were also fundamentally altered. The tribal rivalries between the Qizilbāsh, which temporarily ceased before the defeat at Chaldiran, resurfaced in intense form immediately after the death of Ismāil, and led to ten years of civil war (930-40/1524-33) until Shāh Tahmāsp regained control of the affairs of the state. Early Safavid power in Iran was based on the military power of the Qizilbāsh. Ismāil exploited the first element to seize power in Iran. But eschewing politics after his defeat in Chaldiran, he left the affairs of the government to the office of the Wakīl (q.v.). Ismāil's successors, and most ostensibly Shāh Abbās I successfully diminished the Qizilbāsh's influence on the affairs of the state. ==== Ismāil's poetry ==== Ismāil is also known for his poetry using the pen-name Khatāī (Arabic خطائی: sinner)<ref name="ismailsafaviiranica" />. He is considered an important figure in the literary history of [[Azerbaijani language|Azerbaijani]] and has left approximately 1400 verses in this language, which he chose to use for political reasons, as most of his followers at the time spoke Turkmen Turkish<ref name="Mino"/>. Approximately 50 verses of his [[Persian poetry]] have also survived. According to [[Encyclopædia Iranica]], ''"Ismail was a skillful poet who used prevalent themes and images in lyric and didactic-religious poetry with ease and some degree of originality".'' He was also deeply influenced by the [[Persian literature|Persian literary tradition]] of Iran, particularly by the "[[Shahnameh|Shāhnāma]]" of [[Ferdowsi]], which probably explains the fact that he named all of his sons after Shāhnāma-characters. Dickson and Welch suggest that Ismāil's "Shāhnāmaye Shāhī" was intended as a present to the young Tahmāsp<ref>M.B. Dickson and S.C. Welch, ''The Houghton Shahnameh'' 2 vols (Cambridge Mmssachusetts and London. 1981. See: pg 34 of Volume I)</ref>. After defeating Muhammad Shaybāni's Uzbeks, Ismāil asked Hātefī, a famous poet from [[Ghor Province|Jam (Khorasan)]], to write a Shāhnāma-like epic about his victories and his newly established dynasty. Although the epic was left unfinished, it was an example of ''[[mathnawi]]s'' in the heroic style of the Shāhnāma written later on for the Safavid kings<ref name="savoryeiref" />. ==== Legacy ==== Ismāil's greatest legacy established an enduring empire which lasted over 200 years. Even after the fall of Safavids in 1722, their cultural and political influence endured through the era of [[Afsharid dynasty|Afsharid]], [[Zand dynasty|Zand]], [[Qajar]], and [[Pahlavi dynasty|Pahlavi]] dynasties into the modern [[Islamic Republic of Iran]], where [[Shi’a|Shi’a Islam]] is still the official religion as it was during the Safavids. ==== Political scene in Persia prior to Ismāil's rule ==== After the decline of the [[Timurid Empire]] (1370–1506), there were many local states prior to the Iranian state established by Ismāil.<ref>The writer Ṛūmlu documented the most important of them in his history.</ref> The most important local rulers about 1500 were: * [[Husayn Bayqarah|Huṣayn Bāyqarā]], the [[Timurid dynasty|Timurid]] ruler of [[Herat|Herāt]] * Alwand Mīrzā, the [[Aq Qoyunlu]] [[Khan (title)|Khan]] of [[Tabriz|Tabrīz]] * Murad Beg, [[Aq Qoyunlu]] ruler of Irāq al-Ajam * [[Farrukh Yassar|Farro<u>kh</u> Yaṣar]], the [[Shirvanshah|Shah of Širvan]] * Badi Alzamān Mīrzā, local ruler of [[Balkh|Bal<u>kh</u>]] * Huṣayn Kīā Chalavī, the local ruler of [[Semnan|Semnān]] * Murād Beg Bayandar, local ruler of [[Yazd]] Ismāil was able to unite all these lands under the Iranian Empire he created. ---- ==Safavid