I think that one of the problems with modern museums is that they try to evoke some kind of mysterious atmosphere: in poorly-lit rooms, you can see only a couple of objects lying there, beautifully spotlighted, just looking mysterious. The illumination allows you to look at it from one point of view, but not from other angles. Photography is almost impossible. In other words, you cannot study the objects.
I get the impression that museums are now leaving this cul-de-sac, and return to decent displays. The Archaeological Museum of Tehran has never succumbed to ill-directed aestheticism, and this makes it, easily, one of the better museums dedicated to ancient culture.
This does not mean that there are no beautiful objects. The first part, dedicated to the Neolithicum and Bronze Ages, culminates in the pottery from Susa, which is just splendid. Recently, this part has been redesigned; several objects from the important excavations at Jiroft have been inserted, to name but one change.
The museum has a treasury that contains precious objects, made of silver and gold, but it is often closed. Asking for permission to get there is futile. In this aspect, the Tehran Museum suffers from the same error as western museums: it creates obstacles for students. I think this is inexcusable. There is simply no reason why a museum should hide its entire collection from people who have made an effort to get there.
This being said, the Tehran museum is really something special. Next to it is the museum of Islamic Art, which has not been open for quite some time; I remember that I liked it very much. Around the corner you will find the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, situated in a building that is inspired by the Persepolis Apadana; and around another corner, you will find a charming museum dedicated to fine art made of glass. If you have only one day in Tehran, spend it in this part of the city.
This museum was visited in 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014.
 Bahram V
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 Susa, Statue of Darius, Subject m'dy (OP. Mâda = Media)
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 Susa, Statue of Darius, Subject Hgr (Hegra, i.e., Arabia)
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 Persepolis, Apadana, Northern Stairs, Central Relief, Prince
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 Susa, Relief of Artabanus IV
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 Bahram IV
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 Ardashir II (Hormizd I), coin
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 Susa, Statue of Darius the Great, Base with sema-tawy (rear)
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 Persepolis, Apadana, Northern Stairs, Central Relief, Great Magian
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 Persepolis, Apadana, Northern Stairs, Central Relief, Darius
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 Susa, Inscription DSy
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 Susa, Statue of Darius, Subject sk3tl3 (OP. Skudra = Thrace)
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 Susa, Statue of Darius, Darius' name as cartouche: drjwS
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 Hamadan, Achaemenid cup with relief of a winged lion
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 Choga Zanbil, Ziggurat, Doorknob (Tehran)
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 Susa, Statue of Darius, Subject spltj3 (OP. Sparda = Lydia)
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 Susa, Statue of Darius, Subject ch3rs3m' (OP. Uvârazmîy = Chorasmia)
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 Choga Zanbil, Ziggurat, Inner gate, Lock with Inscription
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 Choga Zanbil, Inner Court, Statue of a cow
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 Iranian Azerbaijan, Stone weight
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 Susa, Statue of Darius, Subject slng (OP. Zranka = Drangiana)
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 Persepolis, Apadana, Northern Stairs, Central Relief, Weapon carrier, Akinakes
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 Hamadan, Achaemenid torque
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 Peroz I
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 Susa, Statue of Darius, Subject 3Sw3l (Assyria)
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 hndw3y (OP. Hinduš = India)
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 Susa, Statue of Darius, Subject skdy (OP. Sugda = Sogdia)
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 Persepolis, Apadana, Northern Stairs, Central Relief (Proskynesis scene)
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 Susa, Statue of Darius, Subject kmt (OE. Kemet = Egypt)
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 Hamadan, Sasanian dish
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 Sari, Sasanian plate
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 Susa, Statue of Darius, Subject t3 tjmhw (OE. Tjemehu = Cyrenaica)
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 Susa, Stone fish
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 Susa, Statue of Darius, Subject sdgw3? (OP. Thataguš = Sattagydia)
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 Susa, Statue of Darius, Subject 3lm'yn3 (OP. Armina = Armenia)
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 Persepolis, Apadana, Northern Stairs, Central Relief, Guard, Weight
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 Persepolis, Inscription XPh ("Daiva inscription")
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 Susa, Statue of Darius, Subject pltiiw3 (OP. Parthava = Parthia)
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 Persepolis, Apadana, Northern Stairs, Central Relief
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 Valkash
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 Persepolis, Apadana, Northern Stairs, Central Relief, Pharnaces
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 Hamadan, Achaemenid rhyton
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 Susa, Statue of Darius, once erected in Egypt, but later brought to Susa.
