Major popular attractions in Shirāz include |
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Perspolis ( Takht e Jamshid ) |
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Persepolis or Takht-e Jamshid was an ancient ceremonial capital of the second Iranian dynasty, the Achaemenid Empire, situated some 70 km northeast of modern city of Shiraz, not far from where the small river Pulwar flows into the Kur (Kyrus). To the ancient Persians, the city was known as Parsa, meaning the city of Persians, Persepolis being the Greek interpretation of the name (Περσες (meaning Persian) and πόλις (meaning city)). In contemporary Iran the site is known as Takht-e Jamshid (Throne of Jamshid).
The largest and most complex building in Persepolis was the audience hall or Apadana with 36 columns, accessible by two large sets of stairs. Initial work on Persepolis was begun around 518 BC.
Andre Godard, the French archaeologist who excavated Persepolis in the early 1930s, believed that it was Cyrus the Great who chose the site of Persepolis, but Darius the Great who built the terrace and the great palaces.
Darius ordered the construction of Apadana Palace and the Debating hall (Tripylon or the three-gated hall), the main imperial treasury and its surroundings, which were completed at the time of the reign of his son, King Xerxes I. Further construction of the buildings at the terrace continued until downfall of the Achaemenid dynasty.
The first scientific excavation at Persepolis was carried out by Ernest Herzfeld in 1931, commissioned by the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. He believed the reason behind the construction of Persepolis was the need for a majestic atmosphere, as a symbol for their empire and to celebrate special events, especially the “Nowruz”, (the Iranian New Year held on 21 March). For historical reasons and deep rooted interests it was built on the birthplace of the Achaemenid dynasty, which was not the centre of their Empire.
The main characteristic of Persepolitan architecture is its columns. They were made of wood. Only when even the largest cedars of Lebanon or the teak trees of India did not fulfil the required sizes did the architects resort to stone. The bases and the capitals were always of stones, even on wooden shafts, but the existence of wooden capitals is probable.
The remains including the bas-reliefs and sculptures provide an insight into hearts and beliefs of the ancient Iranians. The buildings at Persepolis are divided into three areas; military quarters, the treasury and the reception and occasional houses for the King of Kings. These included the Great Stairway, the Gate of Nations (Xerxes), the Apadana palace of Darius, the Hall of a Hundred Columns, the Tripylon Hall and Tachara palace of Darius, the Hadish palace of Xerxes, the palace of Artaxerxes III, the Imperial Treasury, the Royal Stables and the Chariot house.
The site is marked by a large 125,000 square meter terrace, partly artificial and partly cut out of mountain, with its east side leaning on Kuh-e Rahmet ("the Mountain of Mercy"). The other three sides are formed by a retaining wall, which varies in height with the slope of the ground. From 5 to 13 meters on the west side there is a double stair, gently sloping, which leads to the top. To create the level terrace any depressions that were present were filled up with soil and heavy rocks, and they joined the rocks together with metal clips.
Gray limestone is mainly used in the buildings at Persepolis. To reach the top of the terrace the construction of the broad Stairway, which is 20m above the ground and was planned to be the only main entrance, was begun around 518BC. This dual stairway known as Persepolitan stairway was built in a symmetrical manner on the western side of the Great Wall. The 111 steps were 6.9 meters wide with treads of 31 centimeters and rises of 10 centimeters, so a horseman could ride up them without difficulty.
The top of the stairways led to a small yard in the northeastern side of the terrace, opposite the Gate of Nations. After the natural rock had been leveled and the depressions filled in, the terrace was prepared. Major tunnels for sewage were dug underground through the rock. A large water storage tank was built inside the rock at the eastern foot of the mountain. Professor Olmstead believed that it was constructed at the same time the construction of the towers began.
The uneven plan of part of the foundation of the terrace acted like a castle whose angled walls enabled its defenders to target any section of the external front. Theodorus writes that Persepolis had three walls with ramparts, which all had towers to provide protection space for the defense personnel. The first wall was 7 meters tall, the second 14 meters and the third wall, which covered all the four sides, was 27 meters in height, though no presence of the wall exists in modernity.