Shahs of Iran== [[Image:Shah Ismail I.jpg|thumb|160 px|Shah Ismail I, the founder of the Safavid State. Medieval European rendering]] Safavi Line *[[Ismail I]] 1501&ndash;1524 *[[Tahmasp I]] 1524&ndash;1576 *[[Ismail II]] 1576&ndash;1578 *[[Mohammed Khodabanda]] 1578&ndash;1587 *[[Abbas I (Shah of Persia)|Abbas I]] 1587&ndash;1629 *[[Safi of Persia|Safi]] 1629&ndash;1642 *[[Abbas II of Persia|Abbas II]] 1642&ndash;1666 Kulliye-Safavi Line *[[Abbas II of Persia]] 1670 From his descendants come the noble dynasty of Bigvand Kulyai[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kulliye]( Beghvan Külliye)Kurdistan region of Iran Songur-Kolyai. Surviving execution attempts by Abbas II and escaping from captivity *[[Suleiman I of Persia|Suleiman I]] 1666&ndash;1694 *[[Husayn (Safavid)|Sultan Hoseyn I]] 1694&ndash;1722 *[[Tahmasp II]] 1722&ndash;1726 First Time. Marashi-Safavi Line *[[Shah Ahmad Marashi]] 1726&ndash;1728 Safavi Line *[[Tahmasp II]] 1728&ndash;1732 *[[Abbas III]] 1732&ndash;1736 Marashi-Safavi Line *[[Suleiman II of Persia|Suleiman II]] 1749&ndash;1750 Sultani-Safavi Line *[[Ismail III]] 1750 First Time Unknown House (Probably Qajar-Safavi) *[[Mohammad Hossain Shah III]] 1750 &ndash;1752 in Mazandaran. Deposed 1757. Sultani-Safavi Line *[[Ismail III]] 1752&ndash;1761 Second Time Unknown-Sultani-Safavi Line *[[Mohammad Shah]] 1786 He married the daughter of Ismail III and was installed by Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar Quyunlu. From his descendants come the Beys of Tunisia (through his daughter). Source of Data: Royalark ==[[Sabalan]]== ::''For the Iranian Frigate Sabalan see: [[Iranian frigate Sabalan]].'' [[Sabalan]] (in [[Persian language|Persian]] سبلان ''Sabalân'' ;also called ''Sāvālān'' in [[Azerbaijani language|Azerbaijani]]) is an inactive [[stratovolcano]] in [[Ardabil province]]. Sabalan is the third highest mountain in Iran and a permanent [[crater lake]] has formed at the summit. Sabalan has a [[ski resort]] (Alvares) and different tourist areas such as the [[Sarein]] spa. The mountain is known for its beautiful vistas, including the Shirvan gorge, where few climbers ever venture. [[Image:Sabalan01.JPG |right|left|240px|Crater lake of Sabalan]] ==[[Aras River]]== The '''Aras''' (also known as '''Araks''', '''Arax''', '''Araxi''', '''Araxes''', '''Araz''', or '''Yeraskh'''; {{lang-hy|Արաքս}}, {{lang-fa| ارس}}, {{lang-tr|Aras}}, {{lang-az|Araz}}, {{lang-ku|Aras or Araz}}; {{lang-ru|Аракс}}) is a river located in and along the countries of [[Turkey]], [[Armenia]], [[Iran]], and [[Azerbaijan]]. Its total length is 1,072 kilometers (665 miles). Given its length and a basin that covers an area of 102,000 km², it is one of the largest rivers of the [[Caucasus]]. ---- ==[[Sarein]]== '''Sarein''' or Sareyn is a small city near [[Ardabil]] in the northwest of Iran. Its geographic coordinates are 38°09′N 48°04′E. Sarein is very famous because of its hot springs. The population is about 8000, and increases to more than 20000 in the summer because of the many tourists who go there due to the charming climate. It stands 28 km from [[Ardabil]] and total area is 1280000 meter-square. sarein springs is near inactive valcano in that area and have been created after local earthquakes (recently in 1990s)and its water contains sulfur particles and it is believed that it is good for bone pains. The word Sarein in the Azari dictionary means "Spring". The climate and hot springs are the first attractions to tourists who travel to this region from different parts of Iran and the world. ---- ===Colleges and