Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Ruins in Iran Reveal Greek Influence

Ruins at Istakhr in southern Iran.


Geological surveys in southern Iran reveal formations inspired by ancient Greek architecture dating back to the Sassanid period from 226 to 651 C.E.

“The design is loaned from Hippodamus' style of urban planning during a series of armed conflicts with Persia's great rival to the west, the Roman Empire,” according to Ali Asadi, expert on the archeology of Istakhr. He explained that wars during the period brought Roman slaves to the area now occupied by Fars Province in Iran, and that the slaves incorporated the Greek designs into local construction.

Hippodamus (498 BC - 408 BC) was an ancient Greek architect and urban planner famous for his use of repeated square geometric shapes. Istakhr, where the geological surveys are being conducted, was once the capital of the Sassanid Empire but today only archaeological sites of the city remain.

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