On this terrace are the ruins of a number of colossal buildings, all constructed of dark-grey marble from the adjacent mountain. A few of the remaining pillars are still intact, standing in the ruins. Several of the buildings were never finished. F. Stolze has shown that in some cases even the mason's rubbish has not been removed. These ruins, for which the name Chehel minar ("the forty columns or minarets") can be traced back to the 13th century, are now known as Takht-e Jamshid "the throne of Jamshid". That they represent the Persepolis captured and partly destroyed by Alexander the Great has been beyond dispute at least since the time of Pietro della Valle.
Behind Takht-e Jamshid are three sepulchers hewn out of the rock in the hillside. The facades, one of which is incomplete, are richly decorated with reliefs. About 13 km NNE, on the opposite side of the Pulwar, rises a perpendicular wall of rock, in which four similar tombs are cut, at a considerable height from the bottom of the valley. The modern Persians call this place Naqsh-e Rustam "the picture of Rustam", from the Sassanian reliefs beneath the opening, which they take to be a representation of the mythical hero Rustam. That the occupants of these seven tombs were kings might be inferred from the sculptures, and one of those at Nakshi Rustam is expressly declared in its inscription to be the tomb of Darius Hystaspis, concerning whom Ctesias relates that his grave was in the face of a rock, and could only be reached by the use of ropes. Ctesias mentions further, with regard to a number of Persian kings, either that their remains were brought "to the Persians," or that they died there.
The Gate of all Nations, referring to subjects of the empire, consisted of a grand hall that was almost 25 square metres, with four columns and its entrance on the Western Wall. There were two more doors, one to the south which opened to the Apadana yard and the other one opened onto a long road to the east. Pivoting devices found on the inner corners of all the doors indicate that they were two-leafed doors, probably made of wood and covered with sheets of ornate metal.
A pair of Persian minotaur-like bull men stands on the western threshold, and another pair with wings and a Persian head (Gopät-Shäh) on the eastern entrance, to reflect the Empire’s power.
Xerxes' name was written in three languages and carved on the entrances, informing everyone that he ordered this to be built.
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Darius the Great built the greatest and most glorious palace at Persepolis in the western side. This palace was named Apadana and was used for the King of Kings' official audiences. The work began in 515 BC and was completed 30 years later, by his son Xerxes I. The palace had a grand hall in shape of square, each side 60m long with seventy-two columns, thirteen of which still stand on the enormous platform. Each column is 19m high with a square Taurus and plinth. The columns carried the weight of the vast and heavy ceiling. The tops of the columns were made from animal sculptures such as two headed bulls, lions and eagles. The columns were joined to each other with the help of oak and cedar beams, which were brought from Lebanon. The walls were covered with a layer of mud and stucco to a depth of 5cm, which was used for bonding, and then covered with the greenish stucco which is found throughout the palaces.
At the western, northern and eastern sides of the palace there was a rectangular veranda which had twelve columns in two rows of six. At the south of the grand hall a series of rooms were built for storage. Two grand Persepolitan stairways were built, symmetrical to each other and connected to the stone foundations. To avoid the roof being eroded by rain vertical drains were built through the brick walls. In the Four Corners of Apadana, facing outwards, four towers were built.
The Walls were tiled, and decorated with pictures of lions, bulls and flowers. Darius ordered his name and his empire details to be written in gold and silver on plates, placing those in covered stone boxes, in the foundations, under the Four Corners of the palace. Two Persepolitan style symmetrical stairways were built on the northern and eastern sides of Apadana, to compensate for a difference in level. There were also two other stairways in the middle of the building. The external front views of the palace were embossed with pictures of the Immortals, the Kings' elite guards. The northern stairway was completed during Darius' reign, but the other stairway was completed much later.
Next to the Apadana, second largest building of the Terrace and the final edifices is the Throne Hall or the Imperial Army's hall of honour (also called the "Hundred-Columns Palace). This 70x70 square meter hall was started by Xerxes and completed by his son Artaxerxes I, by the end of the fifth century BC. Its eight stone doorways are decorated on the south and north with reliefs of throne scenes and on the east and west with scenes depicting the king in combat with monsters. In addition, the northern portico of the building is flanked by two colossal stone bulls.
