Mummy mystery grips Iran
The discovery of a mummy rumored to be the former shah of Iran has stirred fascination and controversy.
The Iranian media erupted April 23 with news of the discovery of a mummy that seems to be the remains of Reza Shah Pahlavi, the founder of the Pahlavi dynasty (1925-79) in Iran.
Reza Shah, who is also commonly known in Iran as Reza Khan, ruled the country from 1925 until 1941. As the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union invaded and occupied Iran during the Second World War, he was forced to abdicate in favor of his son Mohammad Reza over his suspected Nazi sympathies. The younger shah was toppled in the 1979 Islamic Revolution, ending the monarchy in Iran.
