Bisutun (world heritage)
The rock relief from the 6th century BC Was by Darius I around 520 BC. Commissioned. The trilingual – Old Persian, Elamite and Babylonian – inscription reports on the rise and victories of Darius. It played a crucial role in deciphering the cuneiform script.
Bisutun: facts
| Official title: | Bisutun |
| Cultural monument: | Archaeological site on the road from Babylon to Ekbatana (today Hamadan) from the 6th century BC. BC with prehistoric, Medic, Achaemenid, Sassanid and Ilchanid finds; Main monument: rock face with pictorial and inscribed documentation of the deeds of the Persian king Darius I from around 520 BC. Chr.; based on models from the 2nd millennium BC A bas-relief (20 x 25 m) with a figure of Dareios, his foot on the defeated usurper Gaumata, in front of him nine fettered opponents (referred to in the inscription as “lying kings”); Trilingual, Old Persian, Elamite and Babylonian account of the facts on 1,200 lines with striking peculiarities of the three versions; its spread in the Persian Empire is documented by copy finds in Egypt and Babylon; Inscription with reference to descent, success, fair action and divine grace of the Persian king; Basis of the archaeological decipherment of the cuneiform as well as the reconstruction of the events before Darius I acceded to the throne. |
| Continent: | Asia |
| Country: | Iran; According to ehotelat, Iran is a country in Middle East. |
| Location: | 30 km east of Kermanshah, western Iran |
| Appointment: | 2006 |
| Meaning: | Extraordinary evidence of the Persian high culture of central importance for the history of Southwest Asia; the only known monument of the Achaemenids; unique source for deciphering cuneiform script |
Bisutun: history
| 522 BC Chr. | Accession to the throne of Dareois I through the murder of the medical magician and usurper Gaumata |
| 519 BC Chr. | Implementation of an administrative and fiscal imperial reform, division of the imperial territory into satrapies (governorships) and introduction of fixed rates of tribute and taxes, establishment of a postal and news network |
| 518 BC Chr. | Conquest of the Indus Valley |
| 513/512 BC Chr. | Unsuccessful move against the European Scythians, incorporation of Thrace, degradation of Macedonia to foreign policy “vassals” |
| 500-494 BC Chr. | Fall of the Greeks of Asia Minor |
| 490 BC Chr. | Defeat against Athens in marathon, rule over Samos |
| 486 BC Chr. | Death of Dareois I. |
Sultanije (World Heritage)
Sultanije was the capital of the Mongolian Ikhane dynasty in the 13th and 14th centuries. The mausoleum of Öljeitu, built between 1302 and 1312, is a key work of Persian architecture with its huge dome and filigree interior decoration.
Sultanije: facts
| Official title: | Sultaniye |
| Cultural monument: | Former capital of the Mongolian Ilkhanid dynasty (13th and 14th centuries) in Persia; Mausoleum of Oljaytu (built 1302 to 1312) as a central building of Islamic architecture in Mongolian times; huge, 50 m high dome building with magnificent interior decoration made of turquoise earthenware, surrounded by eight minarets |
| Continent: | Asia |
| Country: | Iran |
| Location: | Sultanije, northwest Iran |
| Appointment: | 2005 |
| Meaning: | Exceptional testimony to the development of Persian architecture, especially in the Ilkanid dynasty |
Bam and its cultural landscape (world heritage)
The history of Bam, which lies on the edge of the Lut desert, dates back to Achaemenid times. As a crossroads of trade routes and silk production facilities, it experienced its heyday between the 7th and 11th centuries. Bam has one of the oldest mosques in Iran: the Hazrat-e-Rasul Mosque was founded around 650. Bam was badly damaged by an earthquake in 2003, and the site has been on the red list since 2004.
Bam and its cultural landscape: facts
| Official title: | Bam and its cultural landscape |
| Cultural monument: | Oasis town from the time of the Achaemenid dynasty (6th to 4th centuries BC); Rise from the 7th to 11th centuries as a crossroads of trade routes and a production site for silk and cotton textiles; one of the oldest mosques in Iran; severe damage from earthquakes in 2003 and 2004, including the Arg é-Bam citadel; with the appointment therefore also classified as endangered world heritage |
| Continent: | Asia |
| Country: | Iran |
| Location: | Bam, on the edge of the Lut desert |
| Appointment: | 2004 |
| Meaning: | Largest preserved mud brick complex from ancient times |
Pasargadae (World Heritage)
In the 6th century BC Pasargadai was the first capital of the Achaemenid dynasty. It was founded by Cyrus II the Great (and, along with Persepolis, was the most important city founding of the Achaemenids. The ruins give a picture of the former size of the city. The fire temple and the tomb of Cyrus II are located in its holy district.
Pasargadae: facts
| Official title: | Pasargadai |
| Cultural monument: | First residence city of the Persian Empire under the Achaemenids; around 550 BC Founded by Cyrus II the Great; Ruins of palace buildings with monumental gates and richly decorated reception palace; Fire temple with altars and tomb of King Cyrus II; Traces of an impressive irrigation system |
| Continent: | Asia |
| Country: | Iran |
| Location: | At Persepolis |
| Appointment: | 2004 |
| Meaning: | Oldest Achaemenid royal residence and next to Persepolis the most important Persian city founding in Parsa |
Tacht-e Soleiman Archaeological Site (World Heritage)
Tacht-e Soleiman was the main sanctuary of the Zoroastrians in the 6th to 7th centuries BC. The complex is about 2200 m above sea level and consists of a palace, the fire temple and fortification walls. The place of worship had a great influence on later Islamic architecture.
Tacht-e Soleiman Archaeological Site: Facts
| Official title: | Tacht-e Soleiman archaeological site |
| Cultural monument: | Archaeological site Tacht-e Soleiman (»Throne of Solomon«) with a Zoroastrian fire sanctuary (temples, courtyards, colonnaded halls, accommodations) from the Sassanid period (6th to 7th centuries BC) and an Islamic hunting palace |
| Continent: | Asia |
| Country: | Iran |
| Location: | Tacht-e Soleiman, in northwestern Iran |
| Appointment: | 2003 |
| Meaning: | Extraordinary buildings with a great influence on the development of Islamic architecture |