In the beginning of Xerxes' reign the Throne Hall was used mainly for receptions for military commanders and representatives of all the subject nations of the empire, but later the Throne Hall served to be as an imperial museum.
There were other palaces built, these included the Tachara palace which was built under Darius I, the Imperial treasury which was started by Darius in 510 BC and finished by Xerxes in 480BC. The Hadish palace by Xerexes I, which occupies the highest level of terrace and stand on the living rock. The Council Hall, the Tryplion Hall, The Palaces of D, G, H, Storerooms, Stables and quarters, Unfinished Gateway and a few Miscellaneous Structures at Persepolis near the south-east corner of the Terrace, at the foot of the mountain.
Now we know that Cyrus the Great was buried at Pasargadae and if there is any truth in the statement that the body of Cambyses II was brought home "to the Persians" his burying-place must be sought somewhere beside that of his father. Ctesias assumes that it was the custom for a king to prepare his own tomb during his lifetime. Hence the kings buried at Naghsh-e Rustam are probably, besides Darius the Great, Xerxes I, Artaxerxes I and Darius II. Xerxes II, who reigned for a very short time, could scarcely have obtained so splendid a monument, and still less could the usurper Sogdianus (Secydianus). The two completed graves behind Takhti Jamshid would then belong to Artaxerxes II and Artaxerxes III. The unfinished one is perhaps that of Arses of Persia, who reigned at the longest two years, or, if not his, then that of Darius III (Codomannus), who is one of those whose bodies are said to have been brought "to the Persians."
Another small group of ruins in the same style is found at the village of Hajjiäbäd, on the Pulwar, a good hour's walk above Takhti Jamshid. These formed a single building, which was still intact 900 years ago, and was used as the mosque of the then existing city of Istakhr.
Since Cyrus the great was buried in Pasargadae, which is mentioned by Ctesias as his own city, and since, to judge from the inscriptions, the buildings of Persepolis commenced with Darius I, it was probably under this king, with whom the scepter passed to a new branch of the royal house, that Persepolis became the capital of Persia proper. As a residence, however, for the rulers of the empire, a remote place in a difficult alpine region was far from convenient, and the real capitals were Susa, Babylon and Ecbatana. This accounts for the fact that the Greeks were not acquainted with the city until it was taken and plundered by Alexander the Great.
It has been universally admitted that "the palaces" or "the palace" burned down by Alexander are those now in ruins at Takhti Jamshid. From Stolze's investigations it appears that at least one of these, the castle built by Xerxes, bears evident traces of having been destroyed by fire. The locality described by Diodorus after Cleitarchus corresponds in important particulars with Takhti Jamshid, for example, in being supported by the mountain on the east.
There is, however, one formidable difficulty. Diodorus says that the rock at the back of the palace containing the royal sepulchers is so steep that the bodies could be raised to their last resting-place only by mechanical appliances. This is not true of the graves behind Takhti Jamshid, to which, as F. Stolze expressly observes, one can easily ride up; on the other hand, it is strictly true of the graves at Nakshi Rustam. Stolze accordingly started the theory that the royal castle of Persepolis stood close by Nakshi Rustam, and has sunk in course of time to shapeless heaps of earth, under which the remains may be concealed. The vast ruins, however, of Takhti Jamshid, and the terrace constructed with so much labour, can hardly be anything else than the ruins of palaces; as for temples, the Persians had no such thing, at least in the time of Darius and Xerxes. Moreover, Persian tradition at a very remote period knew of only three architectural wonders in that region, which it attributed to the fabulous queen Humgi the grave of Cyrus at Pasargadae, the building at HäjjIãbãd, and those on the great terrace.
It is safest therefore to identify these last with the royal palaces destroyed by Alexander. Cleitarchus, who can scarcely have visited the place himself, with his usual recklessness of statement, confounded the tombs behind the palaces with those of Nakshi Rustam; indeed he appears to imagine that all the royal sepulchers were at the same place.
