The ancient city of Shiraz Pool Location and sights

Did you know that one of the most important ancient cities in the world is located in today’s Fars province? Did you know that this city was the cultural and religious capital of Iran after Persepolis and had a direct impact on the history of Iran? The ancient city of Astakhar is one of the most important keys to understanding the identity of ancient Iran. This city is not just a historical site; Rather, it is a living document for studying the power structure, religion, society and architecture of Iran in the post-Achaemenid period. But why was the pool important? What civilization was built here? How did it fall? to plan Travel to ShirazGetting to know the historical city of Istakhar is a cultural necessity. Continue this article in tourism magazine Fly Today read

Where is the city of Astakhar in Fars province?

The ancient city of Astakhar is located in the north of Fars province and near Persepolis. This city is located about 5 km away from Takht Jamshid and near Maroodasht city, and from an archaeological point of view, it is considered a very important area in the studies of Iranology and post-Achaemenid history.

It is very easy to access the pool from Shiraz, and you can reach its ancient area by crossing the axis of the Shiraz-Morodasht road. Today, large parts of the pool are registered as historical sites and can be visited. The location of the pool made this city a strategic point; Because the monitoring of the Maroodasht plain, the control of the northern entrance routes and the connection to the road network of the central plateau of Iran were carried out from this area.

The pool was also a very important religious center in the post-Achaemenid and Sasanian periods and had a special place in the religious structure of Iran. The pool next to Persepolis played a complementary role in civilization, and for this reason, when studying this area, these two cities cannot be seen separately. Today, this area is one of the most important Sightseeing places in Fars For those interested in the history of ancient Iran, a trip to it provides a more detailed understanding of the historical path of Iranian culture.

History of the city of Ashtrak

After the fall of the Achaemenids and the destruction of Persepolis, the city of Ashtrak gained special importance. This city served as the main religious and political center of Iranians during the period of Greek power. In the Parthian period, the pool became one of the important points of cultural and religious resistance against the influence of western political culture, and at the same time, its position in the civilizational network of Iran was strengthened.

But the high point of the pool’s credibility was formed in the Sassanid period. Sassanids not only started their power from this region, but also established the pool in their religious structure and political organization. Some historical sources indicate that an important sacred fire was kept in this city and many noble families were connected to the pool.

After the Islamic conquest, the city of Ishtaqr gradually lost its political importance; But it still remained a symbolic and identity center for Iranian families. In the following centuries, the pool began to decline and slowly turned into an ancient site. Today, as an important archaeological source, the pool is invaluable for understanding the transitional period between Achaemenid, Parthian and Sassanid Iran.

Access routes to the ancient city of Ashtrak Shiraz

Access to the ancient city of Pool, via Travel to Shiraz And then the land route is continued towards Marvdasht. Shiraz is one of the important cities of Iran’s air and rail transportation network, and for this reason, planning a trip to the pool is simple and standard in terms of infrastructure.

For rail travel, it is possible to prepare Shiraz train ticket There are many main cities in the country, and after entering Shiraz, continue the route by car to Morvdasht and then Istakhar. Air travel is also a very common option for domestic and foreign tourists and with preparation Shiraz plane ticket You can enter directly Shiraz Airport and then drove to the swimming pool.

After entering Shiraz, the main route to the pool is from the Shiraz-Marvedasht axis, and by passing by Takht Jamshid, access to the pool area is provided. The distance between the pool and Shiraz is about 50 km and it takes about an hour by car. This feature makes it possible to run the pool in a half-day or one-day trip from Shiraz.

Ground routes are also suitable for personal car trips and many tourists prefer to visit Persepolis, Naqsh Rustam and Pool in a combined program by car. Due to the proximity of the pool to the most important historical and cultural centers of Fars province, a trip to this area is one of the easiest and most practical cultural programs in the north of Shiraz.

