Michael Alram

The focus of Michael Alram´s research is in the field of Iranian numismatics and history. The chronological framework extends from the 6^th century BCE, with the founding of the Achaemenid Empire, to the 7^th/8^th century CE, when Iran fell into the hands of its Arab conquerors. A major project in this regard is the Sylloge Nummorum Sasanidarum (SNS), which is conducted jointly with the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (Groupe Monde Iranien et Indien, Paris). In 2006 together with the British Institute of Persian Studies (British Academy) the Sylloge Nummorum Parthicorum (SNP) was founded, which involves museums in London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna and Tehran. Currently the coinage of the Iranian Huns and Western Turks in Central Asia and Northwest India is being subjected to thorough study.

Additionally, he has placed the highest importance on making the results of his research as well as the overall art and cultural history of Iran and Central Asia available to a wider audience. This may be seen in the two major exhibitions at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna: “Weihrauch und Seide. Alte Kulturen an der Seidenstrasse” (1996); “7000 Jahre Persische Kunst” (2000); and „Das Antlitz des Fremden (2012)”. He has also collaborated on such international exhibition projects as Monks and Merchants: Silk Road Treasures from Northwest China (Asia Society, New York, 2001), Eredi di Alessandro in Asia (Turin, 2007) and Alexander der Große und die Öffnung der Welt, Asiens Kulturen im Wandel (Mannheim 2009).