In 316 BC Persepolis was still the capital of Persia as a province of the great Macedonian Empire (see Diod. xix, 21 seq., 46 ; probably after Hieronymus of Cardia, who was living about 316). The city must have gradually declined in the course of time; but the ruins of the Achaemenidae remained as a witness to its ancient glory. It is probable that the principal town of the country, or at least of the district, was always in this neighborhood. About AD 200 we find there the city Istakhr (properly Stakhr) as the seat of the local governors. There the foundations of the second great Persian Empire were laid, and Istakhr acquired special importance as the center of priestly wisdom and orthodoxy. The Sassanian kings have covered the face of the rocks in this neighborhood, and in part even the Achaemenian ruins, with their sculptures and inscriptions, and must themselves have built largely here, although never on the same scale of magnificence as their ancient predecessors. The Romans knew as little about Istakhr as the Greeks had done about Persepolis--and this in spite of the fact that for four hundred years the Sassanians maintained relations, friendly or hostile, with the empire.
At the time of the Arabian conquest Istakhr offered a desperate resistance, but the city was still a place of considerable importance in the first century of Islam, although its greatness was speedily eclipsed by the new metropolis Shiraz. In the 10th century Istakhr had become an utterly insignificant place, as may be seen from the descriptions of Istakhr, a native (c. 950), and of Mukaddasi (c. 985). During the following centuries Istakhr gradually declines, until, as a city, it ceased to exist. This fruitful region, however, was covered with villages till the frightful devastations of the 18th century; and even now it is, comparatively speaking, well cultivated. The "castle of Istakhr" played a conspicuous part several times during the Muslim period as a strong fortress. It was the middlemost and the highest of the three steep crags which rise from the valley of the Kur, at some distance to the west or north-west of Nakshi Rustam.
The UNESCO declared the citadel of Persepolis a World Heritage Site in 1979. Persipolis is also one of the 80 treasures featured on Around the World in 80 Treasures presented by Dan Cruickshank. In 1971, Persepolis was the main staging ground for the 2,500 year celebration of Iran's monarchy.
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Sa‘di (full name in English: Muslih-ud-Din Mushrif-ibn-Abdullah) is one of the major Persian poets of the medieval period. He is recognized not only for the quality of his writing, but also for the depth of his social thought (1184 - 1283/1291). He left his native town at a young age for Baghdad to study Arabic literature and Islamic sciences at Nizamiah University (1195-1226).
He is known as a Sufi thinker, and was a student of the respected Sufi Sheikh Shahabuddin Suhrawardi. Saadi liked to travel, and lived much of his life as a wandering dervish. After Iraq he traveled the region for nearly thirty years. He went to Shamat (Syria), Palestine, Hijaz (Arabia), Yemen, Egypt and Rum (Turkey), which was in Byzantine control at the time. At one time he is said to have been captured by the Crusaders.
Saadi died in his hometown of Shiraz. There is some discrepancy about the date of his death, but he may have died a centenarian. His tomb was greatly elaborated in 1952 and has since become a tourist attraction.
Saadi's writings are held to be among the greatest Sufi classics. He wrote "The Orchard" (Bostan) in 1257,"The Rose Garden" (Gulistan) in 1258. There is also a Divan, or collection of his poetry. He wrote short stories and poems about his adventurous life in both his major works.
Saadi has been translated by a number of major Western poets, most of whom were not deterred by the "transparently homoerotic" tone of much of his work. According to Wayne Dynes, "English translators even in the tamer episodes of the Gulistan turn boys into girls and change anecdotes about pederasty into tales of heterosexual Iove."
Chief among these works is Goethe's West-Oestlicher Divan. Andre du Ryer was the first European to present Saadi to the West, by means of a partial French translation of Golistan in 1634. Adam Olearius followed soon with a complete translation of the Bustan and the Golistan into German in 1654. Ralph Waldo Emerson was also an avid fan of Sa'di's writings, contributing to some translated editions himself.
One of his more famous quotes is, "Whatever is produced in haste goes easily to waste." Another famous poem focuses on the kinship of all humans. The same poem is used to grace the entrance to the Hall of Nations of the UN building in New York with this call for breaking all barriers:
"Of one Essence is the human race, thus has Creation put the Base; One Limb impacted is sufficient, for all others to feel the Mace."
