Some men simply can't resist the urge to roam past the horizon, to explore civilizations untouched by the stain of modernity. Ely Bannister Soane was one such man, an extraordinary British architect who journeyed beyond the known and, perhaps, had a love for the unknown. Born in 1881, Soane was a humble explorer, tremendously interested in the Islamic world, specializing in Persian architecture. His travels in the early 1900s took him deep into unfamiliar corners of the Middle East and Persia, where, instead of trying to impose Western ideals, he absorbed the local culture and traditions with an open mind—a lesson our modern-day ‘cultural ambassadors’ could certainly learn from.
He served in the British Consulate in Baghdad and translated Persian literature, giving the Western world insights into a culture it neither understood nor appreciated during those times. And while many of his counterparts were busy scribbling reports with a transformative Western gaze, Soane appreciated the architecture and literature without needing to tinker with it, much to the dismay of those who wanted to spread the wings of Western architectural philosophy over every stone and minaret.
But let's throw some clarity on why this man is more than just a name in forgotten history books. While Soane spent a considerable amount of time in Persia (modern-day Iran) and Iraq, he didn't simply wander around for sightseeing. He played a critical role during World War I by engaging tribes and gathering intelligence. Imagine a world where obtaining crucial information didn’t involve undercover operations in the high-tech battlefield, but rather required building genuine relationships with the locals.
Now, the irony leaps right out when you consider how today's global entities focus so much on tearing down the old to build anew. Ely Bannister Soane had a different mindset; he viewed the grandeur of Persian architecture as worth preserving and understanding, not overshadowing. His approach was human-centric, something one might mockingly suggest is lost in the current tide of global and political correctness crusades.
One of Soane's incredible feats was authoring “To Mesopotamia and Kurdistan in Disguise” in 1912, a travelogue documenting his marvelous journey in disguise across regions only a few Westerners had dared to explore. We chuckle at the modern armchair 'adventurers,' snapping selfies by the Great Pyramids, yet Soane’s endeavors shed light on the intricate nature of regions few of his contemporaries saw or wrote about in a similar manner.
He was meticulous. Not only did Soane learn to speak Persian, but he embraced it, honoring the dialects and nuances. Unlike today’s global elites, enduring language barriers with snickers and mistranslations, Soane strived for genuine understanding. Can we maybe credit this attribute as essential to his successes?
It's extraordinary to think how a man from the conservative British empire admired Iranian peoples and landscapes, not through the prism of colonization, but by respecting its cultural symmetry. His once-celebrated yet now-neglected texts still brim with insights for those wise enough to seek them.
His work, “Ely Bancroft Soane: Englishman and Iran Specialist,” while less caught up in today’s educational curriculums, should spark interest. It could teach a thing or two about building bridges and maintaining historical appreciation—a concept rather alien to sectors championing ‘progress’ in our ever-divided world.
Perhaps what’s most relatable about Soane is his love for adventure and truth. Our modern world, teetering under bureaucracy and red tape, would do well to look back at individuals who paved their paths with genuine curiosity and respect for cultural integrity. Soane didn’t attempt to assert Western superiority. Instead, he engraved a trustful bond with the diverse people he interacted with, a task that project architects, cultural critics, and even government officials find slippery in our current epoch.
Ely Bannister Soane died in 1923 at the age of 42, but his works and life left echoes that should remind us of the significance of understanding cultures instead of rushing to alter them. Perhaps this might rankle those easily upset by anything that doesn't race to embrace every 'modern' ideology, yet they speak volumes about the importance of respect and authentic exploration over blind transformation.
While Soane might not be the hero today’s left and right political wings squabble over, he serves as a testament to what can be achieved through observation and understanding rather than interference. Ely Bannister Soane isn't just another historical footnote but perhaps a blueprint for those brave enough to face the new from behind a lens of appreciation.