The Soaring Towers of Iranian Civilization

The structures soaring up to the sky have been used by the governments as venues to display their political and economic power, or cultural and historical background. We might say, in the past, the towers were mostly used for defensive purposes or as landmarks, helping the passengers find their ways. But in the modern era, as the towers have risen higher through the sky, they have found many different functions such as commercial, tele-communicational, cultural, recreational, etc. In addition to this, their symbolic value has been specifically highlighted, so that, above all other purposes, they now function to symbolize a city, a country, a nation, and a civilization. Take time to examine three iconic towers in Tehran, each aspiring at its own time and in its own way to be an icon for Tehran. The Seljuk brick tower is a simple and extraordinary structure which serves as a tomb, a landmark, and a solar clock/calendar. The Azadi (Shahyad) Tower stands like an imperial gate opening elegantly on the western entrance of the city, and the skyscraping Milad Tower, which houses a little world in its many stories.