This Day in History
(December 7)
Today is Saturday; 16th of the Iranian month of Azar 1398 solar hijri; corresponding to 10th of the Islamic month of Rabi al-Sani 1441 lunar hijri; and December 7, 2019, of the Christian Gregorian Calendar.
2062 solar years ago, on this day in 43 BC, Marcus Tullius Cicero, considered to be ancient Rome’s greatest orator and prose stylist, was assassinated on the orders of Marcus Antonius (Mark Anthony). A year earlier Cicero had launched the first of his "Philippics” (oratorical attacks) on Antonius, making 14 of them over the following months.
1445 solar years ago, on this day in 574 AD, Byzantine Emperor, Justin II, abdicated the throne due to recurring seizures of insanity, and handed over power to his general Tiberius, proclaiming him Caesar. Justin had suffered a shattering defeat at the hands of the Iranian Emperor, Khosrow I Anushiravan. The Romans agreed to pay 45,000 gold coins to Iran as war reparations.
1240 lunar years ago, on this day in 201 AH, Hazrat Fatema al-Ma’soumah (peace upon her), the venerable daughter of the Prophet of Islam’s 7th Infallible Heir, Imam Musa Kazem (AS), succumbed to the wounds she suffered 17 days earlier when her caravan was attacked near Saveh, and attained martyrdom in the city of Qom. The young 28-year old lady was on her way from her hometown Medina to Merv in Khorasan to meet her brother, Imam Reza (AS), who was forced to come to northeastern Iran by the crafty Abassid caliph, Mamoun. She was a picture of piety, knowledge, wisdom, virtue, and generosity that earned her the title of "Karimey-e Ahl al-Bayt” or Munificent Lady of the Household of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). Her holy shrine draws millions of pilgrims every year from all over Iran and the world, and has transformed Qom into a prime centre of Islamic learning.
1116 solar years ago, on this day in 903 AD, the famous Iranian Islamic astronomer and mathematician, Abu’l-Hassan Abdur-Rahman Ibn Amr as-Sufi ar-Raazi, was born in Rayy, near modern Tehran. He was one of the greatest astronomers and astrologers and was patronized by Azud od-Dowla Daylami, the ruler of the Persian Shi’ite Muslim Buwayhid dynasty of Iran-Iraq-Oman to translate scientific texts from Greek, Pahlavi and other languages into Arabic. As-Sufi was known in medieval Europe as "Azophi”; and today modern scientists have named in his honour the moon crater "Azophi” and the minor planet "12621 Alsufi”. He published his famous book "Kitab al-Kawakeb as-Sabeta” (Book of Fixed Stars) in 964 AD, describing much of his work, both in textual descriptions and pictures. In the same year he made the earliest recorded observation (from Yemen) of what western scientists today call the "Andromeda Galaxy”; describing it as a "small cloud”. These were the first galaxies other than the Milky Way to be observed from the Earth. Since 2006, the Astronomy Society of Iran – Amateur Committee (ASIAC) – has been holding an international "Sufi Observing Competition” in his memory. A related work by him is: "Kitab Suwar al-Kawakeb ath-Thamaniya al-Arba’een”.
1052 solar years ago, on this day in 967 AD, the Iranian mystic and poet, Abu-Sa’eed Abi’l-Khair, was born in Mihne, near Torbat-e Haiderieh in Khorasan. He was an expert on exegesis of the Holy Qur’an, hadith, and jurisprudence, and was devoted to the Ahl al-Bayt of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). The details of his thoughts and life are known from the book "Asrar at-Tawhid” (Mysteries of Monotheism) written by his grandson, Mohammad Ibn Munawwar.
1036 solar years ago, on this day in 983 AD, the Holy Roman Emperor Otto II died crestfallen, a year after he was decisively defeated by the Muslim forces of the Fatemid Ismaili Shi’a caliphate of Egypt-North Africa at the Battle of Capo Colonna, in Calabria, southern Italy.
