COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY SEMINARS SEMINAR ON IRANIAN STUDIES

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY SEMINARS

SEMINAR ON IRANIAN STUDIES

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The fifth meeting of the 26th consecutive year of the Columbia University Seminar on Iranian Studies for the academic year 2013-2014 will take place on:

Friday, February 7, 2014, 5:30 pm,

at the Faculty House of Columbia University.

Our speaker will be:

Reza S. Zarghamee

who will lead the discussion on the topic of:

Discovering Cyrus: The Persian Conqueror Astride the Ancient World

Summary:

The talk will provide an overview of Cyrus's accomplishments and legacy and will describe his conquests, administrative policies, and palace-building. Attention will also be given to recent scholarship regarding his ethnicity, dynastic affiliations, and religious convictions.

Bio-Notice:

Reza Zarghamee grew up in Boston, Massachusetts. His immersion in the ancient history of Iran started early: at the age of thirteen, he began studying Old Persian cuneiform at the urging of Professor Richard Frye, a founder of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University. He attended Columbia University, pursuing a double-major in history and biology, studying Persian language and literature, and graduating with honors in 2000. Three years later, he received a J.D. degree from Harvard Law School, where his writings included a comparison of ancient Near Eastern legal systems.

While at Harvard, Zarghamee also took courses in ancient Iranian religions, specifically Zoroastrianism and Manicheism. Since 2003, he has practiced law at the firm of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP.

His book, Discovering Cyrus: The Persian Conqueror Astride the Ancient World, was published by Mage Publishers, Washington, D.C., 2013.

To reach the Faculty House:

Enter the Wien Hall Gate on 116th Street between Amsterdam Avenue and Morningside Drive. Walk past Wien Hall, then turn right to the Faculty House.