A – Z of Iranian History
"W" "Y" "Z"
William Knox D’arcy (1849-1917): Born in England, D’arcy made a fortune in Australia. In 1900, he was approached to finance oil exploration in Iran. In 1901 he received a concession from the Iranian government and in 1908, he struck oil.
Yalda Festival (Shab i Cheleh Festival): Yalda means birth and the festival is a celebration of winter solstice on the longest night of the year. It is Zoroastrian in origin. Some of its rituals are similar to Halloween. It is celebrated by all Iranians.
Yazidi: A minor sect, most live in Iraq and some in Iran and Syria. Their religion is a mixture of Zoroastrianism, Manichaean, Jewish, Nestorian Christian, and Islamic ideas. There are close to 100,000 Yazidi all together.
Zahidan: A city in southeastern Iran, located near the borders with Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is the capital of "Sistan & Baluchistan" province.
Zoroaster, Zarathustra (Zardosht): The ancient Iranian prophet and the founder of Zoroastrianism. Little is known about his historical origins.
Other Links:
Haft Keshvar (7 Countries)-part 1
History of Ancient Medicine in Mesopotamia & Iran-part 1
Iran, a Brief History (part 1)
A – Z of Iran History (A)
History of Ancient Medicine in Mesopotamia & Iran-part 2
