Qur’an Gate (Persian: Darvāzeh Qur’an) is a historic gate in the north of Shiraz, the capital of Fars Providence, and is located at the northeastern entrance of the city, on the way to Marvdasht and Isfahan. The first capital of Fars, some 2500 years ago, was Pasargadae, located near to Shiraz. It was also the capital of Achaemenid King Cyrus the Great. The ceremonial capital of his successor, Darius, and his son Xerxes was Persepolis. Among the Iranian poets, mystics and philosophers born in Shiraz were the poets Sa’di and Hafiz, the mystic Ruzbehan, and the philosopher Mulla Sadra. (Photo – Dec 1970)