Bishapur Ancient City: A Sasanian Capital in Iran
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Country: Iran
Civilization: Sassanid
Remains: City
History
Bishapur Ancient City is located near Kazerun in the Fars Province of modern-day Iran. It was established during the Sasanian Empire, one of the major Iranian dynasties, and served as one of its capitals. The city was founded in the 3rd century AD under the reign of Shapur I, a prominent Sasanian king.
The city’s development is closely linked to Shapur I, who ordered the construction of key structures, including the Temple of Anahita. Bishapur functioned as a ceremonial and administrative center. The city’s layout integrated royal palaces and religious buildings, emphasizing its role in state rituals and governance.
Bishapur’s religious life included worship of the Aryan goddess Anahita, with the temple dedicated to her playing a central role in seasonal ceremonies and purification rites. The city’s proximity to the Shapur River was significant for these rituals, as water was channeled into the temple for sacred purposes.
Remains
Bishapur’s archaeological remains include a complex of buildings constructed primarily in the Achaemenid architectural style, characterized by finely carved stone blocks assembled without mortar. The stones are joined using iron fasteners, forming durable double walls. The site features a large cubical rectangular chamber, recessed about six meters below ground, measuring roughly 14 meters on each side.
The Temple of Anahita, constructed in the late 3rd century AD under Shapur I, is one of the most distinctive monuments of Bishapur. The roofless structure was designed to channel water from the Shapur River into its central pool through a system of stone conduits and underground channels. After circulating through the temple, the water exited via a qanat, reflecting the association of the goddess Anahita with flowing water and purification.
A staircase connected the temple directly to the royal palace, indicating a close spatial and functional relationship within the city’s ceremonial complex. The temple’s side corridors were documented during the first excavations in 1935 by French archaeologist Roman Ghirshman. Further excavations and restoration took place starting in 1968 under Ali Akbar Sarfaraz.
Today, the temple and surrounding structures have been organized and restored, preserving their original layout. The site was among the first in Iran to be registered as a national monument in 1931 and is part of the Bishapur complex recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.