page_title: Hamadan
section_title: Culture
hierarchical_section_title: Hamadan / Culture
caption_attribution_description: English: "Holy Mary Church in Hamedan, Iran.
context_page_description: Hamadān or Hamedān is the capital city of Hamadan Province of Iran. At the 2016 census, its population was 676,105 in 210,775 families.
  Hamedan is believed to be among the oldest Iranian cities. It is possible that it was occupied by the Assyrians in 1100 BCE; the Ancient Greek historian, Herodotus, states that it was the capital of the Medes, around 700 BCE.
  Hamedan has a green mountainous area in the foothills of the 3,574-meter Alvand Mountain, in the midwest part of Iran. The city is 1,850 meters above sea level.
  The special nature of this old city and its historic sites attract tourists during the summer to this city, located approximately 360 kilometres southwest of Tehran.
  The major sights of this city are the Ganj Nameh inscription, the Avicenna monument and the Baba Taher monument.
  The majority of the population is Persian; however, there is a considerable Azerbaijani minority.
context_section_description: Hamadan is home to many poets and cultural celebrities. The city is also said to be among the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities.
  Hamadan has always been well known for handicrafts like leather, ceramics, and carpets.
caption: The Saint Mary Church of Hamadan
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