universities=== [[Ardabil University of Medical Sciences]]<br /> [[Mohaghegh Ardabili University]]<br /> Islamic Azad University of Ardabil <br /> Payam Noor University of Ardabil <br /> Soureh University of Ardabil <br /> Islamic Azad University of Khalkhal<br /> ==Famous Ardabilis== [[Image:The mausoleums of Sheikh Safi.jpg|thumb|180px|The mausoleum of Sheikh [[Safi Al-Din|Safi-ad-Din-e-Ardabili]]]] ===Clergy&Religious:=== *[[Abdolkarim Mousavi Ardabili]], Iranian politician. *[[Ali Meshkini]],Iranian politician. *[[Rahim Moazzen Zadeh Ardabili]], son and successor of Abdul Karim Moazzen Zadeh Ardabili, recorded his famous [[Azaan]] in 1955 *[[Safi Al-Din]] Ardabili, Spiritual leader in 13th century. *[[Sadegh Khalkhali]],Iranian Islamists ===Sport:=== *[[Abdollah Movahed]], Men’s Freestyle Wrestling. *[[Ali Daei]], [[football (soccer)|football]] player *[[Azar Majidinazif]], Most Famous Weight Lifting In Iran & United State & World. *[[Hossein Reza Zadeh]], [[weightlifter]] and the current world record holder in the sport. *[[Mojtaba Jabbari]],player football. *[[Yadollah Akbari]],player football. *[[Yahya Golmohammadi]], football player. ===Art&Music:=== *[[Akbar Abdi]], actor in Iranian cinema. *[[Ali salimi]], musician, composer and player of Azeri [[Tar (lute)]] . Composer of the song[http://www.azeri.org/Azeri/az_latin/latin_music/salimi_ali/ayrilig_az/ayrilig_azeri.html "Ayrilig"]. *[[Aref (Aref Arefkia)|Aref]], Iranian pop singer. *[[Manochehr Cheshmazar]],musician, composer.He was born in Ardabil. *[[Nasser Cheshmazar]],musician, composer.He was born in Ardabil.('''www.nassercheshmazar.com''') *[[Nasrollah Nasehpoor]],singer in iranian classical vocalists. *[[Rasool mollagholipoor]],Film director. *[[Rubabe muradova]], opera, folk singer [[Maqam]] (she born in 21 March 1930 in Ardabil).'''The Great singer in [[Mugam]].''' ===Scientist:=== *[[Al-Djarrah ibn Abdullah]] *[[Elahi Ardabili]],scholarly. *[[Lotfi A. Zadeh]], Mathematician and computer scientist, and a professor of computer science at the University of [[California]], [[Berkeley]]. *[[Mehriban Aliyeva]],wife of the current president of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador (her father ,[[Mir Jalal Pashayev]],was originally from Ardabil). ===Poet& Writer:=== *[[Baba Safari]],historian. *[[Beiza Ardabili]],Poet in shi'a. *[[Ibne Bazzaz|Ibn Bazzaz Ardabili]], author of the Saafwat al saafa (a biography of [[Safi-ad-din Ardabili|Shaikh Safi-ad-din Ardabili]] <ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last=SAVORY |first=ROGER | title=EBN BAZZAÚZ | encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Iranica | accessdate=2008-02-07|url=http://www.iranica.com/newsite/articles/v8f1/v8f1010.html}}</ref>) *[[Madina Gulgun]],Azerbaijani poetess. *[[Mir Jalal Pashayev]],writer and literary critic. *[[Sadaddin Varavini]],He is translator of [[Marzban Nameh]] in 7th/13th century .He was born in [[meshkin shahr]] in Ardabil Province. *[[Sadrol Mamalek Ardabili]],writer. *[[Shams Attar Ardabili]],poemer. ===Politicians and reformists:=== *[[Babak Khorramdin]], ancient revolutionary leader fighting the [[Abbasid Caliphate]] in Iran. *Bahram Ardabili and [[Roham|Roham Ardabili]],heroes of Ardabil in [[Shahnameh]]. In [[Vis o Ramin]]: <blockquote> چو بهرام ورهام اردبیلی، گشسب دیلمی,شاپور گیلی </blockquote> *[[Haj Baba Khan-e- Ardabili]],Hero of [[Iranian Constitutional Revolution]] in Tehran & Tabriz & Ardabil. *[[Ismail I]], founder of the [[Safavid dynasty]]. *[[Jaber Ehdaie]], Prominent Economist with the World Bank. *[[Jafar Pishevari]],The founder and chairman of