Going back to 5000 BC.

Persian architecture can be considered through the age-old

history of the land.

It goes back to the late 6th and early 5th millennia BC

Persian architecture has been a comprehensive

embodiment of Iranian psychology and characteristics in

different historical periods.

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In studying Persian architecture four distinct, protracted, but

continuous periods are distinguished, as follows:

-Persian prehistoric architecture till the formation of the first national government by the Medes. Before 700BC.

-Persian architecture from the Medes period till the end of Sassanians. 700BC - 600AC.

-Contemporary and present-day Persian architecture

-Islamic period architecture till the end of Safavi period. Until 600A - 1500AC

One of the most important structures remaining from Eilamites is

Choga Zanbil (1250 BC).

Choga Zanbil consists of the ruins of three concentric walls,

within which are palaces, temples and a central Ziggurat (temple

tower), measuring 105 X 105 meters.

-Beautifully decorated with glazed baked bricks, gypsum,

ornaments of faience and glass.

-Built mainly of mud-bricks.

Formation of the Achaemenid dynasty (560-330 BC) marks one of

the brilliant ages in Persian architecture.

Among the best architectural monuments of the period, one

might mention mausoleums, fire-temples, and palaces.

A striking feature of Achaemenid architecture were great

dimensions of the halls.

Pasargad complex, the political capital of Cyrous the great, might

be considered a complete manifestation of Persian architecture.

Pasargad is now largely in ruins, but one can see that how

imposing it must have been in many respects.

Persepolis was a sacred national shrine, potent sensing for the

spring festival, Now Ruz. The festival was celebrated on the

first day of spring, among certain formalities.

In perspolos, the Achaemenid architects have managed to

combine beauty and magnificence. Standing on its rock-cut

podium, the great hall of Persepolis contained thirty-six

columns (in six rows), 18.5m high.

The walls were of mud brick and

ornamented with painted and

floral designs. Ivory, gold, and

precious stones were among

materials used in the mosaic

works of the hall.

In many ways the Sassanid dynastic period (224-651 CE)

witnessed the highest achievement of Persian civilization, and

constituted the last great Persian Empire before the Muslim

conquest.

Iranian architecture reached a peak in its development during

the Sassanid era.

Until the end of this period, the most important styles of

Iranian architecture and inherited by the later periods can be

summarized as follows:

- Foundation (Saffe)

- Dome (Gonbad)

- Vault (Taq)

- Iwan

The buildings were constructed

on a level higher than earth

surface to avoid the instability

of the earth surface.A rectangular yard closed

in three of its sides.

The important elements of Persian Architecture and civilization

developped for hot climates are:

-Gardens

-Qanats (Kariz)

-Wind Towers (Badgir)

The Persian Garden refers to a tradition and style of garden design

which originated in Persia and which influenced the design of

gardens throughout the larger region.

The origin of Persian gardens may date back as far as 4000

BCE;

The decorated pottery of that time displays the typical cross

plan of the Persian garden.

The outline of Cyrus the Great’ garden, built around 500 BCE, is

still viewable today.

The Taj Mahal is one of the largest Persian gardens of the world.

A qanat is a water management system used to provide a reliable

supply of water to human settlements or for irrigation in hot, arid

and semi-arid climates.

The tchnology allows water to be transported long distances in

hot dry climates without losing a large proportion of the source

water to seepage and evaporation.

Qanats are constructed as a series of well-like vertical shafts, connected by gently sloping tunnels.

A wind tower is a chimney-like structure positioned above the house to catch the prevailing wind.

The tower catches the wind, driving a hot, dry breeze into the house; the flow of the incoming air is then directed across the vertical shaft from the qanat.

The period of Persian architecture from the 15th through 17th

Centuries to be the most brilliant of the post-Islamic era.

Various structures such as mosques, mausoleums, bazaars,

bridges, and different palaces have mainly survived from this

period.

Iranian domes are distinguished for their height, proportion of

elements, beauty of form, and roundness of the dome stem.

The outer surfaces of the domes are mostly mosaic faced, and

create a magical view.

Safavi tried to achieve grandeur in scale.

Isfahan's Naghsh-i Jahan’s square is the 6th largest square worldwide.

This proves their knowledge about building tall buildings with vast inner space