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 Susa, Statue of Darius the Great, left-hand side of the base
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 Persepolis, Hall of 32 Columns, Plaque
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 Susa, Inscription A2Sb
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 Susa, Hellenistic portrait of a Muse
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 Head of a bronze statue of a Parthian prince, found at Shami, Khuzestan
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 Susa, Statue of Darius the Great, Base with sema-tawy (front)
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 Hellenistic portrait of a queen
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 Susa, Handle of a Parthian coffin
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 Iranian Azerbaijan, Disk with a deity with two wild animals
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 Royal Warrior
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 Persepolis, Apadana, Northern Stairs, Central Relief, Darius on his throne
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 Yazdgard I
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 Susa, Statue of Darius, Subject hlhdy (OP. Gandâra = Gandara)
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 Bishapur, Palace, Mosaic of a lady with flowers
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 Persepolis, Apadana, Northern Stairs, Central Relief, Darius' stool
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 Susa, Inscription A2Sd
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 Persepolis, Queen's Quarters, Inscription XPf, Persian text (Tehran copy)
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 Persepolis, Apadana, Northern Stairs, Central Relief, Weapon carrier
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 Susa, Statue of Darius, Subject gdpdk3y (OP. Katpatuka = Cappadocia)
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 Persepolis, Apadana, Northern Stairs, Central Relief, Guards
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 Susa, Statue of Darius, Subject hlw3 (OP. Haraiva = Aria)
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 Persepolis, Tripylon, Staircase
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 Damghan, Sasanian relief
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 Susa, Sassanian portrait
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 Susa, Statue of Darius, Subject '3ylm "Chiefs of Irem" (Elam)
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 Persepolis, Apadana, Northern Stairs, Central Relief, Incense burners
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 Persepolis, Apadana, Northern Stairs, Central Relief, Darius' flower
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 Susa, Statue of Darius, Subject pls (OP. Parsa = Persis)
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 Susa, Statue of Darius, Subject sg?shkš (OP Sâka = Scythians)
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 Persepolis, Apadana, Dog's head
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 Susa, Inscription A2Sd
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 Hamadan, Achaemenid statuette of a bull
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 Amulet of Bes from Iran
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 Susa, Statue of Darius, Subject m'g (Maka)
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 Persepolis, Apadana, Inscription XPg
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 Persepolis, Tripylon, Lamassu capital
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 Susa, Statue of Darius the Great, Belt with akinakes
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 Grey ware from Khurvin
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 Persepolis, Apadana, Northern Stairs, Central Relief, Guard, "Apple"
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 Susa, Statue of Darius, Subject s3htjl (OP. Bâkhtriš = Bactria)
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 Tepe Sialk, Cup from the fourth millennium decorated with a human figure
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 Susa, Statue of Darius, Subject b3b3l (Babylonia)
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 Persepolis, Treasury, Statue of Penelope
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 Yazdgard II
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 Persepolis, Treasury, Weight DWc
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 Tepe Sialk, Cup from the first millennium
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 Susa, Inscription A2Sb
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 Tepe Hesar, Figurine
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 Tepe Hisar, Late Bronze Age phial
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 Tepe Sialk, Early first millennium beak pot (2)
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 Tepe sialk, Jar from the fourth millennium BCE, decorated with ibexes
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 Persepolis, Queen's Quarters, Inscription XPf, Babylonian text
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 Persepolis, Portrait of an Achaemenid woman or beardless prince
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 Persepolis, Palace of Darius, Relief of a sphinx
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 Persepolis, Palace of Darius, Doorknob with inscription DPi
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 Susa, Statue of Darius, Subject t3 nhsy (Kush)
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 Achaemenid nobleman
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