421 solar years ago, on this day in 1598 AD, Giovanni "Gian” Lorenzo Bernini, Italian sculptor, painter, architect, was born. He was the greatest sculptor of the 17th century and worked under the patronage of Pope Urban VII. His works included the "Ecstasy of St. Teresa,” "David” and "Daphne and Apollo.”
316 solar years ago, on this day in 1703 AD, the greatest windstorm ever recorded in the southern part of Britain makes landfall. Winds gust up to 120 mph, and 9,000 people die.
288 solar years ago, on this day in 1731 AD, French orientalist, Abraham Hyacinthe Anquetil-Duperron, was born in Paris. He could be called the first professional French Indologist and Iranologist. His most valuable achievement was a two-volume Latin retranslation and commentary of a Persian translation of fifty Upanishads (or sacred books of the Hindus) received from India in 1775, which he translated by 1796.
237 solar years ago, on this day in 1782 AD, Haidar Ali Khan, the Sultan of Mysore, died in camp near Chittor in what is now Andhra Pradesh, during the war with the British colonialists at the age of 61 after a reign of 21 years. His death was concealed by the minister, Purnaiya, until the arrival from Malabar of his son, Fath Ali Khan, who joined the main army in a few days and was established on the throne of Mysore as Tipu Sultan.
130 solar years ago, on this day in 1889 AD, the first modern automobile was built. Its speed was 12 km per hour and its inventor was Karl Friedrich Benz of Germany.
111 lunar years ago, on this day in 1330 AH, the Holy Shrine in Mashhad of Imam Reza (AS), the 8th Infallible Heir of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), was shelled by the invading Russian forces. The blasphemous attack which damaged the minarets was part of Russia’s pressures on the weak Qajarid dynasty to expel American advisor, Morgan Schuster, and appoint foreign nationals only with the permission of Russia and Britain. Many people of Mashhad were martyred and wounded in this barbaric attack.
91 solar years ago, on this day in 1928 AD, Avram Noam Chomsky, American linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, political commentator, social justice activist, and anarcho-syndicalist advocate, was born in Philadelphia to Ukrainian-born Ashkenazi Jew, Zev Chomsky. Sometimes described as the "Father of Modern Linguistics”, Chomsky is also a major figure in analytic philosophy. He has spent most of his career at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he is Institute Professor Emeritus, and is the author of more than 100 books, including "Thought-Control in Democratic Societies”. He is highly critical of the US Administration’s hegemonic policies and the state terrorism of Israel, for which the Zionist entity has banned his entry.
78 solar years ago, on this day in 1941 AD, Japan launched an aerial attack on the US naval base at Pearl Harbor in the Pacific, making the US to directly enter World War 2 in the eastern theatre.
66 solar years ago, on this day in 1953 AD, three Iranian students were shot and martyred by the Shah’s forces at Tehran University for protesting the visit to Iran of the then US vice-president, Richard Nixon, three-and-a-half months after the US-coup that toppled the government of Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Mosaddeq and restored the fugitive Shah to power. The day after this tragic incident, Nixon was shamelessly awarded an honorary PhD by the regime at Tehran University. This day is thus marked as Student’s Day in Iran.
38 solar years ago, on this day in 1981 AD, Palestinian activist, Abdul-Wahhab Kayyali, was assassinated by Zionists in Beirut. His PhD thesis at London University was on Palestine and the resistance of Arabs against colonialism and Zionism. He also published the first Palestinian magazine. Among the valuable books he wrote, mention can be made of "Modern History of Palestine”.
31 solar years ago, on this day in 1988 AD, the 6.8 degree earthquake rocked the northern part of Armenia with a maximum MSK intensity of X (Devastating), killing some 50,000 people and injuring 130,000 others.
26 solar years ago, on this day in 1993 AD, Javad Ma’roufi, one of the most notable composers of Persian classical music and one of the first pianists who wrote Persian pieces for the piano, passed away in his hometown Tehran at the age of 82. Amongst his celebrated pieces are "Khabha-ye Tala’I” (Golden Dreams) and "Jila”.
