UNESCO tour around Shiraz

Walk through history in Fars

Fars province is one of the most historic regions of Iran which has seen many civilizations and ethnicities and has a great cultural heritage. The historical monuments of the suburbs of Shiraz testify the fact that in the past, Shiraz and its suburbs have witnessed many historical events. The historical monuments of Shiraz from the Achaemenid period to Safavid period are being formed or have been reconstructed and restored. Some of these heritages have been damaged during natural disasters such as acid rain, earthquakes, etc.

Today’s virtual trip of Chiyakotravel is dedicated to the first capital of the great Achaemenid Empire, we want to go with you to the historical complex of Pasargadae and explore the mysterious world of this ancient city. With you, we want to go back in time to centuries ago and learn more about why this complex was built and see where Pasargadae actually is and why it has become so important. In the middle of our journey to discover Iran monument registered at UNESCO, we come across Bishapour city. Then we visit two important reliefs of Naghsh-e Rostam and Naghsh-e Rajab which are registered in UNESCO world heritage sites.

1-Pasargadae

Pasargadae is a World Heritage Site of ancient structures left over from the Achaemenid period, where the tomb of Cyrus the Great, the great man of history, is located.

 

 

Pasargadae complex is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and attractive historical attractions in Iran. Pasargadae complex is actually a collection of ancient structures from Achaemenid period that is located in Fars province.

This complex includes buildings such as the tomb of Cyrus the Great, Pasargadae Mosque, Pasargadae Kingdom Garden, Gate Palace, Bridge, Public Palace, private palace, two pavilions, fountains of royal garden, Cambyses tomb, Tel-e Takht defense structures, Mozaffari Caravanserai, Holy Yard and Balagh Strait Is.

This collection is the fifth collection registered in the list of World Heritage Sites in Iran which was registered in the UNESCO World Heritage List at UNESCO meeting held in July 2004 in China, due to its many characteristics with 100% of the votes.

Pasargadae is one of the places that every person who is interested in the culture and history of Iran should visit. To visit these beautiful, proud and spectacular buildings of Shiraz, you can use this virtual tour. If you are interested to know more about this historical complex click here…

2-Bishapur

The city of Bishapur is one of the famous ancient cities of Iran and there are many stories about it. A city built by second Sassanid king Shapur I in the eastern part of Bishapur plain, in the neighborhood of a high mountain range called Davon and south of Shapur River.

In the Sassanid period, this city was one of the five administrative centers of Fars province and was very important because it was located at the intersection of two important traffic routes. One route that led to the south of Iran and the Persian Gulf and the other route that connected Fars to Khuzestan.

Remains of many different historical monuments that are related to the city and are contemporaneous with the city and include sites, castles and lithographs in Bishapor itself, and Tang-e-Chogan valley and in the mountains near the city can be seen. The city has numerous buildings, walls, palaces and structures, and together it has gathered an attractive collection of ancient attractions of the Sassanid period. Here you can also access other attractive Sassanid monuments such as courtyards, castles, lithographs in Bishapour itself, Tang-e-Chogan valley and in the mountains near the city.

3-Naghsh-e Rostam

This time let’s have a trip to the depths of history and go to Naghsh-e Rostam in Marvdasht.

Why Naghsh-e Rostam?

• Naqsh-e Rostam is one of the most unique ancient burial mounds that can not be found in any of the other ancient countries such as Egypt, India, etc.
• Naghsh-e Rostam is the burial place of the greatest kings of Iranian history, namely Darius the Great, Darius II, Ardashir I and Xerxes.
• It is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Fars province.
• This magnificent collection contains numerous sculptural works from the Elamite period to the Sassanid dynasty, and the sequence of history can be easily seen in it.
• It is one of the most important national records in Iran and has been researched by many great domestic and foreign archaeologists and historians.
• In Naghsh-e-Rostam collection, unique lithographs of the battles of Sassanid kings such as Shapur, Bahram II, Hormoz II and Shapur II are remembered.
• One of the most significant buildings in Naghsh-e-Rostam complex is a cubic building whose construction and use are not known exactly.

