1.   Iran is the modern outgrowth of the ancient Persian culture that has been a central power in Islamic history.

2.   Roman, Gaul, Chinese, Egyptian and Persian cultures looked at the egg as a symbol of the universe.

3.   The Northern Alliance, about one-third of whom are Shiite Muslims, are from a Persian culture that looks toward Iran and speaks Persian, or Farsi.

4.   They visited England, savoring the sober decorativeness of the Esthetic Movement, and then the Middle East, where they became entranced by Persian culture.