(Courtesy: IRIB English Radio – http://parstoday.com/en)
Today is Saturday; 16th of the Iranian month of Azar 1398 solar hijri; corresponding to 10th of the Islamic month of Rabi al-Sani 1441 lunar hijri; and December 7, 2019, of the Christian Gregorian Calendar.
2062 solar years ago, on this day in 43 BC, Marcus Tullius Cicero, considered to be ancient Rome’s greatest orator and prose stylist, was assassinated on the orders of Marcus Antonius (Mark Anthony). A year earlier Cicero had launched the first of his "Philippics” (oratorical attacks) on Antonius, making 14 of them over the following months.
1445 solar years ago, on this day in 574 AD, Byzantine Emperor, Justin II, abdicated the throne due to recurring seizures of insanity, and handed over power to his general Tiberius, proclaiming him Caesar. Justin had suffered a shattering defeat at the hands of the Iranian Emperor, Khosrow I Anushiravan. The Romans agreed to pay 45,000 gold coins to Iran as war reparations.
1240 lunar years ago, on this day in 201 AH, Hazrat Fatema al-Ma’soumah (peace upon her), the venerable daughter of the Prophet of Islam’s 7th Infallible Heir, Imam Musa Kazem (AS), succumbed to the wounds she suffered 17 days earlier when her caravan was attacked near Saveh, and attained martyrdom in the city of Qom. The young 28-year old lady was on her way from her hometown Medina to Merv in Khorasan to meet her brother, Imam Reza (AS), who was forced to come to northeastern Iran by the crafty Abassid caliph, Mamoun. She was a picture of piety, knowledge, wisdom, virtue, and generosity that earned her the title of "Karimey-e Ahl al-Bayt” or Munificent Lady of the Household of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). Her holy shrine draws millions of pilgrims every year from all over Iran and the world, and has transformed Qom into a prime centre of Islamic learning.
1116 solar years ago, on this day in 903 AD, the famous Iranian Islamic astronomer and mathematician, Abu’l-Hassan Abdur-Rahman Ibn Amr as-Sufi ar-Raazi, was born in Rayy, near modern Tehran. He was one of the greatest astronomers and astrologers and was patronized by Azud od-Dowla Daylami, the ruler of the Persian Shi’ite Muslim Buwayhid dynasty of Iran-Iraq-Oman to translate scientific texts from Greek, Pahlavi and other languages into Arabic. As-Sufi was known in medieval Europe as "Azophi”; and today modern scientists have named in his honour the moon crater "Azophi” and the minor planet "12621 Alsufi”. He published his famous book "Kitab al-Kawakeb as-Sabeta” (Book of Fixed Stars) in 964 AD, describing much of his work, both in textual descriptions and pictures. In the same year he made the earliest recorded observation (from Yemen) of what western scientists today call the "Andromeda Galaxy”; describing it as a "small cloud”. These were the first galaxies other than the Milky Way to be observed from the Earth. Since 2006, the Astronomy Society of Iran – Amateur Committee (ASIAC) – has been holding an international "Sufi Observing Competition” in his memory. A related work by him is: "Kitab Suwar al-Kawakeb ath-Thamaniya al-Arba’een”.
1052 solar years ago, on this day in 967 AD, the Iranian mystic and poet, Abu-Sa’eed Abi’l-Khair, was born in Mihne, near Torbat-e Haiderieh in Khorasan. He was an expert on exegesis of the Holy Qur’an, hadith, and jurisprudence, and was devoted to the Ahl al-Bayt of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). The details of his thoughts and life are known from the book "Asrar at-Tawhid” (Mysteries of Monotheism) written by his grandson, Mohammad Ibn Munawwar.
1036 solar years ago, on this day in 983 AD, the Holy Roman Emperor Otto II died crestfallen, a year after he was decisively defeated by the Muslim forces of the Fatemid Ismaili Shi’a caliphate of Egypt-North Africa at the Battle of Capo Colonna, in Calabria, southern Italy.
