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in adiThereforemmthabtSassanid Archaeological Landscape of Fars Region- UNESCO World Heritage Site

As you know, Fars province in Iran is so rich in history. 22 properties in Iran are already registering on the World Heritage List. Recently, in June, 2018, eight Archeological sites located in three geographical areas of Fras Province were inscribed on UNESCO’s world heritage list. Consequently, the number of Iran properties inscribed on this list increased to 23.

These newly inscribed sites are located in three areas of Firuzabad, Bishapur and Sarvestan, all of which are in southeast of Fars. In this article, you are going to read about these sites and a summary of their history. Moreover, these famous and popular palaces, structures and cities date back to the Sassanid Dynasty, i.e. from 224 to 658 CE. These archeological sites are as follows: Qal’eh Dokhtar, Ardeshir investiture relief, the victory relief of Ardeshir, Ardeshir Khurreh city, Ardeshir Palace, the city of Bishapur and its related components, Shapur cave, Sarvestan monument.

Palace of Ardashir

Actually palace of Ardeshir Papakan (also known as Ardeshir fire temple)  built by the founder of Sassanian dynasty, Ardashir Papakan. It was considered as the capital in that time and nowadays it is located near Firuzabad or the old city of Piruz-Apad in ancient Persia. It is most famous for the three great magnificent domes above the palace. In addition, many believe that the design of this building  just intended to show the royalty image of Ardashir I, rather than  used as a defense. Therefore, It is better to consider it as a palace, not a castle.

However, the walls of Ardashir Palace are very huge and thick, which makes it suitable for something more than a place for social gathering. It has a unique architecture not similar to any other Parthian or Sassanian design. Therefore, that is why it attracts so many visitors every year. Also, there is a pond near this palace which may be related to Anahita, the Persian goddess of water and growth. So, it is believe that this pond would feed the royal garden, just like what we had in Pasargadae garden made by Cyrus the great.

The coordinates of this site are:

N28 53 52.73

E52 32 21.17

In case you are interested to visit this site in an Iran Tour when you travel to Iran, you can contact our Iran Tour Operator to customize Iran Package Tours.

Sassanid Ardashir Palace

Sassanid Ardashir Palace

Sassanid Ardashir Palace

Sassanid Ardashir Palace

Qaleh Dokhtar

According to all these beautiful Historical places, Qal’eh Dokhtar (also known as Ghale Dokhtar or Dezh Dokhtar, literally meaning the Maiden Castle) has been built by Ardashir I, the founder of Sassanid Empire, in 209 AD. It is located on the top of a mountain near Palace of Ardashir, both of which are near Firouzabad city, Fars Province. This castle dedicated to Anahita, Goddess of water. To enter this castle you have to pass through a tall gateway within a rectangular tower inside which there is a broad stairway leading to a rectangular hall. The construction of this castle is uniform of stone and mortar with a thick coating of plaster, which could have been decorated with ornamentation or painting.

The coordinates of this site are:

N28 54 59.60
E52 32 14.62

In case you are interested to visit this site in an Iran Tour when you travel to Iran, you can contact our Iran Tour Operator to customize Iran Package Tours.

Sassanid Qaleh Dokhtar

Sassanid Qaleh Dokhtar

Ardeshir investiture relief

Moreover ,the investiture relief of Ardeshir ,called the bridge relief according to that  is near to Mehr-Nerseh bridge, located in Tangabe Firuzabad. It was carved to show Ahuramazda or Ohrmazd is handing Ardashir the ring of power over a fire altar. There are four individuals standing behind Ardashir, one of them may be the crown prince Shapur.

The coordinates of this site are:

N28 54 35.54
E52 32 27.30

In case you are interested to visit this site in an Iran Tour during your trip to Iran, you can contact our Iran Tour and Travel Agency to customize Iran Package Tours.

