Ancient Iran: a glimpse of Persian art and architecture under the Sassanids
Ancient Iran: a glimpse of Persian art and architecture under the Sassanids. The Sassanid dynasty of ancient Persia was established in 224 CE when Ardashir I overthrew the Parthian empire. Sassanid monuments in such cities as Ardashir Khurreh and Bishapur incorporate domes and squinches, or arched openings, in four sides of a square structure. This architectural form, used extensively in religious architecture after the adoption of Zoroastrianism as the state religion, was continued during the subsequent Islamic era. It was also used in the grandiose palaces at Ctesiphon, Firuzabd, and Sarvestan. It was during this period that the bas-reliefs on limestone cliffs, including Bishapur, Naqsh-e Rostam and Naqsh-e Rajab in southern Iran were created. In 2018, UNESCO added an ensemble of Sassanian historical cities in southern Iran, entitled “Sassanid Archaeological Landscape of Fars Region”, to its World Heritage list. The Sassanids also practiced h...