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The
Firoozabad fire temple, the first Sasanid roofed building,
will undergo a special renovation program to stem its
further dilapidation.
With an area of 11 thousands sq m, the complex is one of
the biggest monuments left from the dynasty (224-642
A.D.). The fire temple, locally named a palace, was built
during the reign of Emperor Ardeshir, who waged successful
campaigns against the Romans.
“In the past years, some walls of the fire temple have
cracked or even collapsed, all making its renovation more
imperative,” said Azam Kazemi, head of the repair
workshop. “We aim to cover up the cracks, protect the
construct against rainfall, and change some of its
stones.”
Indeed the renovation started in 1968 and was underway
till the 1979 Islamic Revolution, after which the program
came to a halt, leaving the monument vulnerable to natural
and human risk factors. Three years ago, however, the
operation finally resumed.
The fire temple or palace is located 90 km south of the
historical city of Shiraz, in Fars Province. It has 3
halls, 3 corridors and a courtyard of 28 sq m.
The Iranians under the Sasanid dynasty established an
empire roughly within the frontiers achieved by the
Achaemenids, with the capital at Ctesiphon in Khavarvaran
province (modern Iraq). The Sasanids consciously sought to
resuscitate Iranian traditions and to obliterate foriegn
cultural influence. Their rule was characterized by
considerable centralization, ambitious urban planning,
agricultural development, and technological improvements.
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