The unique city of Gur was the first capital of the Sasanian Empire, the last great Iranian dynasty before the Arab conquest. An unusual round shape that amazed both ancient and modern observers.
The Rise of Gōr
Gōr was founded by Ardashir I (180-242 CE), a rebel leader who challenged and defeated the Parthian Empire, which had ruled Iran for centuries. Ardashir claimed to be a descendant of the ancient Achaemenid kings, and he revived their religion of Zoroastrianism, which worshipped Ahura Mazda, the supreme god of light and wisdom.
Ardashir chose Gōr as his capital and built it on a plain that was once flooded by Alexander the Great. He drained the water and created a circular city that reflected his vision of cosmic order and harmony. He populated the city with his loyal followers and built a fire temple at its center, where he performed rituals and ceremonies.
According to the historian Tabari, Ardashir founded Gōr before his decisive battle against Artabanus IV, the last Parthian king, in 224 CE. He writes:
HE [ARDASHIR] BUILT A CITY IN FARS CALLED GŌR, WHICH IS STILL STANDING TODAY. HE DUG CANALS IN IT AND BROUGHT WATER TO IT FROM SPRINGS AND RIVERS. HE BUILT PALACES IN IT AND MADE IT HIS RESIDENCE. HE ALSO BUILT A FIRE TEMPLE IN IT, WHICH HE CALLED ĀDUR GUŠNASP [FIRE OF THE WARRIOR]. HE BROUGHT FIRE TO IT FROM ISTAKHR AND PLACED IT THERE. HE ALSO BROUGHT PRIESTS AND MAGI TO IT AND GAVE THEM LANDS AND VILLAGES. HE ALSO BROUGHT WARRIORS AND NOBLES TO IT AND GAVE THEM ESTATES AND FIEFS. HE ALSO BROUGHT ARTISANS AND MERCHANTS TO IT AND GAVE THEM HOUSES AND SHOPS. HE ALSO BROUGHT FARMERS AND PEASANTS TO IT AND GAVE THEM FIELDS AND ORCHARDS. HE ALSO BROUGHT ANIMALS AND BIRDS TO IT AND GAVE THEM PASTURES AND PONDS. HE ALSO BROUGHT PLANTS AND TREES TO IT AND GAVE THEM GARDENS AND PARKS. HE ALSO BROUGHT TREASURES AND WEALTH TO IT AND GAVE THEM VAULTS AND STOREROOMS. HE MADE GŌR HIS CAPITAL AND HIS SEAT OF POWER.
The Design of Gōr
Gōr was a masterpiece of urban planning and architecture. The city had a diameter of 1,950 m, and was surrounded by three layers of defense: a main wall of clay, a ditch 35 m wide, and a fore-wall. The wall had 60 towers and four gates that faced the four directions: north, south, east, and west.
The city was divided into 61 sectors by 20 radial walls and 3 concentric circles. The innermost circle was 450 m in diameter and contained the official buildings, such as the palace, the treasury, and the fire temple. The middle circle was 900 m in diameter and contained the residential quarters for the nobles and priests. The outermost circle was 1,500 m in diameter and contained the residential quarters for the commoners and soldiers.
The most striking feature of the city was the tower-like structure called Minar or Terbal, which stood at the very center of the city. It was a square structure with a spiral design, made of granite-mortar-masonry. It was more than 30 m high and had an external stairway that led to its top. The purpose of this structure is still a mystery, but some theories suggest that it was a watchtower, a lighthouse, a sundial, or a symbol of cosmic order.
According to Ernst Herzfeld, who examined the structure in 1907, it was “a tower of a square ground plan with a spiral outer ramp”. He compared it to similar structures in Mesopotamia, such as the ziggurats or the tower at Ctesiphon. He writes:
THE TOWER IS NOT ONLY REMARKABLE FOR ITS SIZE BUT ALSO FOR ITS SHAPE; IT IS SQUARE AT ITS BASE BUT BECOMES ROUND AT ITS TOP BY MEANS OF FOUR TRIANGULAR SEGMENTS THAT PROJECT FROM EACH CORNER … THE TOWER HAS AN EXTERNAL STAIRWAY THAT WINDS AROUND IT IN A SPIRAL FASHION … THE STAIRWAY IS SUPPORTED BY ARCHES THAT SPRING FROM THE WALL OF THE TOWER … THE TOWER HAS NO WINDOWS OR OPENINGS EXCEPT FOR A SMALL DOOR AT ITS BASE … THE TOWER IS MADE OF GRANITE BLOCKS THAT ARE HELD TOGETHER BY MORTAR … THE TOWER IS HOLLOW INSIDE …
The Fall of Gōr
Gōr lost its status as a capital in the reign of Shapur I (240 – 270 CE), who moved his seat to Ctesiphon in Mesopotamia. However, Gōr remained an important religious center for Zoroastrianism until the Arab invasion in the 7th century CE. The Arab conquerors destroyed most of the city’s buildings and monuments, except for the Minar or Terbal, which still stands today.
The name Gōr was eventually changed to Firuzabad (victory town) during the Buyid period (934 – 1062 CE). Firuzabad is now a modern town that preserves some traces of its ancient past. The circular plan of Gōr can still be seen from aerial photos or satellite images. Some archaeological excavations have been conducted in Gōr since the 19th century, revealing more details about its history and culture.
Gōr was a remarkable example of Sasanian urban planning and architecture, and a testimony to the power and ambition of Ardashir I, the founder of the Sasanian Empire. The city was a symbol of his political and religious vision, as well as his cultural legacy. Gōr was a circular city that reflected the cosmic order and harmony that Ardashir sought to establish in his empire.
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