separatist and [[communist]] ''[[Azerbaijan People's Government]]'', created and supported by [[USSR|Soviet]] occupational forces in north-western [[Iran]]. *[[Rahman Dadman]],Former Minister of Roads and Transportation of Iran,he was born in 1957 in Ardabil. *[[Sayyid hossein Ardabili]],member of [[Iranian Constitutional Revolution|Demokrat party]] in Tehran and mashhad. ''For a complete list see: [[List of people from Ardabil]]'' ---- ==Gray-bearded man in basic quarters Ardabil(بزرگان وریش سفیدان مرحوم شده محلات 6گانه اردبیل در دهه 50-40 شمسی)== *'''Mir Baba Raeisi''', He was grey-bearded in mosque ochdokan(اوچدوکان) in 1963-1973 (Deceased). *'''Mohammad Berenji''', He was grey-bearded in mosque Pir Abdolmalek(پیرعبدالملک)in 1963-1973 (Deceased). *'''Dadash Sayyad Zadeh''',He was grey-bearded in mosque mosque onchimeidan(اونچی میدان)in 1963-1973 (Deceased). *'''Morteza Deljo''',He was grey-bearded in mosque Sarcheshmeh(چشمه باشی)in 1963-1973 (Deceased). *'''Karbalaei Habibollah Ravaghi Ardabili''',He was grey-bearded & reliable in mosque Sarcheshmeh(چشمه باشی)in 1963-1973 (Deceased). *'''Mohammad Ali khan Abizadeh&Shakeri & hezhabri''',He was grey-bearded in mosque Alighapu(عالی قاپو)in 1963-1973 (Deceased). == Major Hotels == *'''Hotel Darya''' *'''Sabalan Hotel''' *'''Hotel Sheikh Safi''' *'''Hotel Kosar''' ==Economy== The economy of Ardabil is partially agricultural, partially tourist based, with some industries in operation. The Iranian government in 2006 announced plans to build "the largest textile factory of its kind in the Middle East" in Ardabil.<ref>[http://www.payvand.com/news/06/jan/1190.html Huge textile factory, largest in Middle East to become operational in Ardebil<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> [[Arta Industrial Group]] (AIG) has one of the largest textile conglomerates in Iran.which is located in the provinces called [[Qazvin]] and Ardabil. The group has received numerous awards for being one of the top 20 exporters and industrial groups in Iran since 1998. It is the first company to produce [[HDF]] (high-density fiberboard) ,[[MDF]] (medium-density fiberboard) , [[laminate]], [[flooring]] and multi layer films in Iran. AIG has the first private industrial site in [[Iran]] in the city of Ardabil, which has fifteen main factories owned by (AIG). This Industrial zone covers an area of 100 hectares and Residential Area for engineers and managers of the company. '''Major Industries''' *http://www.vata.ir/ *http://www.novinsabalan.com/web/site/home/home.aspx?la=fa *http://www.goldstoneir.com/persian/index.php *http://www.sabalangroup.com/ *http://www.ardebilcement.com/ *http://www.neopanekhalkhal.com/ *http://www.kiyanbrick.ir/ ==Music== {{main|Music of Iran}} {{seealso|Music of Azerbaijan}} {{Azeris}} '''Music of Azerbaijan''' includes various arrays of styles that reflect influences from the musics of the [[Music of the Caucasus|Caucasus]], [[music of Central Asia|Central Asia]], and [[music of Iran|Iran]]. ==See also== *[[Azerbaijani people]] *[[Iranian origin of the Azerbaijanis]] * [[Azarbaijan]] * [[Azerbaijani literature]] * [[Iranian Azeris]] * [[Oghuz Turks]] * [[Constitutional Revolution of Iran| Constitutional Revolution]] * [[List of Azerbaijanis]] * [[History of the name Azerbaijan]] *[[Azerbaijani culture]] ===Photo Gallery of Ardabil === <center> <gallery> <!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: Image:Artavil-045rrr2w.jpg‎ |Sheikh Safi carpet-01(In victoria museum in london) --> <!