Making echoes in the Ardeshir Palace (Altar) in Firuzabad, Iran

In the Fars Province central in Iran there are a large number of heritages from the Pre-Islamic period. One of the greatest wonders of the all is the Ardeshir Palace (Altar) located in the outskirts of the old city Firuzabad (Firuz Abad).

Photo. Ardeshir Palace (Altar) from the Pre-Islamic period - Firuzabad (Firuz Abad) in Iran.

My day tour on Sunday the 18 July 2004 to Firuzabad (Firuz Abad) was full of highlights almost from start to end. The town of Firuzabad covers an area of 11270 square km, and it dates past dates back to the Sassanian dynasty (224 - 651 AD). In the area there are several monuments and bas-reliefs form this period. It tells about the power and grandeur of the once great pre-Islamic empire of the Persians.

The province of Pârs (or Fârs) is the birthplace of two ancient Iranian Zarathushti dynasties: the Acheamenians, founded by Cyrus the Great, and the Sassanians, founded by Ardeshir son of a regional king Papak.

On a narrow rocky trail with no signs, full of shepards and sheeps, I was approaching the Ardeshir Palace (Altar). So after few kilometres on the bumpy road I could finally see the monument rose in its full pride. From the palace of Ardeshir I could view a small lake. This water supplies the ancient city of Ardeshir-Khurra "Gur". It is believed that a Persian style garden surrounded the palace and its lake.

Photo. Ardeshir Palace (Altar) Firuzabad (Firuz Abad) in Iran.   It was not 100 % intact, but still a impressing building.

Ardeshir Palace - a Sassanian Palace or fire temple?

This monument is believed to be the earliest remains of the squinch (which the dome stands on) and iwan (archer doorway). Earlier it was believed that this monument was a fire temple, but know archaeologists mean that it's the ruins of Ardeshir`s palace with remains of a small fire temple beside it. Maybe it could be seen in both ways, or built for both purposes.

Photo. Another view of the majestic Ardeshir Palace (Altar) from the Pre-Islamic period - Firuzabad (Firuz Abad) in Iran.

Testing the monument by making echoes

The moment is also considered as a fort (fortification). I wandered around the building to find the best view. The building was characterised by thick and high stone walls. Inside there were many doorways, big domes, long arches and large courtyards. The domes were geometrical shaped. Some of them had bas-reliefs on wall and archers, which unfortunately were not fully intact.

Photo. Inside Ardeshir Palace (Altar) - wall with shadow on. The light constrast was strong inside due to the strong sun.

One way to test the building's architecture and preservation was to make an echo in the domes. I pretended I was a muezzin (a person at a mosque who calls Muslims to prayer), and started to roar and sing the highest I could. My strong sound vibrated around in the building, and further out.

Photo. Calling, roaring preying or singing in Ardeshir Palace (Altar) was an interesting sound experiment.   Here are one of the holes my strange sounds went through.

And so I heard a strong echo many times after each other. It was just like an echo from the past. Then I could understand that the constructers had made an excellent job.

Photo. Inside Ardeshir Palace (Altar) - in the courtyard.

Earthquakes

The Firuzabad-area is very exposed for earthquakes. Each year around 100 earthquakes occur below 5 on the Richter-scale. Sometimes it could be 50 - 60 earthquakes in one day, also 2 - 3 per hour.

For ten months ago there were strong underground shakings that rose 6,5 on the Richter scale. The strong shakings destroyed a lot of buildings, but didn't affect Ardeshir Palace much. As far I could see the monument was very well constructed, and has survived all the earthquakes since it was built for nearly 2000 years ago.

Photo. My guide Ali stands inside Ardeshir Palace (Altar). It was good to cool down inside.

Built for celebration of victory

Firuzabad has a bloody history. The name means the place of victory, and is probably related to a big battle. As mentioned Ardeshir I was a son of a king the region. He built this great city and monument to celebrate his big victory over the Arascid Artebanus V in 224 A.D., which led to the consolidation of Sassanid power. There is found bas relief of Ardeshir commemorating his victory near Firuzabad.

According to Zoroastrian Educational Institute (www.vohuman.org), the walled city was circular in shape, with four gates located at the cardinal points. A square minaret of rubble stone rose to almost one hundred feat in the center of the city. There remain traces of a spiral and staircase which led to the flat roof where the sacred fire burned as a visible symbol of the link between the Sassanids and the Zoroastrian faith.

