• Counter :
  • 5566
  • Date :
  • 3/31/2016

Iran’s first circular city

darabgard

Darabgard historical city, considered  as one  of  the  oldest  cities  of Iran and the world, is  the  first  capital  of Sassanian Empire. It is more than 2500- year old and its history can be traced to Achaemenid era.
Darabgard,  also called Darabjard in the past,  is  located  6 km  south  of  current  Darab  city and  at the  side  of  Darab–Shiraz new road.
Darabgard is  the  name  of  one  of  the  5 cities  of  Pars  Satrapy in ancient  Iran. The  wall around  the  city  has survived and  some  remains of  buildings  such as  the  palace and castle of the ruler of the  city are still seen on the  top of the central  summit.
According to some historical reports, the construction of the Darabgard City was attributed to Darab, son of Bahman, son of Esfandiar Kiani.
Due to those days security conditions and the importance of the city, Darabgard was built in a circular shape in the midst of vast and fertile Darab plain. Hence it is considered among the first circular cities in Iranian plateau. Darabgard circular plan and design was adapted from West Asian urban planning principles.

The salt dome of Darabgard/Darabjard protrudes in the middle of green and vast plain of Darab. This salty mount is the center of Darabgard ancient city that is encompassed by a circular wall. This rare ancient tourism-geological complex is one of the attractions of the Fars province.

The  salty  dome on geological  map exhibits itself like  a  red  circle (special  color of Hormuz sediments series) amidst sediments of current  era ( white color) and  on aerial  photos and  satellite  images  is  like  a  bulgy hill trapped in the  center  of  a  vast  circle.
In order to protect the security of the city, a mud wall was built around the city which is ten meters high, seven meters wide and six kilometers long.

By Rahimeh Zargar

Translated by: Sadroddin Musawi


Other links:

Lakes and Wetlands, Fars

Altitudes and Gorges, Fars

Gardens and Recreation Places, Fars

  • Print

    Send to a friend

    Comment (0)