The facilities of the city of Astakr

The historical site of the pool is today an archaeological and conservation site, and for this reason, its interior facilities are not similar to an active urban complex. The main focus of tourism use in this area is controlled visits, field studies, research photography, and recognition of historical layers.

Near this area, there are suitable access routes, direction signs, car parking spaces and standard return axes; But the main urban services such as restaurant, coffee shop and accommodation are not provided inside the pool area and these services must be received from nearby cities.

The best place to receive services is the city of Morvdasht, which is a short distance from the site, and many tourists visit this area along with visiting Takht Jamshid and Naghse Rostam, in the form of a one-day or half-day program. In fact, the pool is a part of the big historical visit package in the north of Shiraz, and according to its position in the list of places to visit MarvdashtIts visit should be carried out responsibly, purposefully and according to the protection sensitivity of the area.

Pool or pool? | Denomination

In historical texts, the name of this city is recorded in two forms, “Istakhr” and “Istakhr”, and this difference in writing has caused different forms to be seen in different sources. In the Pahlavi language, the original form of the word was recorded as “Staxr / Stakhr” and over time, it was used as “Istakhr” in Middle Persian and then in the simpler form “Istakhr” in Dari Persian and New Persian.

This linguistic evolution is a common problem in the transfer of Pahlavi vocabulary to Dari Persian, and an important part of it is related to the simplification of the pronunciation structure in later periods. Therefore, both forms of the word are etymologically acceptable, but in today’s writing, “pool” is considered the more formal, simpler and more common form. This point is very important in historical studies; Because when examining the documents, many researchers have to adapt the forms of the same root and the same meaning in order to follow the sequence of sources in the periods after Achaemenid to Sassanid.

Attractions near the city of Ashtrak

One of the important advantages of the ancient site of the pool is that it is located exactly in the center of the historical-cultural golden axis in the north of Shiraz. In this area, a collection of the most valuable works of ancient Iran can be seen, and for this reason, visitors use the pool as a combination and a collection with other nearby areas. This area is one of the most important centers of Sasanian and Achaemenid field studies in Iran and one of the most important “Sightseeing places in Marvdashtis considered In the following, the most important attractions are introduced.

Naqsh Rostam The stone book of the narrative of power in ancient Iran

Naqsh Rostam is one of the most famous historical sites in Iran and one of the most significant examples of the transmission of power, authority and meaning in the history of ancient Iran. This area is located in the north of Marvdasht and is near the pool, and visiting it is almost always done along with visiting Persepolis and the pool. The importance of Rostam’s role lies in the multiplicity of visible historical layers in a single area; The tomb of the Achaemenid kings on a rocky height, Sassanid reliefs and remains that show the continuation of the religious political meaning of power in this region.

The relief motifs of this collection are one of the most important pictorial documents of Iranian history; From the coronation of Shapur to the scene of victories and the transfer of symbols of power. Visiting Naqsh Rostam creates a more open view of architecture, visual narrative, the way of showing power and conveying political concepts in ancient Iran. Completing the visit of this area next to the pool makes the analytical path of Iran’s history from Achaemenid to Sassanid easier to understand.

Takht Jamshid | The world capital of Achaemenid architecture and diplomacy

Takht Jamshid is the most important government center of the Achaemenid period and one of the largest stone buildings in the history of the world. This complex is located in the north of Shiraz and near Maroodasht, and it has an irreplaceable place in terms of architecture, showing power, political organization and symbolic display of the national identity of ancient Iran. Takht Jamshid was not only a government palace, but also a global display structure of power, diplomacy and political order.

The representatives of the Achaemenid territories used to enter this place through specially designed routes to present gifts and attend official ceremonies. This collection is considered one of the most important documents of human civilization due to its large scale, unique construction technique, order of stone carving and detailing of motifs. Examining and studying Persepolis, along with visiting the pool and Naqsh Rostam, provides a single analytical chain about politics, diplomacy, religion and the power structure of Iran in the ancient period.

