Persian Potsherd, on Top 10 Discovery List

TEHRAN (Press TV) -- The Archeology Magazine has listed an inscribed piece of Persian pottery as one of the most exciting discoveries of the year 2009.
The potsherd, which bears a black Persian inscription belonging to the 11th-century Persian poet Omar Khayyam, was found during excavations in the Old City of Jerusalem (Al-Quds).
Found by an archeology team from the Israel Antiquities Authority, the artifact is treated with a turquoise glaze and adorned with floral patterns.
The piece dates back to the 12th-13th centuries CE and its black inscription makes it the first of its kind to have been found in Jerusalem(Al-Quds).
The inscription was translated by Dr. Julia Rabanovich of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Al-Quds) as, "Was once the embrace of a lover that entreat."
According to Rivka Cohen-Amin of the Israel Antiquities Authority, the line belongs to The Rubaiyat, a collection of quatrains (four-line poems) by Persian poet, mathematician and astronomer, Omar Khayyam.
Lord of Ucupe (Peru), first domesticated horses (Kazakhstan), early irrigators (US), Anglo-Saxon hoard (the UK), Popol Vuh relief (Guatemala), world's first zoo (Egypt), Iron Age priestesses (Crete), earliest chemical warfare (Syria) and palace of Mithradates (Russia) are the other exciting discoveries selected by The Archeology Magazine.
Venice view : A parcel lies in flooded St. Mark's Square in Venice. Floodwaters drenched most of Venice reaching a record 143 centimetres (56 inches) for the year, authorities said.-Courtesy : AFP


Fajr Theater Festival to Hold Poster Exhibit

TEHRAN (MNA) -- A collection of posters concerning festivals and seminars on theaters as well as performances will be showcased on the sideline of the 28th Fajr International Theater Festival.
The posters created over the past two years will be put on display at the Iranian Artists Forum from January 22 until 31.
The organizers of the festival also plan to award a number of the designers of the posters.
A jury comprising Ali Rafiei, Bahram, Kalhornia, Kurosh Parsanejad, and Ebrahim Hosseini will announce winners.
The poster exhibition section was first held during the 25th edition of the festival in 2007, but it has been halted for two years.


Ferdowsi Symphony to Be Recorded in Ukraine

TEHRAN (Press TV) -- Iranian composer Shahin Farhat says his Ferdowsi Symphony will be recorded with the Ukraine National Symphony Orchestra in the spring.
The symphony, which is Farhat's latest national symphony, will be played by the Ukraine National Symphony Orchestra and recorded in late spring 2010.
"I have already finished composing the first movement and since Ferdowsi shows a range of various emotions in his works, I have tried to find a central emotional theme for the whole work," Farhat told Fars News Agency.
Known as Iran's most famous epic poet, Ferdowsi is revered for his efforts to regenerate Persian cultural traditions.
He is best known for his magnum opus Shahnameh, or 'Book of Kings,' for which he devoted over 35 years of his life. The book abounds with depictions of the Persian Empire, neatly presented within the beautiful poetry.
"The Ferdowsi Symphony also introduces various 'Shahnameh' characters with their distinctive personality traits," Farhat explained.
"Rostam is presented with his unique grandeur and Siavash with his pride," he said.
"I have even used Simorgh [mythical Persian bird similar to phoenix] to show ideal humanistic ideas."
Shahin Farhat has composed many religious and national symphonies, including Imam Reza (PBUH), Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), Iran, Persian Gulf, Damavand, Iranian Lady and Tehran symphonies.


Dastan to Perform in Europe During Noruz

TEHRAN (MNA) -- The Dastan ensemble by vocalist Salar Aqili will be giving performances during Noruz in Austria and Germany.
The band is scheduled to play their latest pieces, a selection from their album “In the Name of Rose”, musician member Saeid Farajpuri said.
The performances will take place on March 27 and 28 in Austria and Germany, after which the band will perform in Sweden, the Netherlands and Belgium.
“Dance of Fire”, “The Morning” and “Melody of Prologue” are among the pieces to be performed, he added.
Pejman Haddadi, Behnam Samani, Hossein Behruznia, and Hamid Motabassem are the other members of the ensemble.


Book on S. Korean Cinema’s New Wave Ready for Publication

TEHRAN (MNA) -- Iranian film critic and playwright Chista Yasrebi has penned a research treatise on South Korean cinema’s new wave.
Entitled “The Little Boy in Search of Yellow Color”, the book contains three years of research by Yasrebi on Korean cinema that looks at the career path of the South Korean actor Joo Jin Mo.
The book reviews the Korean films’ box office success within the country as well as worldwide and the films’ structure and theme.
She watched 70 films from Korean New Wave cinema, which included examining their aesthetic elements, Yasrebi told the Persian service of ISNA.
“My motivation was finding the reason why good Iranian film scripts are not successful box office draws,” she told the Persian Service of ISNA.
The 480-page illustrated book will be released by Namira Publications and will be available in Iranian bookstores in the near future.


Cancer Protects Against Alzheimer's Disease

TEHRAN (Press TV) -- Different types of cancer can protect individuals against the debilitating effects of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vice versa, a new study finds.
According to the study published in Neurology, dementia and cancer have protective effects against one another.
Alzheimer's sufferers are 69 percent less likely to develop different types of cancer. Cancer victims, on the other hand, had a 43 percent lower tendency to develop AD.
Abnormal cellular behavior is reported to be the main reason contributing to both conditions, the study found.
"In Alzheimer's disease, excessive cell death occurs, whereas cancer is characterized by excessive cell growth,” said lead researcher Catherine Roe.
Such a link, however, was not found between cancer and vascular dementia, the second most common form of dementia caused by lack of blood supply to the brain.
Scientists are optimistic that their findings will pave the way for the development of new treatments for both conditions.