Introduction to Naghsh-e Rostam in Marvdasht | Three Domes

10 km from Persepolis in the city of Marvdasht, there is a large and magnificent collection of burial mounds and relief stones of 3 great dynasties in Iran, namely Elamite, Achaemenid and Sassanid, whose name is Naghsh-e Rostam. These inscriptions and tombs have been dug on a mountain that locals call Hussein Kooh. Other names of this mountain include Istakhr Mountain and Nefesht Mountain.

In this collection, there are 4 magnificent burial mounds that belong to Darius II, Ardashir I, Darius I and Xerxes from left to right. In terms of chronology, the first carved lithograph belongs to Darius the Great, Xerxes, Ardashir I and Darius II. In the lower part of the burial mounds, magnificent sculptures of Sassanid kings can be seen, the general theme of which is their coronation, victory and battles. In front of the tomb of Darius II, there is a beautiful and cubic building called the Ka’aba of Zoroaster, which is believed to have been a fire temple or a very sacred place in the past. Other parts of this historical site include stone fireplaces, forts and water wells.

This valuable historical collection was registered in the list of national monuments of Iran on September 15, 1941 with registration number 21.

Naghsh-e-Rostam burial mounds

In this ancient complex, there are 4 burial mounds, which from left to right are the tombs of Darius II, Ardashir I, Darius the Great and Xerxes as you see in the photo.

4-Naghsh-e Rajab

This time we take a trip to Naghsh-e Rajab in Marvdasht, where the relics of the last pre-Islamic imperial dynasty, Sassanids, can be seen. Join us to show you the pictures of Naghsh-e Rajab in Marvdasht.

Why Naghsh-e Rajab?

• In this place you will see some of the most magnificent reliefs in the history of Iran.
• You can get acquainted with the story of the coronation of most powerful Sassanid kings.
• This historical attraction is located next to the most important historical monuments of Iran, namely Persepolis and Naghsh-e Rostam.

Introduction to the role of Rajab Marvdasht | The coronation of the Sassanid kings

Near Marvdasht, Fars province, on the way from Persepolis to Istakhr or the royal roa, there is a very beautiful relief from Sassanid period which is called Nagsh-e Rajab. This beautiful relief has been carved at the foot of Rahmat Mountain and from right to left shows three important assemblies of Sassanid kings which are as follows:

1- Relief of Shapur and Darbarian (1st Majlis)

2- Katir inscription

3- Relief of Ardeshir Babkan coronation (second Majlis)

4- Coronation of Shapur I (third Majlis).

Facing Nagsh-e Rajab, there is a large square which is said to have been a place of settlement and recreation in the past, and because it was close to the ancient city of Istkhr, the Sassanid kings performed their feasts and coronations there. This statement can be proved by carving the role of flowing water in the mountain of Rahmat. It is also said that it is very likely that Ardeshir Babakan was born near the city of Istakhr and was crowned near this place. That is why the reliefs of his coronation house and the later kings are located in this place.

Sassanid inscriptions and lithographs were written with the intention of perpetuating Sassanid history and informing the future. The common purpose of all of them is showing the royal lineage and royal origin of kings and the divine right to attain divine power and wisdom rooted in ancient beliefs, and political thought of Sassanid period.

Nagsh-e Rajab was registered in the list of national monuments of Iran on September 15, 1941 with number 22.

The story behind the name of Nagsh-e Rajab: Exact information on why this heritage is called Nagsh-e Rajab is not available; but it is said that the first time that Danish tourist Casten Niebuhr Called this work as Naghsh-e Rajab. He traveled to Iran in 1176 AH. It is also said that in ancient times, a coffee house was located near this place which was owned by a person named Rajab, and that is why people who did not know about these inscriptions called it Naghsh-e Rajab.