Abstract
Discusses the changing perceptions within Iran of the Shahyad Aryamehr Monument (illus.) in the capital Tehran. The author explains the current understanding of the monument as a symbol of the victorious Islamic revolution, notes its original purpose of attesting to the rule of the Shah, and argues that the monument also derives meaning from its architectural form. He cites the views of the architectural historian Stanford Anderson on the different types of memories evoked by monuments, describes the dedication of the monument in 1971, and focuses on the aims of the designer, Hossein Amanat, to commemorate the Shah and Persian history. He examines the cultural constructions placed upon the work from the time of its construction until the fall of the Shah in 1978, reports on the role of the monument during the popular uprising of 1978, and explores the use made of it by the new authorities in Iran. He focuses on the perceptions of the monument amongst exiled Iranians, considers the way in which it transcends political changes and events, and argues that the building can be made the subject of constant reinterpretation.