Sassanid Relief of Ardashir Investiture

Sassanid Relief of Ardashir Investiture

The Victory Relief of Ardashir

Some of the historians believed Ardashir victory relief was  the first rock relief from the Sassanid era. It is located 7 kilometers north east of the palace of Ardashir within Tangabe Firuzabad. The Victory Relief of Ardashir is 18 meters longand 4 meters high, which makes it the largest rock relief remaining from Sassanian era. Therefore, it shows the victory of Ardeshir against the last Parthian king, Artabanus V.

The coordinates of this site are:

N28 51 7.73
E52 31 57.15

In case you are interested to visit this site in an Iran Tour during your trip to Iran, you can contact our Iran Tour and Travel Agency to customize Iran Tourism Packages.

Sassanid Relief of victory of Ardashir

Sassanid Relief of victory of Ardashir

Ardashir Khurreh (Gur City)

Ardashir Khurra or Gur city is a circular citadel city built probably by Ardashir Papakan and it is considered as the first capital of the Sassanid Empire which is located about 110 km south of Shiraz. Also, the most interesting point about this city is its complete circular shape, which take from the Parthian style.In Addition, Artabanus IV in 224 A.D. built the original city , but after that Alexander of Macedonia destroyed that original city of Gur,and at last Ardeshir I revived it .

The coordinates of this site are:

N28 51 7.73
E52 31 57.15

In case you are interested to visit this site in an Iran Tour when you travel to Iran, you can contact our Iran Tour Operator to customize Iran Package Tours.

Sassanid city of Gur

Sassanid city of Gur

The city of Bishapur and its related components

In ancient times, there was a road between Persis and Elam that linked two Sassanian capitals, Estakhr (near Persepolis) and Ctesiphon. Bishapur city was on this ancient road and now it is located in Kazeroon county, Fars province, Iran. The construction of Bishapur was ordered by king Shapur I, the second Sassanid king, in 266 AD. In addition, the interesting feature of this city is the combination of Persian and Roman architecture and art which was not existing before that, because this city is the first to have vertical and horizontal streets. Also, some tiles in this city adapted from Roman art. Besides, there is also an Anahita Temple in this ancient city.

The coordinates of this site are:

N29 46 38.93
E51 34 13.62

In case you are interested to visit this site in an Iran Tour when you travel to Iran, you can contact our Iran Tour Operator to customize Iran Package Tours.

Sassanid city of Bishapur

Sassanid city of Bishapur

Sassanid

Bishapur, Commemorative Columns

Shapur Cave

Shapour Cave which is located in Zagros Mountains, south of Iran, near Bishapur and Kazerun city, is another site registered on UNESCO world heritage list. There is a colossal statue of Shapur I in this cave carving from one stalagmite and is 7 meters high! Besides, some believes that the tomb of Shapur I, the second king of Sassanid Empire, is  somewhere in this cave. Therefore, this great statue is worth visiting at least once in a life.

The coordinates of this site are:

N29 48 24.6
E51 36 47

In case you are interested to visit this site in an Iran Tour when you travel to Iran, you can contact our Iran Tour and Travel Agency to customize Iran Package Tours.

Sassanid

Statuse of Shapur in Shapur Cave

Sarvestan Palace

The Sassanid Sarvestan Palace is located 90 kilometers southeast of Shiraz city in a historical city called Sarvestan. This palace built by the Sassanid king Bahramgur in the 5th century AD. Although the main function of this monument is not clear, the name palace gave to this monument. However, some believe it might be either a gubernatorial residence or a Zoroastrian fire temple. This huge building made of stone and plaster and has great domes, rooms, corridors, and terraces. The oldest brick dome in Iran belongs to this Sassanid monument.

The coordinates of this site are:

N29 11 43.94
E53 13 51.84

In case you are interested to visit this site in an Iran Tour during your trip to Iran, you can contact our Iran Tour and Travel Agency to customize Iran Tourism Packages.

Sassanid Sarvestan Monument

Sarvestan Palace

Sassanid

Sassanid Archaeological Landscape

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