HAMADAN, a province and town of Persia. The province is bounded north by Kazvin and Khamseh, west by Kermanshah, south by Malayer and Iraq and east by Tehran provinces. It has many well watered plains producing much grain. Before the World War there were extensive plantations of trees but much timber was cut down during the Turkish occupation. The popu lation is estimated at 350,000, more than one half being Turki stanis of the Karaguzlu (now a quite sedentary people) and Shamlu tribes. The revenue in 1926-27 amounted to 5,560,429 krans.
Hamadan the chief town of the province is situated some 180 m. W.S.W. of Tehran, on the Kazvin-Kermanshah motor road, at an elevation of over 6,000 f t., near the foot of the Mount Alvand, whose granite peak has an altitude of 11,900 feet. It is one of the principal trade and distributing centres of Persia, being at the meeting point of a number of roads, some of which, in cluding that to Sultanabad, were made passable for motor traffic during and after the World War. The population was estimated in 1919 at 70,00o, of whom one-fourth were Turks or of Turkish origin, the remainder being Persians, Jews (some 4,000) with a sprinkling of Armenians. The bazars are extensive and well stocked, but the streets of the town are narrow and tortuous. Hamadan is the seat of the leather, shell-lac and gall-nut trade of Persia, and a centre of the important rug industry. An author ity states that one-eighth of the population lives and works in the tanneries, and hides are imported from all over Persia. The climate of Hamadan is described as pleasant; but the winters are long and severe with heavy falls of snow.
Hamadan is the Ecbatana of the classical authors (q.v.). Ac cording to a tradition Darius rebuilt the city which had long lain in ruins in order to have a safe asylum for his family and treasures during the war with Alexander. Whether the later citadel of Hamadan actually dated back to such early times must remain uncertain; but it is certain that it was destroyed by Agha Mu hammad Khan in 1789 and that the remains, now called Al Musalla, are to be seen outside the town. Another monument of ancient times is the Bab al Asad (Lion gate) which was adorned by a colossal figure of a lion. In A.D. 931 the Bab was destroyed and the lion thrown down, and to this day the inhabitants esteem a figure of a lion lying outside the town as a talisman against hunger and cold. As a centre of a well populated district, Hama dan developed at a very early period, and is said to have been four parasangs (16 m.) in length. Jews are attracted to the town not only by the favourable conditions of trade, but also by the alleged tombs of Mordecai and Esther, in an insignificant domed building in the middle of the town, to which Jews from other countries as well make a pilgrimage. Hamadan also boasts the tomb of the celebrated philosopher Avicenna (Abu Ali ibn Sina) who died there in 1037.
See G. N. Curzon, Persia and the Persian Question (1892) ; Brugsch, Reise Hach Persien (1862-63) ; J. De Morgan, Expedition scientifique etc., iv.; Le Strange, Lands of the Eastern Caliphate; A. Y. W. Jack son, Persia past and present (1906) ; M. H. Donohoe, With the Persian expedition (1919) ; A. Poidebard, Au carrefour des routes de Perse