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Iran's Cities >
Kermanshah |
Kermanshahan Province
Capital: Kermanshah
Area: 23,667 km2
Population: approx 1.95 million
Kermanshahan province (previously known as Bakhtaran)
has some of the most interesting and famous
archaeological sites in this part of Iran, dating from
before recorded history through the Achaemenian (559-330
BC), Parthian (190 BC-224 AD) and Sassanian (224-637)
dynasties to the Arab period (637-1050). The climate is
pleasant for most of the year, the largely mountainous
scenery is stunning and the soil is fertile.
Kermanshah
An important station on the ancient trading route to
Baghdad, Kermanshah is by far the largest and busiest
city in this part of Iran while there is little to see
in the city itself, Kermanshah is the perfect place to
base yourself while exploring the mid-western region of
the country. At an altitude of 1322m, the city has a
beautiful setting, framed by prominently snow-clad
mountains.
History
First built on a site a few kilometers from the present
town, Kermanshah probably dates from the 4th century AD.
Its vulnerable position has always rendered it liable to
incursions it was captured by the Arabs in 649, invaded
by the Seljuqs in the 11th century and then sacked by
the Mongols in the early 13th century. After several
centuries of relative peace and prosperity, Kermanshah's
strategic position on the road to Baghdad attracted very
heavy Iraqi missile and bomb attacks during the
Iran-Iraq war and the rubble is still plain to see.
 Bisotun
Overlooking the main road to Hamadan and a few
kilometers east of Bisotun village, are famous
bas-reliefs carved out of a dramatic mountain include
with religious significance in pre-Islamic times the
fact that the rock was also on the ancient royal road
between Iran and Iraq made it an ideal location for
these tablets.
Tag-e-Bostan Or Parthian bas-reliefs
Opposite a bridge and a pretty pool are two heavily
eroded Parthian bas-reliefs. The one on the left shows
King Mithradites standing before four supplicants. The
one on the right depicts several scenes relating to
Gotarzes II one of him on horseback spearing an enemy,
another of him at his investiture, and a third is a
religious ritual. |
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