|
|
Persepolis
 |
Brief Description
Founded by Darius I in 518 B.C., Persepolis was the
capital of the Achaemenid Empire. It was built on an immense
half-artificial, half-natural terrace, where the king of
kings created an impressive palace complex inspired by
Mesopotamian models. The importance and quality of the
monumental ruins make it a unique archaeological site.
|
|
Meidan-e-Emam
 |
Brief Description
Built by Shah Abbas I the Great at the beginning of the
17th century, and bordered on all sides by monumental
buildings linked by a series of two-storeyed arcades, the
site is known for the Royal Mosque, the Mosque of Sheykh
Lotfollah, the magnificent Portico of Qaysariyyeh and the
15th-century Timurid palace. They are an impressive
testimony to the level of social and cultural life in Persia
during the Safavid era. |
|
Pasargadae
 |
Brief Description
Pasargadae was the first dynastic capital of the
Achaemenid Empire, founded by Cyrus II, the Great, in Pars,
homeland of the Persians, in the 6th century BC. Its
palaces, gardens, and the mausoleum of Cyrus are outstanding
examples of the first phase of royal Achaemenid art and
architecture and exceptional testimonies of Persian
civilization. Particularly noteworthy vestiges in the 160-ha
site include: the Mausoleum of Cyrus II; Tall-e Takht, a
fortified terrace; and a royal ensemble of gatehouse,
audience hall, residential palace, and gardens. Pasargadae
was the capital of the first great multicultural empire in
Western Asia. Spanning the Eastern Mediterranean and Egypt
to the Hindus River, it is considered to be the first empire
that respected the cultural diversity of its different
peoples. This was reflected in Achaemenid architecture, a
synthetic representation of different cultures. |
|
Tchogha
Zabnil
|
Brief Description
The ruins of the holy city of the Kingdom of Elam,
surrounded by three huge concentric walls, are found at
Tchogha Zanbil. Founded c. 1250 B.C., the city remained
unfinished after it was invaded by Ashurbanipal, as shown by
the thousands of unused bricks left at the site. |
|
Takht-e-Soleyman
|
Brief Description
The archaeological site of Takht-e Soleyman, in
north-western Iran, is situated in a valley set in a
volcanic mountain region. The site includes the principal
Zoroastrian sanctuary partly rebuilt in the Ilkhanid
(Mongol) period (13th century) as well as a temple of the
Sasanian period (6th and 7th centuries) dedicated to Anahita.
The site has important symbolic significance. The designs of
the fire temple, the palace and the general layout have
strongly influenced the development of Islamic architecture.
|
|
Bam
|
Brief Description
Bam is situated in a desert environment on the southern
edge of the Iranian high plateau. The origins of Bam can be
traced back to the Achaemenid period (6 th to 4 th cent.
BC). Its heyday was from the 7 th to 11 th centuries, being
at the crossroads of important trade routes and known for
the production of silk and cotton garments. The existence of
life in the oasis was based on the underground irrigation
canals, the qanāts, of which Bam has preserved some of the
earliest evidence in Iran. The Citadel of Bam (Arg-e Bam) is
the most representative example of a fortified medieval town
built in vernacular technique using mud layers (Chineh).
|
|
Soltaniyeh
|
Brief Description
The mausoleum of Oljaytu was constructed in 1302-12 in
the city of Soltaniyeh, the capital of the Ilkhanid dynasty,
which was founded by the Mongols. Situated in the province
of Zanjan, Soltaniyeh is one of the outstanding examples of
the achievements of Persian architecture and a key monument
in the development of its Islamic architecture. The
octagonal building is crowned with a 50m-tall dome covered
in turquoise blue faience and surrounded by eight slender
minarets. It is the earliest existing example of the
double-shelled dome in Iran. The mausoleum’s interior
decoration is also outstanding and scholars such as A.U.
Pope have described the building as “anticipating the Taj
Mahal.” |
|
|
