The Sassanid World: Explore Persian Sites and Rulers
Explore the Sassanid, or Sasanian, world through vaulted palaces, fortified sanctuaries, planned cities and royal rock reliefs. The collection centres on Iran and includes the great audience hall at Ctesiphon in Iraq, with brick vaults, stone domes and carved royal scenes among its surviving features.
Use the map to find sites, read about their buildings, or browse the dynasty’s rulers. The site articles distinguish Sassanid construction from earlier monuments and later additions at places occupied through several periods.
Explore Sassanid sites
Explore Sassanid sites through the vault of Ctesiphon, Firuzabad's royal buildings, Bishapur's sanctuary, Takht-e Soleyman and Persian cliff reliefs.
Daily life
Daily Life in the Sassanid Empire
Explore Sasanian cities, households, law, food, work, worship, travel and medicine across Iran and Mesopotamia from 224 to 651 CE.
Rulers
- Adur Narseh: A Brief and Contested Sasanian Ruler in Late Antique Iran
- Ardashir I and the Foundation of the Sasanian Empire
- Ardashir II: Transitional Shahanshah of the Sasanian Empire
- Ardashir III: The Last Child Monarch of the Sasanian Empire
- Azarmidokht: The Last Sasanian Queen of Iran
- Bahram Chobin: Military Leader and Usurper of the Sasanian Throne
More articles (34)
- Bahram I and the Sasanian Empire: Shaping Religious Authority in Late Antique Iran
- Bahram II
- Bahram III: A Brief Sasanian Monarch in Late Third Century Iran
- Bahram IV: Sasanian Shahanshah and His Role in Late Antiquity
- Bahram V: The Sasanian Shahanshah and His Historical Impact
- Balash: The Sasanian King and His Role in Late Fifth-Century Iran
- Boran: The Sasanian Queen Who Ruled Ancient Iran
- Farrukh Hormizd: Influential Noble and Military Leader in Late Sasanian Iran
- Farrukhzad Khosrow V: The Brief Sasanian Emperor and His Role in the Empire’s Final Years
- Hormizd I: Brief Reign of a Sasanian Shahanshah and His Role in Imperial Consolidation
- Hormizd II: Sasanian King and His Role in Late Antique Iran
- Hormizd III: A Brief Sasanian Monarch and His Impact on Imperial Succession
- Hormizd IV: Sasanian Shahanshah and His Impact on Imperial Governance
- Hormizd VI: A Brief Sasanian Ruler During Late Antiquity
- Jamasp: The Late 5th-Century Sasanian Shahanshah and His Political Role
- Kavad I
- Kavad II: The Brief Sasanian King Who Ended the Byzantine War
- Khosrow I: Architect of the Sasanian Empire’s Renewal and Legacy
- Khosrow II: The Last Great Sasanian Emperor and His Legacy
- Khosrow III: A Brief Sasanian Claimant During Imperial Fragmentation
- Khosrow IV and the Sasanian Fragmentation: Insights from Late Antique Iran
- Narseh: The Sasanian King of Iran and His Historical Impact
- Peroz I and the Sasanian Empire
- Peroz II: The Last Phase of Sasanian Rule Explored
- Shahrbaraz: Military Leader and King of the Late Sasanian Empire
- Shapur I: Architect of the Sasanian Empire’s Power and Legacy
- Shapur II: The Longest-Reigning Sasanian Emperor and His Impact on Late Antique Iran
- Shapur III: Diplomatic and Cultural Leadership of the Sasanian Empire
- Shapur IV: Sasanian Prince and King of Armenia
- Shapur-i Shahrvaraz: A Brief Sasanian Monarch in the Empire’s Final Decades
- Vistahm and the Ispahbudhan: Power and Revolt in the Late Sasanian Empire
- Yazdegerd I: Sasanian Shahanshah of Iran and His Historical Impact
- Yazdegerd II: Sasanian Monarch and Architect of Imperial Authority
- Yazdegerd III: The Last Sasanian Emperor and His Historical Role
History and society
The Sassanid Empire united diverse communities under a powerful monarchy. This overview explains how imperial institutions shaped society across four centuries.