In
Turkmenistan we had the opportunity to visit Nisa, an old Parthian Fortress,
now UNESCO World Heritage. The Parthian Empire ist thought to have started in
the 6th century BC, but not much is known about its history until Alexander the
Great made it part of his empire. The region corresponds to modern Khorasan.
Nisa has been the capital of Parthia, being founded in the 3rd century BC and
has been the necropolis of the Parthian kings.
The walls
are made of stamped clay (pachsa) and had been fortified by unburned bricks.
The ouside walls are 8-9 m thick and had towers, overlooking the plains; to the
South are the mountains of the Kopet-Dagh. Works of art in the
Hellenistic style, ivory rhytons (drinking horns), and other objects have been
uncovered in the remains of the city. