Rare Persian manuscripts exhibit underway at U.S. Library of Congress

TEHRAN,June 18(MNA) -- The U.S. Library of Congress is hosting an exhibition of rare Persian manuscript books in Washington D.C. Entitled “A Thousand Years of the Persian Book”, the showcase features the library’s unique collections, which are among the most important in the world today outside of Iran. The exhibition focuses on Iran but also includes items from the greater Persian-speaking lands of Afghanistan and Tajikistan, as well as from Central and South Asia and the Caucasus, illustrating the international nature of the Persian language. In addition to examining the diversity of literary styles, the exhibition demonstrates the continuity of the written word as a unifying cultural force in Persian-speaking lands. Three manuscripts of Shahnameh, along with classic books in the realm religion, Science and Technology, history and literature are on display at the exhibition. The showcase runs until September 20 at the South Gallery of the congress.