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Vakil bazar is the main Market of Shiraz and is located in the center of the city. It is thought that is origionaly established by the Buwayhids, it was completed mainly by the Atabaks and was renamed after Karim Khan Zand in the 18th century. The Bazar has many beautiful courts, caravansarays and old shops and is the best place in shiraz to buy all kinds of Persian rugs, spices, copper and Antiques
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The major Shiraz historical events are |
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- 640-653 : Fars falls to the Arab armies of Umar. Shiraz in 641. Estakhr in 653.
- 650-869 : Seat of the Arab government of Fars. Controlled from Baghdad with very limited Persian activity. Other towns in the region decline as Shiraz grows with new immigrants. Turkish tribes are brought to the region to serve as soldiers in the Arab army. Descendents of these tribes form ruling dynasties of the region in the next several centuries.
- 790 : Shiraz scholar Sibawayh publishes his writings forming the basis of Arabic Grammer.
- 869 : Saffarid dynasty leader Yaqub Leis liberates Shiraz. Baghdad Caliphate rule weakened. Many Arabs and Turks choose to stay in Shiraz, as they have adopted Persian culture.
- c870 : Amr-o-Leis Saffari builds a mosque in Shiraz, that is still standing today (Masjed Jaume).
- 933 : Shiraz is Capital of the Buwayhid dynasty. Becomes cultural center under Emmad-al-dowleh, first Buyid Amir.
- 937 : Buyids eventually bring down the Caliphate of Baghdad and Shiraz gains international prominence. Literature, science, art and culture are promoted. Religious minorities are treated well. Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians are among the ministers and consultants of the Buyid Amirs.
- c950 : Subterranean canal made in the mountains to bring fresh water to the city by Rokn-al-dawleh, Emmad's brother. The stream ( Abeh Rokni) still runs today, and is immortalized in poetry of Shiraz.
- c1000 : First wall built around Shiraz due to attacks by Seljuk Turks, (see also Turkmens). The Seljuks were supported by the remainder of the Caliphate, against the Buyids.
- c1010 : Over the next 50 years this war, as well as internal feuds among the Buyids destroys much of the city.
- 1062 : City is eventually captured by Seljuks, However, to the dismay of the Caliphate, the new rulers have adopted the Persian culture and many settle in Shiraz. The Seljuks actaully become geat patrons of Persian art and culture, as they build a great empire.
- c1075 : Shiraz is rebuilt to splendor by Seljuk Attabak Jalal-ed-din and his sons. Development attracts new immigrants from all corners of Persia, and central Asia.
- 1090 : Revolts within the Seljuk army are prompted by Baghdad as the First Crusade weakens the Seljuk Empire and rule. Successful rebels in Shiraz are the Songhorid Turks.
- 1100 : Shiraz becomes capital of the Songhorid dynasty of Turkish origin (Attabak-ane Fars).
- 1100 : Although they promote Sunni Islam on behalf of Baghdad, the Songhorid too become die hard Persians. They settle in and rebuild Shiraz as their home.
- 1105 : A wall is restored to encircle the city with Eight gates. Influence of the Baghdad Caliphate is contained to mostly ceremonial terms.
- c1110 : Hanafi sects of the Sunni Muslims rule the region from Shiraz. Although Judaism, Christianity and Zoroastrianism are still freely practiced among a large minority in the city and the region. This tolerance promotes another migration wave into the city and the region. Many tribes of Turkish and Cacauss regions move to Shiraz, and surrounding areas. Many still live in the region.
- c1115 : Shiraz is a center of the pious and the Jurists of the nation. Number of religious shrines ae built, many of which are still standing, among them: Masjid Atiq, Masjid Now.
- 1170 : Sheikh Ruzbehan (1128-1209), establishes own Sufi sect in Shiraz.
- 1150-1195 : Decline of Shiraz as dynastic feuds among the various ruling tribes and a famine ruin the city.
- 1195 : Saad ibn Zangi, a local Attabak, establishes rule and restores the city.
- c1200 : Moaref-al-Din Mosal-leha (1184-1291) chooses the pen name Saadi in the honor of the fair ruler Saad ibn Zangi.
