Istakhr

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Istakhr (in استخر), also known as Stakhr, was an ancient city located in southern Iran, in Fars province, five kilometers north of the ruins of Persepolis. It was a prospering city during the time of Achaemenid Persia.

History

At first, Istakhr was an Achaemenid city in present-day Fârs Province, Iran. The city contained the original Avesta, before it was burned by Alexander of Macedonia, followed by the decline of the Achaemenid Emire of Persia. Istakhr temporarily became the capital of Sassanian Persia during the reign of Ardashir I before moving to Ctesiphon. Istakhr was burned to the ground during the Islamic conquest of Persia by Arab invaders. After being rebuilt, the city lost its importance to the city of Shiraz. Today only an archaeological site remains.

External links

• Article from Encyclopedia Iranica
• Istakhr excavations

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Last updated on Saturday November 03, 2007 at 15:06:36 PDT (GMT -0700)
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