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The Armenian Monastic Ensembles
The Armenian Monastic Ensembles in northeastern Iran were a major hub for the dissemination of the Armenian culture into Azerbaijan and Persia. The site comprises three monastic ensembles, with the oldest edifice dating back to the 7th century. |
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Bisotun
On the rocks of Bisotun Mountain, there stand some of the most important historical evidence, dating from Achaemenid period. The principal monument of this archaeological site is the bas-relief and cuneiform inscription ordered by Darius the Great, when he rose to the throne of the Persian Empire in 521 BC. |
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Bam and its Cultural Landscape
Bam is situated in a desert environment on the southern edge of the Iranian high plateau. The origins of Bam can be traced back to the Achaemenid period (6th to 4th centuries BC). |
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Pasargadae
Pasargadae was the first dynastic capital of the Achaemenid Empire, founded by Cyrus II the Great, in Pars, homeland of the Persians, in the 6th century BC. Its palaces, gardens and the mausoleum of Cyrus are outstanding examples of the first phase of royal Achaemenid art and architecture and exceptional testimonies of Persian civilization. |
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Soltaniyeh
The mausoleum of Oljaytu was constructed in 1302–12 in the city of Soltaniyeh, the capital of the Ilkhanid dynasty, which was founded by the Mongols. Situated in the province of Zanjan, Soltaniyeh is one of the outstanding examples of the achievements of Persian architecture and a key monument in the development of its Islamic architecture. |
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Takht-e Soleyman
The archaeological site of Takht-e Soleyman, in north-western Iran, is situated in a valley set in a volcanic mountain region. The site includes the principal Zoroastrian sanctuary partly rebuilt in the Ilkhanid (Mongol) period (13th century) as well as a temple of the Sasanian period (6th and 7th centuries) dedicated to Anahita. |
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Persepolis
The surviving ruins of Persepolis today are a mere shadow of Persepolis' former glory. It was founded by Darius I in 518 BC and was added to by the subsequent kings over a period of about 150 years. The importance and quality of the monumental ruins make it a unique archaeological site. |
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Zigurat of Chogha Zanbil (Tchogha Zanbil)
The ruins of the holy city of the Kingdom of Elam, surrounded by three huge concentric walls, are found at Tchogha Zanbil. Founded c. 1250 B.C., the city remained unfinished after it was invaded by Ashurbanipal, as shown by the thousands of unused bricks left at the site. |
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Meidan Emam (Naghsh-e Jahan) Square
Built by Shah Abbas I the Great at the beginning of the 17th century, and bordered on all sides by monumental buildings linked by a series of two-storeyed arcades, the site is known for the Royal Mosque, the Mosque of Sheykh Lotfollah, the magnificent Portico of Qaysariyyeh and the 15th-century Timurid palace. They are an impressive testimony to the level of social and cultural life in Persia during the Safavid era. |
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