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: Image:Artavil-023.jpg‎|sample of Ardabil rug-02 --> Image:Dast.jpg|An etched figure of a giant hand , in [[Safi-ad-din Ardabili]] Mausoleum, showing [[Twelver]] [[Shi'a]] sign of five masūms (infallible) " of "''Al-e-Abba''", Ardabil <!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: Image:Artavil-0131.jpg‎ |Ardabil carpet-03 --> </gallery> </center> == References == <references/> == External links == *[http://lexicorient.com/cgi-bin/eo-direct-frame.pl?http://i-cias.com/e.o/ardabil.htm Encyclopedia of Orient About Ardabil] *[http://www.irancaravan.com/Ardabil.htm Ardabil-Iran Carvan Tourism] *[http://www.ardabilcity.ir/ Municipality of Ardabil] *[http://www.shura-ardabil.org/ Ardabil City Council] *[http://ardebilnews.blogfa.com A Persian blog about Ardabil] * http://www.iranchamber.com * http://www.nassercheshmazar.com * http://www.ardabil.info * http://www.irantour.org/Iran/province/ardabil.html. * http://www.infohub.com/pictures/images_ardabil_4477.html * http://www.ardabil.org * http://www.travelpost.com/ME/Iran/Ardabil/Ardabil/6795049 * http://www.greatestcities.com/Middle_East/Iran/Ardabil_city.html * http://www.britannica.com/eb/topic-33282/Ardabil-Carpet * http://accuweather.com/...&traveler=0&loccode=MEA|IR|IR001|ARDABIL| * http://flickr.com/search/?q=Ardabil&s=int * http://www.travel-images.com/az-ardebil.html * http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-city/Iran/Ardabil/tpod.html * http://www.world66.com/asia/middleeast/iran/ardabil * http://www.uma.ac.ir * http://www.arums.ac.ir * http://www.iauardabil.ac.ir/ * http://www.ardebilcement.com * http://www.ostan-ar.ir * http://www.ardabilmiras.ir * http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Ardebil.html * http://www.azerb.com/az-ardebil.html * http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Middle_East/Iran/West/Ardebil/ * http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day.shtml?world=2040 '''(weather of Ardabil in BBC site)''' * http://www.accuweather.com/world-forecast-hourly.asp?partner=accuweather&traveler=0&locCode=MEA|IR|IR001|ARDABIL&metric=1 * http://artavilnews.blogfa.com/post-10.aspx * http://www.rssweather.com/icao/OITL/wx.php * http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=ardabil * https://www.infohub.com/Maps/ardabil_map_4477.html * http://www.travelpost.com/ME/Iran/Ardabil/Ardabil/map/6795049 * http://www.infohub.com/pictures/images_ardabil_4477.html * http://www.flightstats.com/go/Airport/weather.do?airportCode=ADU * http://www.hotel.net/ardabil * http://www.tehrantrip.com/PicArdebil.htm * http://fz-az.fotopages.com/?entry=1325133 * http://prayer.aviny.com/city_time.aspx?Code=26&Y=1387&M=4&D=14 * http://www.worldcitydb.com/ardabil_in_iran,_islamic_republic_of_state.html * http://aftab.ir/english/iran/ah09.php * http://www.metroroommates.com/city_rentals/Ardabil_Rentals.asp * http://www.gsi.ir/geoturism/en/state/Ardabil/ * http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2532020190030488180wnObzI * http://www.kassaco.com/Tourism/Ardabil.htm * http://www.irantouronline.com/ardabil/natural-attractions/index.php ---- [[Category:Cities, towns and villages in Ardabil Province]] [[Category:Iranian provincial capitals]] [[Category:People from Ardabil]] [[Category:Iranian provincial capitals]] [[ar:أردبيل]] [[az:Ərdəbil]] [[da:Ardabil]] [[de:Ardabil (Stadt)]] [[es:Ardebil]] [[eu:Ardabil (hiria)]] [[fa:اردبیل]] [[fr:Ardabil]] [[gl:Ardebil - اردبیل]] [[hi:आर्दबील]] [[id:Ardabil]] [[he:ארדביל]] [[nl:Ardebil]] [[pl:Ardabil (miasto)]] [[pt:Ardabil]] [[ro:Ardabil]] [[ru:Ардебиль]] [[fi:Ardabil]] [[sv:Ardabil]] [[tg:Ардабел]] [[tr:Erdebil]] [[uk:Ардебіль]]