- 1280 : Shiraz saved from Mongol invasion by diplomacy of Abu Bakr ibn Saad. Genghis Khan is so enamoured by the Persian ruler that names him Ktlug Khan and considers him a friend.
- 1281 : Grave site of Ahmad-ibn-Musa (son of the 7th imam of the shiites) is identified by Amir Moqarrab-alDin a Vazir of Abu Bakr.
- 1282 : A shrine is built on the grave site. Today it is the holiest Muslim site in the city and the region, (Shah Cheragh).
- 1284 : Decline of Shiraz due to the high Taxes imposed by Mongols. Corruption and feuds resume.
- 1287 : Drought and Famine kills approximately 100,000 people in Shiraz.
- 1291 : Saadi dies and is buried in his garden next to an artesian well. Currently the beautiful gardens are a major tourist attraction, with a still flowing well and stream next to Saadi's tomb.
- 1297 : Measels and Plague kill another 50,000 people in Shiraz and surrounding area.
- 1297 : Female ruler Aubee Khatton and her daughter Kurdujin save lives and the city by their charitable foundations. They were Songhorid matrons who had married into the Mongols.
- 1304 : Injuids dynasty takes over and rebuild Shiraz, but their in-fighting eventually causes more destruction..
- 1325 : Ilkhanate period. Their rule is marked by warfare and destruction.
- 1353 : Muzaffarids rulers captures Shiraz. Once again Shiraz is the capital for Persia.
- c1350 : Traveller Ibn Battuta visits Shiraz and documents a great city, rich with gardens, streams, bazzars, and cleanly clothed people.
- 1357 : Muzaffarid Shah Shuja takes reign and revives the city.
- 1360 : Hafez (1310-1380) is patronized by Shah Shuja and settles in Bage-Mossalla where he establishes a great following. His tomb in the same garden is a revered and major tourist attraction for world travellers and Iranians alike.
- 1382 : Shah Shuja bribes Timur's army with gifts and saves the city from Pillage again. Timur takes Shah Shuja's daughter as wife. (She was offered to Timur as a a bribe)
- 1384 : After the death of Shah Shuja in-fighting flares up among the Muzaffarids and leads to several battles in Shiraz and eventual city decline.
- 1387 : Shirāz is occupied for a short period by Timur.
- 1393 : Timur occupies Shirāz for the second time. He appoints his grandson who has adopted the Persian culture as governor. Rebuilding of the city resumes.
- 1400 : Shiraz is known as the city of SAADI and HAFEZ. Their tombs, still intact today, become shrines.
- 1410 : Mongols and Turkmen have settled in Shiraz and join the previous invadors as citizens and rebuilders of the beautiful city.
- 1470 : Shiraz prospers with a population of 200,000. For a few years it is the capital of the Turkmen Aq Qoyunlu rulers.
- 1503 : Saffavid ruler Shah Ismaeel captures Shiraz and kills or exiles most Sunni leaders to promote Shiism.
- 1550 : Allah-verdi Khan and his son Emam-Qoli-Khan governors of the Saffavid rebuild city.
- 1575 : Shiite followers grow in numbers, schools and shrines are built. Many are still standing, Madrese Khan.
- c1590 : Period of relative prosperity. Arts flourish. Shiraz artists and craftsmen are famous and utilized worldwide. See Taj Mahal
- c1600 : Shiraz wine discovered by the British and reported to be one of the best in the world.
- 1621 : British and French merchants frequent the city. Grapes are taken to Europe.
- 1630 : A flood destroys large parts of the town.
- 1634 : Mulla Sadra, a well known philosopher from Shiraz is prosecuted for heretical writings and opinions.
- 1668 : Another flood hits Shirāz.
- 1724 : Shirāz is sacked by Afghan invaders.
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Ghalamkar Decoration
Size:100 x 100 cm
Price: US$ 27.00 |
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Naieen Carpet
All Natural Colors, 3ft x 5 ft
Pile and Fringe: Silk
Price: $2800 |
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Work on Copper
Circle Tray, 25 cm Diameter
Price: US$ 55.00 |
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