421 solar years ago, on this day in 1598 AD, Giovanni "Gian” Lorenzo Bernini, Italian sculptor, painter, architect, was born. He was the greatest sculptor of the 17th century and worked under the patronage of Pope Urban VII. His works included the "Ecstasy of St. Teresa,” "David” and "Daphne and Apollo.”
316 solar years ago, on this day in 1703 AD, the greatest windstorm ever recorded in the southern part of Britain makes landfall. Winds gust up to 120 mph, and 9,000 people die.
288 solar years ago, on this day in 1731 AD, French orientalist, Abraham Hyacinthe Anquetil-Duperron, was born in Paris. He could be called the first professional French Indologist and Iranologist. His most valuable achievement was a two-volume Latin retranslation and commentary of a Persian translation of fifty Upanishads (or sacred books of the Hindus) received from India in 1775, which he translated by 1796.
237 solar years ago, on this day in 1782 AD, Haidar Ali Khan, the Sultan of Mysore, died in camp near Chittor in what is now Andhra Pradesh, during the war with the British colonialists at the age of 61 after a reign of 21 years. His death was concealed by the minister, Purnaiya, until the arrival from Malabar of his son, Fath Ali Khan, who joined the main army in a few days and was established on the throne of Mysore as Tipu Sultan.
130 solar years ago, on this day in 1889 AD, the first modern automobile was built. Its speed was 12 km per hour and its inventor was Karl Friedrich Benz of Germany.
111 lunar years ago, on this day in 1330 AH, the Holy Shrine in Mashhad of Imam Reza (AS), the 8th Infallible Heir of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), was shelled by the invading Russian forces. The blasphemous attack which damaged the minarets was part of Russia’s pressures on the weak Qajarid dynasty to expel American advisor, Morgan Schuster, and appoint foreign nationals only with the permission of Russia and Britain. Many people of Mashhad were martyred and wounded in this barbaric attack.
91 solar years ago, on this day in 1928 AD, Avram Noam Chomsky, American linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, political commentator, social justice activist, and anarcho-syndicalist advocate, was born in Philadelphia to Ukrainian-born Ashkenazi Jew, Zev Chomsky. Sometimes described as the "Father of Modern Linguistics”, Chomsky is also a major figure in analytic philosophy. He has spent most of his career at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he is Institute Professor Emeritus, and is the author of more than 100 books, including "Thought-Control in Democratic Societies”. He is highly critical of the US Administration’s hegemonic policies and the state terrorism of Israel, for which the Zionist entity has banned his entry.
78 solar years ago, on this day in 1941 AD, Japan launched an aerial attack on the US naval base at Pearl Harbor in the Pacific, making the US to directly enter World War 2 in the eastern theatre.
66 solar years ago, on this day in 1953 AD, three Iranian students were shot and martyred by the Shah’s forces at Tehran University for protesting the visit to Iran of the then US vice-president, Richard Nixon, three-and-a-half months after the US-coup that toppled the government of Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Mosaddeq and restored the fugitive Shah to power. The day after this tragic incident, Nixon was shamelessly awarded an honorary PhD by the regime at Tehran University. This day is thus marked as Student’s Day in Iran.
38 solar years ago, on this day in 1981 AD, Palestinian activist, Abdul-Wahhab Kayyali, was assassinated by Zionists in Beirut. His PhD thesis at London University was on Palestine and the resistance of Arabs against colonialism and Zionism. He also published the first Palestinian magazine. Among the valuable books he wrote, mention can be made of "Modern History of Palestine”.
31 solar years ago, on this day in 1988 AD, the 6.8 degree earthquake rocked the northern part of Armenia with a maximum MSK intensity of X (Devastating), killing some 50,000 people and injuring 130,000 others.
26 solar years ago, on this day in 1993 AD, Javad Ma’roufi, one of the most notable composers of Persian classical music and one of the first pianists who wrote Persian pieces for the piano, passed away in his hometown Tehran at the age of 82. Amongst his celebrated pieces are "Khabha-ye Tala’I” (Golden Dreams) and "Jila”.
(Courtesy: IRIB English Radio – http://parstoday.com/en)