The role of Rajab The beginning of visual recording of Sassanid political power

Naqsh Rajab is one of the most important Sasanian petroglyph sites in the north of Shiraz and in terms of proximity, it is almost the shortest distance from Persepolis. This area contains four main reliefs, each of which is considered a very important pictorial document of the beginning of Sassanid political power.

The prominent roles of Shapur I, Ardeshir Babkan and Kartir (the great Mobad of the Sasanian period) in the role of Rajab are one of the most important sources of research in the field of religious history, power transfer and the structure of the political narrative of ancient Iran. The difference between Rajab’s role and Rostam’s role is that Rostam’s role is more multi-layered and multi-period; However, the role of Rajab is more concentrated in terms of time and is mainly engraved at the beginning of the Sassanid’s rise to power, and for this reason, it is very important for Sassanid history researchers.

Tal Bakun plain The starting point of the formation of civilization in Jalga Maroodasht

Tel Bakun Plain is one of the oldest prehistoric sites in Iran in the Morovdasht Plain and is considered to be much older than Takht Jamshid and Ashtrak. The importance of Tell Bakun lies in the fact that it dates back to the fifth millennium BC and is one of the oldest centers of human settlement, early architecture, production economy and pottery culture in the central plateau of Iran.

Archaeological studies carried out at Tell Bakun have provided valuable data about social structure, production methods, settlement system and resource management in much older times. This area is a part of the evolutionary chain of establishment and formation of civilization in Jalga Marvdasht, and its importance is better understood when it is studied next to the pool, Takht Jamshid, Naqsh Rostam and Naqsh Rajab. Tell Bakun is actually a point that shows that the cultural heritage of the north of Shiraz does not only belong to the imperial periods; Rather, its roots are much deeper and several thousand years older.

The best time to travel to the ancient city of Shiraz Pool

The best time to visit the ancient city of Ashtaq is from the second half of spring to the first half of autumn. From the end of May to the beginning of October, the temperature conditions of Jalga Marvdasht are more moderate, the visit is better and the possibility of planning a combined visit of the pool + Takht Jamshid + Naqsh Rostam in one day is much more standard. Summer in this area is hotter than Shiraz and it is not suitable for a long field visit; except for undergraduate programs and short-term field study and precise timing of the first cool hours of the day.

Autumn, especially Mehr and the first half of November, has a very high quality to visit; Both in terms of photographic light and weather balance. Winter is not recommended for regular visits, because in this season, due to the cold night and reduced light hours, a long field visit becomes more tiring and limited. In research trips, winter and early spring are more suitable for checking the condition of stone structures and specialized photography.

Hotels and accommodations near Shiraz pool

To visit the historical area of ​​the pool, the best way to choose a place to stay is to book a hotel and stay in the city of Morvdasht. The short distance from Marvdasht to the pool makes it much easier, more standard and less costly to implement the morning or evening visit program. On the other hand, due to the proximity of Takht Jamshid and Naqsh Rostam to this city, the choice was made Marvdasht hotels It makes your visit to all this historical axis in an integrated structure. Below are some convenient and close options:

swimming pool; Peeling the history of Iran from the heart of the stone

The ancient city of Tashqar is not just a historical site; It is a link of civilization. This city proves the continuity of Iranian identity from the Achaemenid period to the Sasanian period and then to the following periods. The combination of visiting the pool + Takht Jamshid + Naqsh Rostam + Naqsh Rajab is a complete classroom of Iranian history, which can be seen in few places in the world, with this historical density, this entanglement. Planning a trip to Shiraz is incomplete without knowing the historical center of Marvdasht. This range shows you a map of the evolution of power, diplomacy, religion, visual narrative, architecture and administrative structures of ancient Iran. Istakhr is a place where your view of Iran’s history becomes more scientific, accurate and step-by-step. A trip to the pool is not just a visit; Understanding Iran again.

Frequently asked questions about the ancient city of Ashtrak Shiraz