Bridge Construction Activities in Bistun Area during Sasanian Period

Subject Areas : Historical Archaeology

Mozhgan  Khanmoradi ¹ (Ph.D. Candidate in Historical Archaeology, Department of Archaeology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. World Heritage Base of Bistun.)

Received: 2023-07-10 Accepted : 2023-07-10 Published : 2012-02-20

Keywords: Sasanian, Bisotun, Bridge Construction activities, Pol-e Bistun, Pol-e Khosrw,

Abstract :

The holiness of Bisotun Mountain (Baghistan), Geopolitical position of Bisotun in western Iranlocated along the one of the main ancient trade routes in western Iran linking the high plateau of Iran to Mesopotamia- existence of permanent spring and rivers such as Gamasiāb and Dinavarāb and proximity to the Ctesiphon play a key role in attention of Sasanian kings to Bisotun specially at the end of this period. As mentioned, Bisotun is located along an important military and trade route connected the western and eastern parts of Sasanin Empire. Obviously it is necessary to build huge bridge on two permanents Rivers of the area (Gamasiāb and Dinavarāb) for military and trade proposes. Pol-e Bisotun, Pol-e Khosrw and Pol-e Ghozivand are Sasanian bridges in Bisotun that left unfinished without clear reason at that time. At this paper, the author trying to survey 3 mentioned bridges and also bridge construction activities of Sasanian king in Bisotun region based on archaeological evidences.