Pars Museum, Octagonal pavilion museum in Shiraz, Iran.
The Pars Museum is a two-story pavilion built in the Zand architectural style, located in central Shiraz, Iran, with a central hall, a marble pond, and an ornately decorated ceiling. The structure is made of brick, mortar, tile, and stone, and it houses collections covering several periods of Iranian history.
The pavilion was built in the 18th century under the Zand Dynasty as a reception space for Karim Khan Zand. In the 20th century, the building was converted into a museum, shifting from a private ceremonial space to a public institution.
The name Pars refers to the ancient name of the Fars region, where Shiraz is located. Inside, objects from pre-Islamic times through the Qajar period are displayed side by side, giving visitors a direct sense of how different eras of Iranian history follow one another.
The museum sits inside Nazar Garden, close to the Karim Khan Citadel in central Shiraz, so several sites are within walking distance of each other. It is worth spending time in the garden before entering the pavilion itself.
The garden contains three stone inscriptions from the Qajar era that most visitors walk past without noticing. They carry details about the people and events connected to this place during that period, and are worth pausing to look at.
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