Tafresh
Encyclopedia
Tafresh is a city in and the capital of Tafresh County
, Markazi Province
, Iran
. At the 2006 census, its population was 13,914, in 4,254 families.
Tafresh is located amidst high mountains 222 kilometres (137.9 mi) southwest of Tehran
. Tafresh is an old city and formed a Zoroastrian stronghold for many years.
Tafresh provided Iran with many notable figures such as ministers, statesmen, scientists, calligraphers etc. Professor Mahmoud Hessaby
, the father of modern physics in Iran, Ahmad Parsa
, the father of Iranian botanics, Abbas Sahab, the father of Iranian geography and Abdolkarim Qarib, the father of Iran's geology, were all Tafreshi. Because of this, Tafresh has received the nickname "City of Iran's Fathers".
It is believed that in Sassanian times, Zoroastrianism
was the state religion and was threatened by Islam
, an army warrior called Delaram
made a resistance force for the Zoroastrians in Tafresh. One of the villages in Tafresh was called Delaram after this army warrior, however after Islamic conquest of Persia
, the name Teraran
was given to it. Teraran means 'The Thieves' in Middle Persian
.
Today there are still many remaining of zoroastrian strongholds in and around the town, particularly on the summits of the surrounding mountains and hills also remaining of the Zoroastrians graveyards can be seen at Tafresh.
Tafresh is made of many villages among which one can name Sarabadan.
, Tafresh Azad University
and the Tafresh branch of the Payame Noor University
. Tafresh City is situated in Tafresh County
.
or other main cities of Iran
. Some of the summer resorts around Tafresh are Teraran
(Delaram), Shahchenar and Naqusan. The Ab Garrau spa is a touristic place around Tafresh. Tourists of the villages usually visit them in the summer.
Tafresh County
Tafresh County is a county in Markazi Province in Iran. The capital of the county is Tafresh. At the 2006 census, the county's population was 46,680, in 14,313 families; excluding those portions, the population was 23,938, in 7,647 families. The county has one district: the Central District...
, Markazi Province
Markazi Province
Markazi Province is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. The word markazi means central in Persian. Markazi lies in western Iran. Its capital is Arak. Its population is estimated at 1.35 million...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. At the 2006 census, its population was 13,914, in 4,254 families.
Tafresh is located amidst high mountains 222 kilometres (137.9 mi) southwest of Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
. Tafresh is an old city and formed a Zoroastrian stronghold for many years.
Tafresh provided Iran with many notable figures such as ministers, statesmen, scientists, calligraphers etc. Professor Mahmoud Hessaby
Mahmoud Hessaby
Sayyed Mahmoud Hessaby was a prominent Iranian scientist, researcher and distinguished professor of University of Tehran...
, the father of modern physics in Iran, Ahmad Parsa
Ahmad Parsa
Ahmad Parsa was an Iranian botanist. After obtaining his doctorate in France, he returned to Iran and became the first modern professor of Botany at Tehran in 1933. He helped establish a natural history museum with a herbarium in Tehran in 1954. He was originally from Tafresh in central Iran...
, the father of Iranian botanics, Abbas Sahab, the father of Iranian geography and Abdolkarim Qarib, the father of Iran's geology, were all Tafreshi. Because of this, Tafresh has received the nickname "City of Iran's Fathers".
It is believed that in Sassanian times, Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism is a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of prophet Zoroaster and was formerly among the world's largest religions. It was probably founded some time before the 6th century BCE in Greater Iran.In Zoroastrianism, the Creator Ahura Mazda is all good, and no evil...
was the state religion and was threatened by Islam
Islamic conquest of Persia
The Muslim conquest of Persia led to the end of the Sassanid Empire in 644, the fall of Sassanid dynasty in 651 and the eventual decline of the Zoroastrian religion in Persia...
, an army warrior called Delaram
Delaram
Delaram is a city and a district in western Afghanistan. It is a major transportation center, with several major road converging on the area, including Highway 1 known as the Ring Road, Route 515 to Farah City, Route 522 to Gulistan and Route 606 to Iran. The district center contains a large...
made a resistance force for the Zoroastrians in Tafresh. One of the villages in Tafresh was called Delaram after this army warrior, however after Islamic conquest of Persia
Islamic conquest of Persia
The Muslim conquest of Persia led to the end of the Sassanid Empire in 644, the fall of Sassanid dynasty in 651 and the eventual decline of the Zoroastrian religion in Persia...
