
09/12/2025
Palace of Ardashir I.
Near Firuzabad, Iran, stands the Palace of Ardashir I, built around 224 CE, marking the rise of the Sasanian Empire.
Ardashir I, who overthrew the Parthians and founded a new dynasty, built this grand palace to display his power. Its most impressive features are its huge domed halls—among the earliest examples of Sasanian dome construction—and its great iwans, or vaulted halls.
The palace was part of the circular city of Ardashir-Khurrah, reflecting the Sasanians’ vision of order and authority. Together with the nearby fortress and city ruins, it forms part of the UNESCO-listed Archaeological Landscape of Fars, a testament to Sasanian innovation and influence.