Istakhr

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to navigationJump to search

Istakhr

 Stakhr (Middle Persian)

 Estakhr (in Persian)

Columns at Istakhr

Shown within Iran

Region Fars Province

Coordinates 29°58′51″N 52°54′34″ECoordinates:

29°58′51″N 52°54′34″E

Type Settlement
 History

Founded Very shortly after the decline of Persepolis (second half

of the 4th century BC)

Periods Classical antiquity to Late Middle Ages

Istakhr (Middle Persian romanized: Stakhr, Persian: ‫اصطخر‬, romanized: Estakhr) was an
ancient city in Fars province, five kilometres (three miles) north of Persepolis in
southwestern Iran. It flourished as the capital of the Persian Frataraka governors
and Kings of Persis from the third century BC to the early 3rd century AD. It reached its
apex under the Sasanian Empire (224-651 AD), and was the hometown of the Sasanian
dynasty. Istakhr briefly served as the first capital of the Sasanian Empire from 224 to
226 AD and then as principal city, region, and religious centre of the Sasanian province
of Pars. During the Arab conquest of Iran, Istakhr was noted for its stiff resistance,
which resulted in the death of many of its inhabitants.[1][2] Istakhr remained a stronghold
of Zoroastrianism long after the conquests, and remained relatively important in the
early Islamic era. It went into gradual decline after the founding of nearby Shiraz, before
being destroyed and abandoned under the Buyids. Cursorily explored by Ernst
Herzfeld and a team from the University of Chicago in the first half of the 20th century,
much of Sasanian Istakhr remains unexcavated.

Contents

 1Etymology
 2Geography
 3History
o 3.1Early history
o 3.2Frataraka and Kings of Persis
o 3.3Sasanian Empire
o 3.4Arab conquest and caliphates
o 3.5Buyids and Seljuqs
o 3.6Period thereafter
 4Excavation
 5Gallery
 6Notable people
 7Notes
 8References
 9Sources
 10External links

Etymology[edit]
"Istakhr" (also spelled Estakhr) is the New Persian form of the Middle
Persian Stakhr (also spelled Staxr), and is believed to mean "strong(hold)".[1] According
to the Iranologist Ernst Herzfeld, who based his arguments on coins of the
Persian Frataraka governors and Kings of Persis, the Middle Persian word in turn
derives from Old Persian *Parsa-staxra ("stronghold of Pars"), owing to the city's close
connections with the nearby Persepolis platform.[1][a] Herzfeld interpreted
the Aramaic characters "PR BR" inscribed on these coins as an abbreviation of
Aramaic prsʾ byrtʾ ("the Fortress of Parsa"), which in turn may be the equivalent of the
aforementioned Old Persian words.[1] The abbreviation "ST", denoting Istakhr, also
appears on Sasanian coins.[2] Istakhr is attested in Syriac as Istahr and
in Armenian as Stahr.[2] It probably appears in the Talmud as Istahar.[2]

Geography[edit]
Istakhr is located in Iran's southwestern province of Fars, historically known as Parsa
(Old Persian), Pars (Middle Persian) and Persis (Greek), whence Persia.[3][4] It lies in the
valley of the Polvar River, between the Kuh-e Rahmat and the Naqsh-e Rostam, where
the Polvar River valley opens into the plain of Marvdasht.[1] This plain stretches near the
platform of Persepolis.[1]

History[edit]

Baydad, the first recorded frataraka of Persis, early 3rd century BC. Coin minted in Istakhr. Obv: Baydad with
short beard, mustache, earring and satrapal headdress (kyrbasia). Rev: Baydad standing to the left of a fire
temple of Ahura Mazda, standard located on the other side of the temple

Coin of Ardakhshir (Artaxerxes), frataraka of Persis, early-mid 3rd century BC. Coin minted in Istakhr. Obv:
Ardakhshir wearing mustache, earring and satrapal headdress (kyrbasia). Rev: Ardakhshir standing in front of
a fire temple of Ahura Mazda, standard located on the other side of the temple
Ardashir I, as King Artaxerxes (Ardaxsir) V of Persis. Circa CE 205/6-223/4, minted in Istakhr. Obv: Bearded
facing head, wearing diadem and Parthian-style tiara. Rev: Bearded head of Papak, wearing diadem and
Parthian-style tiara.

A drawing from the ruins of Istakhr in the 19th century

A drawing from the ruins of Istakhr in the 19th century

Early history[edit]
In all likelihood, what became Istakhr was originally part of the settlements which
surrounded the Achaemenid royal residences.[1] Its religious importance as
a Zoroastrian center was signified as early as the 4th century BC during the reign of
Achaemenid King Artaxerxes II (r. 404-358).[5] During his reign, he ordered the
construction of a statue of Anahid and a temple near what would become Istakhr.[5] This
temple may be identified with the ruins of the temple mentioned by the 10th-century
geographer al-Masudi as being located c. one parasang from Istakhr.[5] According to the
Iranologist Mary Boyce, the ruins of this temple probably belonged to the original
Achaemenid building, which had been destroyed and pillaged by the
invading Macedonians led by Alexander the Great (r. 336–323).[5] Istakhr's foundation as
a separate city took place very shortly after the decline of nearby Persepolis by
Alexander. It appears that much of Persepolis' ruble was used for the building of
Istakhr.[2]
Frataraka and Kings of Persis[edit]
When Seleucus I (r. 305–280) died in 280 BC, the local Persians of Persis began to
reassert their independence.[1] The center of resistance appears to have been Istakhr,
which with its surrounding hills provided better protection than the nearby former
Achaemenid ceremonial capital of Persepolis.[1] Furthermore, an important road, known
as the "winter road", extended across Istakhr, leading from Persis
to Isfahan through Pasargadae and Abada.[1] The core of Istakhr as a city was located
on the south and east side of the Polvar River. It flourished as the capital of the
Persian Frataraka governors and Kings of Persis from the 3rd century BC to the early
3rd century AD.[1][6]
Sasan, the eponymous ancestor of the later Sasanian dynasty, hailed from Istakhr and
originally served as the warden of the important Anahid fire-temple within the
city.[2][6][5] According to tradition, Sasan married a woman of the Bazrangi dynasty, who
ruled in Istakhr as Parthian vassals in the early 3rd century.[5] In 205/6, Sasan's
son Papak dethroned Gochihr, the ruler of Istakhr.[7] In turn, Papak's sons, Shapur and
Ardashir V, ruled as the last two Kings of Persis.[8]
Sasanian Empire