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Takht-E Soleyman World Heritage Scanned Nomination File Name: 1077.pdf UNESCO Region: ASIA AND THE PACIFIC __________________________________________________________________________________________________ SITE NAME: Takht-e Soleyman DATE OF INSCRIPTION: 5th July 2003 STATE PARTY: IRAN CRITERIA: C (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (vi) DECISION OF THE WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE: Excerpt from the Report of the 27th Session of the World Heritage Committee Criterion i: Takth-e Suleiman is an outstanding ensemble of royal architecture, joining the principal architectural elements created by the Sasanians in a harmonious composition inspired by their natural context. Criterion ii: The composition and the architectural elements created by the Sasanians at Takht-e Suleiman have had strong influence not only in the development of religious architecture in the Islamic period, but also in other cultures. Criterion iii: The ensemble of Takht-e Suleiman is an exceptional testimony of the continuation of cult related to fire and water over a period of some two and half millennia. The archaeological heritage of the site is further enriched by the Sasanian town, which is still to be excavated. Criterion iv: Takht-e Suleiman represents an outstanding example of Zoroastrian sanctuary, integrated with Sasanian palatial architecture within a composition, which can be seen as a prototype. Criterion vi: As the principal Zoroastrian sanctuary, Takht-e Suleiman is the foremost site associated with one of the early monotheistic religions of the world. The site has many important symbolic relationships, being also a testimony of the association of the ancient beliefs, much earlier than the Zoroastrianism, as well as in its association with significant biblical figures and legends BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS The archaeological site of Takht-e Soleyman, in north-western Iran, is situated in a valley set in a volcanic mountain region. The site includes the principal Zoroastrian sanctuary partly rebuilt in the Ilkhanid (Mongol) period (13th century) as well as a temple of the Sasanian period (6th and 7th centuries) dedicated to Anahita. The site has important symbolic significance. The designs of the fire temple, the palace and the general layout have strongly influenced the development of Islamic architecture. 1.b State, Province or Region: Western Azerbaijan Province 1.d Exact location: N36 36 14.0 E47 14 06.0 Iranian Cultural Heritage Organization I.C.H.O TAKHT-E SOLEYMAN F IRE TEMPLE OF K NIGHTS th th (VI -XIII centuries) UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION NOMINATION OF PROPERTIES FOR INCLUSION ON THE W ORLD H ERITAGE L IST Synopsis TAKHT-E SOLEYMAN “Fire Temple of Knights” Fire Temple and Palatial Complex (VIth-XIIIth centuries) West Azarbayjan province, northwestern Iran Takht-e Soleyman reveals architectural achievements of outstanding universal values, which from artistic, religious, mythical, and historical points of view, emerge from a symbiosis of man-made and spectacular natural setting. Takht-e Soleyman is the unique survival of one of the three principal fire temples of the Zoroastrian faith. Called Azargoshnasb (Atur-Gushnasp), and built by the Sassanian emperor Chosroès I (531-578 A.D.) around the sacred Avestan Chechasta Lake, it is the largest and the best-preserved vestige of its kind known in the world. The site was esteemed by the early Christian Armenians and was respected by the Muslims who identified it with Solomon’s palace. Takht-e Soleyman knew its last grandeur at the time when the Shamanistic Mongols chose it as their summer place in the late 13th century, and built an imposing palace overlooking its magnificent lake. As at Persepolis and Pasargadae of the Achaemenid period (550-331 B.C.), Takht-e Soleyman is mingled with the Kingdom of Solomon’s legends; here he had his throne, hence the name Throne (takht) of Solomon. The ruins at Takht-e Soleyman around its mythical lake are also connected to legends related to the birth of Zarathustra and the Child Christ. The site is in the form of a fortified oval (marked 1 on the general map 1/50,000) surrounded by its specific buffer zone marked ‘A’ (which also includes number 5) on the same map. This area is in its turn protected by a landscape buffer zone marked ‘B’, the one it shares with 5 other sites. All these 5 sites are closely connected with Takht-e Soleyman and its fire temple as well ass palatial compound, and form an ensemble. Some of these sites such as Zendan-e Soleyman (2 on the map) and Belqeys Citadel (4 on the map) are highly significant. The village of Nosratabad or Tazekand (C