The Bandian Fire Temple ( Persian : محوطه باستانی بندیان ) is an archaeological site in Dargaz County , Razavi Khorasan Province , Iran , near the medieval city Abiward . The primary excavations were carried out to reveal precious remains of art and architecture of the pre-Islamic Iran, dating from the Sassanian period (224-651 AD) when the archaeological significance of Bandian was recognized.
9-412: Found at the site, near the town of Dargaz were a stucco-decorated hall with columns, Sassanian Pahlavi inscriptions, and at last the some remains of brick architecture, which are considered to be one of the most invaluable finds of that period. Additionally, the excavations yielded a Zoroastrian sanctuary, with a substantial amount of its decoration and design features undamaged. while the upper parts of
18-543: A site-museum. 37°27′27″N 59°06′21″E / 37.4575°N 59.1058°E / 37.4575; 59.1058 Dargaz Dargaz ( Persian : درگز ) is a city in the Central District of Dargaz County , Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran , serving as capital of both the county and the district. For the period before the advent of the Safavids (r. 1501–1722), the historic city of Abivard
27-559: Is bound by Turkmenistan from the north, Mashhad from the east and southeast, Chanaran from the south, and Qoochan from the west. Dargaz, which was previously known as Abivard, is in a region among the most ancient centers of Iranian culture . Dargaz is in the Mediterranean region with spring rain. The city is 123 km from Quchan and 258 km from Mashhad . Its altitude is 480 meters above sea level. Excavations in this mountainous site have revealed artifacts dating back as far as
36-533: Is quite interesting. Another outstanding facet of the building is its mihrab (arched niche) in about 2.80x1.70 m. The large hall features extensive stucco reliefs, depicting scenes of a hunt, battle, triumph, ritual, investiture, and banquet. It contains depictions of Persian victories in the Hephthalite–Persian Wars . The complex has been dated to the reign of Peroz (459-484 CE) or his son Kavad I (488-497 CE). The excavated area has been turned into
45-519: The Parthian and Sasanian periods, and pre-historic times. Numerous mounds and other ancient sites have also yielded much evidence of the site's rich historical and cultural inheritance. Throughout its history, the site has been known by a variety of names: Dara, Daragyard, Pavart in pre-Islamic Persia , and Bavard, Abivard after the Islamic expansion. With its rich bazaar and access to fertile lands,
54-646: The position of Chief Accountant of the court. Another contemporary famous name from Abivard is Ali born Muhammad Anvari-Abivardi (died c. 1191), one of the great classical poets of Iran. After the Mongol invasion of Iran and Iraq, Husam al-Din Abivardi (died after 1324) is mentioned as one of the theologians attending the court of the Abbasid caliphs of Egypt. Nader Shah was Also born in the City, In The Fort of Dargaz. At
63-415: The stucco reliefs were not preserved, but a good deal had remained in place (info from Bandian of Daregaz). Throughout six seasons of the site's excavations, the building's central part was found; its main hall, measuring 10.25x8.45 m, as well as a number of rooms and corridors were unearthed. The hall had four lime columns that supported the flat ceiling of the structure. The columns' strengthening structure
72-401: The time of the 2006 National Census, the city's population was 34,305 in 9,196 households. The following census in 2011 counted 37,054 people in 18,618 households. The 2016 census measured the population of the city as 36,762 people in 11,448 households. The city of Dargaz is 1,150 kilometres (710 mi) from Tehran and 255 kilometres (158 mi) from the center of Khorasan province. It
81-654: Was one of the educational centers of Islamic and Arabic scholarship in eastern Iran. Under the Saljuqids, Muhammad born Ahmad al-Abivardi (died 1114), was one of the renowned poets and litterateurs who, later in his life, settled for a while in Baghdad, but on the account of his Shi'ite proclivities was persecuted by the Abbasids. He then attended the court of the Saljuq Sultan Muhammad and was appointed to
#525474