, the name Teraran
Teraran
Teraran or Delaram is a village in Tafresh area in Markazi province of Iran.Teraran is a summer resort and its main cultivation is walnut.Main families of Teraran are Parsa, Qavamzadeh, Karimi and Anushiravani....
was given to it. Teraran means 'The Thieves' in Middle Persian
Middle Persian
Middle Persian , indigenously known as "Pârsig" sometimes referred to as Pahlavi or Pehlevi, is the Middle Iranian language/ethnolect of Southwestern Iran that during Sassanid times became a prestige dialect and so came to be spoken in other regions as well. Middle Persian is classified as a...
.
Today there are still many remaining of zoroastrian strongholds in and around the town, particularly on the summits of the surrounding mountains and hills also remaining of the Zoroastrians graveyards can be seen at Tafresh.
Tafresh is made of many villages among which one can name Sarabadan.
Universities
Three universities are situated in Tafresh, namely the Tafresh branch of the Tafresh UniversityTafresh University
Tafresh University , formerly named Tafresh Amir Kabir University of Technology is a educational university located in Tafresh, Iran. Now, about 3,000 students are studying in this university....
, Tafresh Azad University
Tafresh Azad University
Islamic Azad University - Tafresh Branch is a branch of Iran's Islamic Azad Universities. It is situated in the city of Tafresh 222 kilometers southwest of Tehran. This university with more than 3000 students and more than 100 professors provides 20 different majors.-External links:**...
and the Tafresh branch of the Payame Noor University
Payame Noor University
Payame Noor University is a state distance education university with the headquarters based in Tehran, 30 provincial centers, 485 local study centers and campuses all around the country and one International Study Center located in the headquarters...
. Tafresh City is situated in Tafresh County
Tafresh County
Tafresh County is a county in Markazi Province in Iran. The capital of the county is Tafresh. At the 2006 census, the county's population was 46,680, in 14,313 families; excluding those portions, the population was 23,938, in 7,647 families. The county has one district: the Central District...
.
Village Life
Although many people live in Tafresh, its numbers are decreasing as many leave Tafresh to go and live in TehranTehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
or other main cities of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. Some of the summer resorts around Tafresh are Teraran
Teraran
Teraran or Delaram is a village in Tafresh area in Markazi province of Iran.Teraran is a summer resort and its main cultivation is walnut.Main families of Teraran are Parsa, Qavamzadeh, Karimi and Anushiravani....
(Delaram), Shahchenar and Naqusan. The Ab Garrau spa is a touristic place around Tafresh. Tourists of the villages usually visit them in the summer.
Notables
- Mehran ModiriMehran ModiriMehran Modiri in Tehran, Iran) is a prolific Iranian actor, television director and musician. His artistic career began in his teenage years as he was acting in local plays...
is originally from Tafresh, director and actor. - Amir KabirAmir KabirAmir Kabir , also known as Mirza Taghi Khan Amir-Nezam , also known by the titles of Atabak and Amir-e Nezam; chief minister to Naser al-Din Shah Qajar for the first three years of his reign and one of the most capable and innovative figures to appear in the whole Qajar period...
is from Tafresh, Prime Minister of Iran. - Ali Mansour is originally from Tafresh, Prime Minister of Iran.
- Prof. Dr. Mahmoud Hessaby is originally from Tafresh.
- Babak Tafreshi, science journalist, photographer.
- Fereydoun FarrokhzadFereydoun FarrokhzadFereydoun Farrokhzad PhD. was an Iranian singer, actor, poet, TV and radio host, writer, and political opposition activist. He was the younger brother of the acclaimed Persian poet Forough Farrokhzad....
,Singer ,Tv Host. - Javad H Tafreshi, Science Educator, Lepidopterist and Biologist
- AbolHasan Tafreshi, School Manager
- Prof. Dr. Kabir Sadeghi from Tafresh is Founder of ICOPMAS, Founder of Iran Marine & Offshore Structures Code and Standard, Author of the First Marine & Offshore Structures Book in Iran, Oil/gas Management Director & Professor of University in The American University of Cyprus