In photos: Ferdowsi still stands watch over Iran’s squares

For Iranians, Abul-Qasem Ferdowsi is more than a poet; he is the living memory of the Persian language. On National Ferdowsi Day, IRNA photographers across Iran captured statues of the great poet standing quietly yet firmly in city squares from Mashhad and Tus to Tehran and beyond. For decades, his image has remained part of Iran’s collective memory, symbolizing the endurance of language, history, and identity.