Qal'eh Dokhtar, Ghale Dokhtar, Dokhtar Castle or Dezh Dokhtar (Persian: دژ دختر, "The Maiden Castle") is a castle made by Ardashir I, in present-day Fars, Iran, in 209 AD. It is located on a mountain slope near the Firouzabad-Kavar road.[1][2]

Atashgah Castle
قلعه آتشگاه
Dezh-e Dokhtar, or "The Maiden's Castle," Iran, built by Ardashir I in AD 209, before he was finally able to defeat the Parthian empire
Qal'eh Dokhtar is located in Continental Asia
Qal'eh Dokhtar
Location within Iran
Qal'eh Dokhtar is located in Iran
Qal'eh Dokhtar
Qal'eh Dokhtar (Iran)
General information
TypeCastle
Architectural styleSasanian
Town or cityFiruzabad
CountryIran
Coordinates28°55′15″N 52°31′48″E / 28.92083°N 52.53000°E / 28.92083; 52.53000
Sassanid Archaeological Landscape of Fars Region
UNESCO World Heritage Site
LocationIran
CriteriaCultural: (ii), (iii), (v)
Reference1568
Inscription2018 (42nd Session)
Area639.3 ha (1,580 acres)
Buffer zone12,715 ha (31,420 acres)

Name

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The name of the castle implies it was dedicated to the Goddess Anahita, to whom the term "Maiden" refers.

Location

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The castle is built on a high bluff which overlooks the river and roadway running south from Fars.

Specification

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It was presumably roofed by an arched vault. Beyond this there are steps to a third level and a large rectangular room with ¼ circle squinches at each corner supporting a domed roof. This was buttressed by very thick walls on all sides, presumably to ensure its stability, and the cupola could be reached by a spiral staircase on the south side.[3]

The 1,800-year-old castle has lost some four meters of its original height over the last century and experts warn if urgent measures are not taken to enforce it, the castle may soon collapse.[4]

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Huff, Dietrich (2006). "QALʿA-YE DOḴTAR". www.iranicaonline.org. Retrieved 2017-02-03.
  2. ^ "Qal'eh Dokhtar". www.itto.org. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  3. ^ "مرمت قلعه‌ دختر فيروزآباد تا پايان تيرماه". Iranian Students News Agency. 9 July 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  4. ^ "ابلاغ ایجاد شهرستان کوهسرخ در استان خراسان رضوی". Islamic Republic News Agency. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
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