The history of Persian art and literature goes back to many thousands of years and its specimens can be seen as manuscripts of writing carved on stone in Be-Sotoon near Kermanshah and in Takhte-Jamshid near Shiraz where it still stands.

Due to the extensive number of Iranian poets, philosophers and writers we are obliged to restrict ourselves in naming only a few of them here.

The oldest literature available is from the Sassanid period (200 BC) by the name of Khodai-Nameh. Is reported that a great collection of Persian script was kept in the Library at Tees-fun which was the second biggest centre of art and literature after the Athens. Unfortunately, during Arab invasion it was put into fire and that outstanding collection was destroyed. Now the oldest remaining Persian literature mainly pertains to the last decades of the 8th century of Hejira (1300 AD).

Persian poetry has been also translated into other languages, of which we can name Omar Khayyam's Rubayyat and Ferdowsi's (940-1020 AD) epic The Shahnameh is one of the definite classics of the world. The epic poet worked for thirty years to finish this masterpiece. The Bustan and Golestan of Sa'adi are world famous due to their eloquence of style, clear language, moral guidance and counselling through the art of poetry. The odes of Jami are among the greatest poetry ever written in Persian literature while the Gazal of Hafez (1300 - 1389 AD) and the Masnavi or Couplets of Mowlavi are counted as among the great works of Persian literature. The book Canon and Therapy by the distinguished Persian philosopher and physician Ibn Sina, was thought in many European schools of medicine till 18th Century. The book Hawi is also the product of the famous philosopher and physician of Iran, Zakariah Razi who is well known for discovering alcohol.

Among the writers of note we see the first Iranian historian Dinevari who lived in the 15th century. His works were later continued by Tabari. Another Persian historian of repute is Atto-ul-Molk Javini who compiled the book History of the World Conquests.

Contemporary Iranian writer Ali Akbar Dehkhodah whose everlasting work of compiling a Dictionary of the Persian Language deserves mention here. Other contemporary writers to note are Sadegh Hedayat, Samad Behrangi, Dr. Hashtroudi and Dr. Parviz Natel Khanlari. Among contemporary Persian poets one can name Shariyar, Parvin Ehtesami and poets laureate Bahar Shariyar, the contemporary Persian poet has also written poems in Turkish language spoken in Azerbaijan and the works of Ehtesami and Bahar are available as complete works. Parvin Ehtesami is a symbol of Persian intellectual women.

The art of ritual drama, in the form of "Tazieh" "Parde-khani" and "Kheime-shab Bazi" is mostly unknown to the world. Tazieh and Parde-khani, inspired by historical and religious events, symbolize epic spirit and resistance. The common theme is the hero tales of love and sacrifice, and of resistance against the evil. Tazieh dates before the Islamic era and the tragedy of Siavosh in Shahnameh is one of the best examples. The main theme of Tazieh in the Islamic era is martyrdom of Imam Hossein, the third Imam of Shi'a who was killed with his family and 72 followers in an unjust fight against the Khalifa Yazid.

Parde-khani's stage is generally a traditional tea shop, called "ghaveh-khaneh" where in the past men used to gather there after a day of hard work and sip a cup of black tea. In, Parde-khani the stage is covered by a picture of a heroic tale and the Parde-khan or naq'qal (story teller) tells the story of love and passion, nobility and sacrifice...