This thread reminds me in a way of the responses to a post I made some weeks ago about my home in Arizona. Just as most people don't realize that Arizona isn't just a hot desert, I think even more people don't recognize that Iran isn't just another "mideastern nation." It is a large nation (three times the size of Arizona) with varied terrain and climate: not just desert but high mountains (18k feet) to the north, and bordered by two large bodies of water: the Caspian Sea to the north, the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman to the west and south. Not only that, Persia is one of the oldest civilizations in world history and was a major center of commerce, art and military activity throughout its history. So it's not surprising that so many beautiful art treasures are to be found. Thanks for sharing them, Afsaneh.