iram

Iram is a name that can refer to several distinct concepts in myth, science, and onomastics.

Iram, also known as Iram of the Pillars, is a legendary city described in Islamic and Arab lore. The Qur’an mentions a city with lofty pillars called Iram (Surah 89:6–8). In later tradition, Iram is portrayed as a grand pre-Islamic metropolis that was destroyed as a warning to others. The precise location and historicity are uncertain, and Iram is generally treated as myth or legendary memory rather than a documented historical place.

IRAM, Institut de Radioastronomie Millimétrique, is a European intergovernmental research organization focused on millimeter-wavelength astronomy. Based in Grenoble, France, IRAM operates two major facilities: the 30-meter telescope at Pico Veleta in Spain and NOEMA (the Northern Extended Millimeter Array) on the Plateau de Bure in the French Alps. NOEMA superseded the Plateau de Bure Interferometer and has expanded baseline and capabilities. IRAM’s program supports international collaboration and studies of molecular gas, dust, and star formation in galaxies, the interstellar medium, and extragalactic objects.

Iram is also a given name used in various cultures, particularly among Arabic-speaking communities, where it may be given to girls. The name’s use reflects its roots in myth and regional language traditions.