The iwan or arched entry was a building innovation of the later Parthian era which is found predominately in Sassanain palaces and buildings of importance. One can still see older homes in Firuzabad and nearby towns using the iwan as a main entrance overlooking its garden. The Sassanian style iwan is usually constructed between two halls as supporting elements of the iwan hall. This style is used in other palaces in Kazerun, Qasr Shirin, Sarvestan and Damghan.

Photo. Doorways or entry inside Ardeshir Palace (Altar) from the Pre-Islamic period - Firuzabad (Firuz Abad) in Iran.

In the past Firuzabad was called Ardeshir Khurh, Gur or Jur. However, during the latter part of the Sassanian dynasty and its early Islamic period it turned into one of the five important districts of Fars. According to Muqaddasi, a 4^th or 10^th century Muslim geographer, a person called Amir Azad ud-Dawla was not satisfied with the name Gur (meaning grave), so he changed to Firuzabad.

Some other wonders

On the way to Firuzabad we made a short stop on the road to watch another historical monument. From a far distance we could admire Qal`eh-è Doktar (or the Maiden's Palace), which is located on a top of a hill.

Photo. Qal`eh-è Doktar (or the Maiden`s Palace) near Firuzabad in Iran.

This beautiful monument is located on a top of a hill along the road about 6 km from Firuzabad. It's a fort (fortification) assumed built by Ardeshir I, and has three storeys with a courtyard.

My guide Ali said it was a good view from the top. Unfortunately the chairlift (cable car) didn't work when I was there, and I didn't have time to climb the rocky hill to take a closer look. And even though I wanted so much to see the remains of the palace (fort), it would probably be to big efforts in the heat too. Even though my guide was very serviceminded, I could understand that he was not so interested to carry me.

Photo. One of several Sassanian bas relief in the area along the road between Shiraz and Firuzabad.   See the beautiful carvings in the middle of the photo.   There are several Sassanian bas-reliefs in the area, which are difficult to find, but ask your guide or locals, I am sure they will be delighted to show you their ancient secrets.

Exploring ancient sites in Iran it's like travelling back in past. Some of them are so well preserved that you get a feeling of living in another time. Making echoes in the Ardeshir Palace (Altar) in Firuzabad is one thing you could do to experience Iran`s history.  

Stein Morten Lund 14 August 2004

Additional information

Related sources:

A Zoroastrian Educational Institute: www.Vohuman.Org

For more information about Firuzabad`s historical sites, click on the link below:

http://www.vohuman.org/SlideShow/Firuzabad/Firuzabad00.htm

Iran Cultural Heritage Organisation: http://iranmiras.ir or www.iranmira.org

Read more articles about ancient wonders in Iran on our website:

Iran - the land of ancient wonders

I could not think of a better place in the world for travel explorations and unique adventures than in Iran. Just like Peru in South America, Iran is full of ancient sites and treasures. So far over 3000 ancient sites have been listed, but it's estimated that more than the double is unexcavated or undiscovered. 

So far five of the ancient wonders in Iran has been listed on the UNESCO-list (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), the international organisation for protecting and preserving heritage wonders of the world. The history of Iran (Persia) tells about an ancient country with a civilisation that dates back to prehistoric times. Fortunately has much of Iran's unique heritage of wonders and culture survived throughout thousand of years.

Iran`s (Islamic Republic of Iran) wonders on the UNESCO World Heritage List are (UNESCO World Heritage Centre - http://whc.unesco.org).

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Pars Tourist Agency (P.T.A.), Iran

Presentation:
It`s a private Persian incoming agency. It's located in Shiraz under the license number 1/47026 issued by Iran Travel & Tourism Organization (ITTO) (www.farstourism.org). They organise a wide variety of tours for individuals as well as groups such as inbound historical, cultural, anthropology, mountaineering, trekking, adventure and natural excursion tours.

Speciality - exploring nomad tribes:
For real adventurers P.T.A. arranges expeditions in to rural areas to search for nomad tribes in Iran's high mountains. Some of the tribes are Bakhtiari, Lor, Qashqai. They live in a beautiful landscape that will take your breath away. You will be able to explore the tribe's daily life and unique culture in a natural way. Sometimes you will experience a wedding, birth, fighting game, dancing, festival or other things. Take your time and see what happens. Then it will be an experience of a lifetime.

Contact info:
Phone: 0098-711-2223163 and 0098-711-2240645. Mobile Phone (around the clock) 0098-9171118514.
Fax: 0098-711-2229693
Letters: Pars Tourist Agency (P.T.A), Zand Street 71358, Next to Iran Cinema, Shiraz, Iran.
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E-mail: info@key2persia.com

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