“Hariva (Herat) and its lake were the sixth good land and country that I, Ahura Mazda, created.” (Vendidad, Fargard One)

Beautiful Herat, the heart of Greater Khorasan, fell to Alexander and was destroyed 2,352 years ago; 1,422 years ago, its resistance was again broken by invading Arabs.

Herat was destroyed by the Mongols 803 years ago, and 638 years ago Timur once again laid it waste with bloodshed.

The history of suffering in this land and among its people, like that of all the Iranian lands, is filled with suffering, death, and rebirth. I do not believe this is the end of the story of this beautiful land. A thousand untasted wines still remain in the veins of this vine.

If the Iranian lands were not today in such an abyss of decay and darkness in their history, Herat and Balkh would never be so alone. From Khujand to Balkh and Rey, these lands were united in a shared dream.

I have faith that one day it will be so again: a day when Herat will once more become a heart of art and culture on the greater Iranian plateau; a union of lands whose peoples, while preserving their independence, will bring a great union of the culture of the Iranian lands to rebirth from its own ashes. Until that day, we share your grief, our brothers and sisters, and share in one another’s suffering.

Aydin Areta