on the map) with its restricted expansion rules is also included in the landscape buffer zone of the site (B). Characteristics of Takht-e Soleyman’s main site (no 1) with its specific buffer zone (A) within the Landscape buffer zone (B): Map ref. Number 1 Core zone area 10 ha Specific buffer zone area A: 385.5 ha Landscape buffer zone B: 7438 ha Table 1. Areas and buffer zones of Takht-e Soleyman compound, Fire Temple, Palace, and lake Takht-e Soleyman is proposed as a single nomination centred around its main oval fortified site (no1) protected within its double buffer zones (specific ‘A’ and landscape ‘B’). Aside from the fortified oval, the landscape buffer zone ‘B’ includes 6 other connected units (2 to 7) provided with their own specific buffer zones and an adjacent area ‘C’ allotted to Nosratabad village and its restricted expansion. 2 Proposal for the nomination of Takht-e Soleyman on the World Heritage List as a World Cultural Property Identification of the Property 1a. Country (and State Party if different) IRAN 1b. State of province or region WESTERN AZARBAYJAN PROVINCE 1c. Name of Property TAKHT-E SOLEYMAN This is a name given to the site in the medieval and modern times, which means the ‘Throne of Solomon’, after the name of the biblical prophet who, according to ancient texts and legends, possessed supernatural powers. During the Sassanian period (224-641 A.D.), the site was called Azargoshnasb / Athur-Gushnasp (Fire of the Knights). The site was known to the historians of the early Islamic period as Shiz. During the Ilkhanid (Mongol) period in the 13th-14th centuries, the site was called Saturiq. 3 1d. Exact location on map and indication of geographical co-ordinates The site of Takht-e Soleyman, at 47° 14' 06΄΄ East and 36° 36' 14´´ North, lies in the Balkhash mountains, at an altitude of about 2500 m above sea level, in the north-west of Iran about 45 km north/north-east of the modern town of Takab (fig. 1). The nearest village to the site is Nosratabad (former Tazekand) which is situated at about 1.5 km to the west of the main site of Takht-e Soleyman. 1e. Maps and/or plans showing boundary of area proposed for inscription and of any buffer zone See the main map (1/50,000) attached to the end of the file. See also figs 1 and 3 and the Takht-e Soleyman guide map in colour plates. Takht-e Soleyman is proposed as a single nomination centred around its main oval fortified site (no 1) protected within its double buffer zones (specific ‘A’ and landscape ‘B’). The landscape buffer zone ‘B’ includes 6 other connected ancient complexes provided with their own specific buffer zones (2 to 7 except for no. 5 that is included in A) and an enclave ‘C’ allocated to Nosratabad village and its restricted expansion. 4 1f. Area of site proposed for inscription (ha.) and proposed buffer zone (ha.) if any. Main site (No 1 on map 1/50,000 attached to the end of this file) and its specific buffer zone (A) within the Landscape buffer zone (B): Map ref. number 1 Core zone area 10 ha Specific buffer zone area A: 385.5 ha Landscape buffer zone B: 7438 ha The fortified oval site of Takht-e Soleyman covers an area of about 10 hectares (see no. 1 on the main map 1/50,000 attached to the end of this file). It is protected within its own specific buffer zone (marked ‘A’ on the main map 1/50,000 attached to the end of this file) which covers a surface of about 385.5 hectares. This specific buffer zone is itself included within a large landscape buffer zone ‘B’ which covers an area of about 74.38 km2 (7438 ha) This landscape, or the 2nd buffer zone, includes 6 other adjacent sites and zones (marked nos 2 to 7 on the main map 1/50,000 attached to the end of this file). All the limits of the core or buffer zones have been approved by the Iranian Cultural Heritage Organization and are legally protected. They are shown on the map presented at the end of this file. The 6 other connected sites within the landscape buffer zone (B) of Takht-e Soleyman mentioned above are: 5 Site Map ref. Core Specific buffer Landscape number zone zone buffer zone (B) Zendan-e Soleyman 2 11 ha 101.9 ha Tape Majid 3 2500 m2 39.12 ha Belqeys Citadel 4 6.25 ha 50.12 ha 7438 ha Brick baking kiln 5 2500 m² - Stone quarry 6 - 426.25 ha Ahmadabad tumulus 7 2500 m² 2.5 ha Table 2. Six adjacent complexes in the Takht-e Soleyman area. 2. Justification for Inscription 2a. Statement of significance Takht-e Soleyman bears some legendary and fascinating identities. It has been supposed to be a mirror of the Paradise itself, Mark Anthony's touch-stone, the Parthian horsemen's Phraaspa or even the place where the Holy Graal was conserved. None of these legends has been proved by any real fact.
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