Bishabour, a symbol of Sassanid architecture

EghtesadOnline: The multiplicity of historical monuments remaining from the Sassanid era in comparison with the Parthian period shows that the extent of construction activity at that time was very high.

News ID: ۷۳۶۹۸۵

17 September 2016

According to a report by the Research Institute and Cultural Heritage and Tourism (RICHT), the city of Bishabour, located 22km north of Kazeroon in Fars Province southern Iran, which had been founded by the first Sassanid king is a symbol of the Sassanid architectural masterpieces in urban development and architecture.

Addressing a recent gathering, faculty member of the RICHT Research Center for Historical-Cultural Buildings and Textures Alireza Shah Mohammadpour referred to the characteristics of historical monuments in Iran in pre and post-Islamic periods, including in Bishabour, and pointed to the Sassanid architecture as one of the most important architectural characteristics in pre-Islamic era, reports IRNA.

Pointing to urban development in the Sassanid era, he said following the downfall of the Parthian rule by Ardeshir Babakan, in early third century AD the Sassanid dynasty came to power. Several historical monuments remaining from that historical period in comparison with the Parthian era indicate that the extent of construction activity in that period, namely establishment of cities, forts, bridges and dams had a significant growth.

According to the researcher, most cities in that period had been built on a strip between the Persian Gulf and the southern and southwestern Zagros mountain range which would connect the Strait of Hormuz to Mesopotamia and then to Tisfoun.

Stressing that the city of Bishabour had been built upon the orders of the first Sassanid king, Shah Mohammadpour noted that the city enjoyed unique characteristics such as the documentary about establishment of the city, the statute of Shapour I in 7.5 meter height which is the only statute of a king in the pre-Islamic era, reliefs depicting major events in the Sassanid era, mosaic designs which had been used in pavements, specific establishments such as the Anahita Temple and the Cruciferous Palace.

He added that although Grishman had attributed the city of Bishabour to Hippodamus and the roman architecture, on the basis of studies conducted in this regard this theory is not correct because according to the rubbles remaining from the Islamic period and based on the lines of surface architecture about the architecture of the Sassanid period, a definitive opinion can be expressed.