nowruzgan
Digital Archives & Visual Narratives
Specialties
Digital Archives
Providing descriptive metadata to essential document collections in a free-access online repository for researchers and enthusiasts
Data Visualization
Providing a conceptual "big picture" emerging out of complex datasets (statistical, spatial, relational, etc.) leading to a new understanding
Linked data & Ontologies
Providing an ontological perception of concepts and phenomena through connecting various data into a coherent network
Our Projects
Vazhgar
- Vazhgar is an online dictionary of architecture, art, and cultural studies.
- Vazhgar is multi-lingual, including Persian, English, Arabic, Italian, French, German, and Spanish.
- Vazhgar is a terminological resource in architecture, city, art, architectural history, urban history, art history, conservation, archeology, museology, cultural studies, and architectural and art anthropology.
- In each entry, these types of information are presented:
The word’s vocal pronunciation (so far excluded to English);
The word’s etymology (so far excluded to English);
The term’s equivalents in different languages, with the equivalent source;
The term’s meaning in Persian, with the meaning source;
A sentence example of the term in Persian;
A diagram of the terms semantic relationships - By the mentioned semantic diagram, Vazhgar makes it possible to study the semantics of the term;
- Persian terms of Vazhgar are linked to Nowruzgan’s other projects and some other Persian corpora.
Project Supervisor
Chaharrah.tv
A not-for-profit and voluntary video-on-demand project, launched in spring 2013, makes lectures in social sciences and humanities available to a larger audience.
- Recording lectures and conferences
- Online publishing of these videos
- Holding indepth classes and interviews
Co-Founder
Co-Founder
Editorial board:
Saba Madani
Farzad Zerehdaran
Dena Shamsizadeh
Mahsa Pourahmad
Asmaneh
Asmaneh is a network for sharing information and knowledge as well as discussing and criticizing in the fields of history and theory of architecture and art in general.
This network aims to provide an environment for thinking and speaking about the aforementioned fields, keep the enthusiasts up to date, deepen the thought, and develop discussion and criticism.
The main parts of Asmaneh website are as follows:
- Notes and Essays;
- News and Reports on the related events;
- Books, Articles, and Publications, including introductions and reviews;
- Research, including introductions of significant studies in the fields;
- Special Issue, including monographs on related subjects;
- Voices, Photos, and Videos, including recorded files of lectures, classes, and interviews;
- Digital Library.
Ketabkhaneh
The Persian word “Ketabkhaneh” literally means library. Ketabkhaneh is our document repository and is designed to make a variety of documents related to the history and culture of Nowruz land accessible to the public, including manuscripts, images, audio documents, and videos.
We aim to deliver these documents and their metadata in a method that a researcher can confidently refer to them.
Based on semantic and ontological relations, links inside the repository and interlinks with other Nowruzgan entities lead to a cohesive and comprehensive body of knowledge.
Project supervisor
Travelogues
Travelogues project, is the base for processing the data of Iran’s and Iranians’ travelogues in the Nowruzgan knowledge base. Travelogues illustrates the journeys on the modern world map, connecting the places’ past and present. Comparing different journey routes also creates a new image of different destinations and places. Travelogues also includes various tags and indices specifying the narrations’ themes and subjects, helping researchers explore the travelogue’s data in various fields and disciplines.
Project supervisor
Visual Narrative
The Savory Almanac
Visualizing connections between dishes and ingredients according to several historical cookbooks dating from 15th to 19th century
Ontology of Shahnameh
Specifying the categories of Shahnameh characters and the relations among them
Oil-Timeline in Southwest Iran
Demonstrating urbanization of southwest Iran through the establishment of oil industries
About Us
Board members
M. Qayyoomi
Co-Founder Editor
B. Vandad
Co-Founder Developer
M. Najafi
Member of the Board
H. Hajyasini
Member of the Board
M. Fallah
Member of the Board
S. Soltani
Member of the Board
A. Tajbakhsh
Vazhgar Researcher
S. Ahmadkhani
Vazhgar Researcher
F. Ahmadi
Vazhgar Researcher
N. Zamiri
Vazhgar Researcher
M. Amarlu
Vazhgar Researcher
Z. Mohammadi
Travelogue Researcher
N. Mokhtari
Travelogue Researcher
M. Heydari
Social Media Editorial
Other contributors
N. Babaei
M. Javadikia
M. Taheri
Z. Golshan
M. Danaeifar
Exploring Cultural Connections in Nowruz Land
In the heart of the northern hemisphere, where the western expanses of Asia unfold, lies a region of cultural convergence. This territory, a mosaic of varied landscapes, is defined by distinct geographical landmarks: from the Darband Mountains and the Jaxartes in the north, encompassing the northern reaches of the Himalayas, and extending to the calm southern shores of the Sea of Oman and the Persian Gulf, bounded by the Euphrates River and the eastern Anatolia to the west.
This expansive territory embraces a complex amalgamation of countries, including Iran, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Dagestan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the sheikhdoms of southern Oman and the southern Persian Gulf, Iraq, and eastern Turkey. Each plays a pivotal role in crafting a tapestry that is as diverse as it is interconnected. Spanning various geographical realms, encompassing West Asia, Central Asia, South Asia, and a segment of the Middle East, it narrates a tale of unity amidst linguistic and ethnic diversity. The Nowruz festival, a celebration that transcends borders, serves as a vibrant testament to this millennia-old culture, embodying the spirit and unity of the regions collectively designated as the “Nowruz Land.”
“Nowruzgan” stands as a scholarly network, facilitating the exploration of the multifaceted aspects of Nowruz Land. It seeks to foster dialogues that surpass political boundaries, nurturing a discourse that equally encompasses all regions of Nowruz Land. Respecting the sovereignty and traditions of each nation, Nowruzgan operates as an independent entity, committed to unveiling a complex web of cultural connections and exchanges that bind these regions together.
In pursuit of uncovering these cultural connections, Nowruzgan orchestrates scholarly endeavors within the domain of "digital humanities", encompassing areas such as digital archives, data visualization, linked data, and ontologies. Furthermore, it facilitates the integration of various projects, fostering a cohesive network grounded in "knowledge management". It is dedicated to identifying connections between data fragments, synthesizing them into a coherent body of information that not only disseminates knowledge but also cultivates deeper understanding and wisdom.
Partners
The MAP Academy is a non-profit, open-access educational platform committed to building equitable resources for the study of art histories from South Asia. Exploring regional specificities as well as trans-Asian connections through its freely available digital offerings — Encyclopedia of Art, Online Courses, and Stories — it encourages knowledge-building and engagement with the region's visual arts.
Simurghnameh seeks to make Iran's cultural and artistic works scattered in various museums and libraries around the world accessible to researchers and enthusiasts within the framework of a comprehensive virtual treasure.
Get In Touch
We invite you to engage with us as we explore the diverse landscapes of Nowruz Land. This journey offers an opportunity for intellectual growth and a deeper understanding of a culture that embodies unity amidst diversity.