Ancient Persia
ایران باستان 
By Dr Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones  

An Empire of Pleasure? Masculinity, Reproduction and the Harem in Ancient Persia and the Near East
The harem was an institution fundamental to the integral policy of the Achaemenid Empire, used to centralize sovereignty in the figure of the king over the Persian and other imperial nobles, and used to maintain the political power of the dominant ethno-class, the Achaemenid dynasty. This lecture will show how the Great King of Persia, self-publicised as an aggressive warrior and a righteous judge, actually established his rule and maintained his image as alpha male through a careful use of his harem.
Venue: Room S1, 2nd floor, 7 George Square (Psychology building), Edinburgh EH8 9JZ
Date/time: Wednesday 4th February, 5pm to 6pm
Entry: FREE  
                                                                                                                                                       
The Last Shah at Persepolis: the Iranian Use of the Persian Past
This lecture explores shifting attitudes towards the Persian Empire found within Iran over the last half century. It focuses on official governmental visions of the Persian past, although it also explores wider popular cultural reactions to Iran’s pre-Islamic heritage. Despite the intended aim of unifying a nation in recognition of its past, the Persepolis Celebrations of 1971 actually divided public opinion. It will also explore some of the major shifts in Iranian historical self-perception, an area often overlooked in western scholarship; the west, after all, has enough difficulty perceiving Iran from the outside. Exploring attitudes towards Iran’s imperial past from the inside helps us to understand what motivates this extraordinary country.
Venue: Room S1, 2nd Floor, 7 George Square (Psychology building), Edinburgh EH8 9JZ
Date/time: Thursday 5th February, 5pm to 6pm
Entry: FREE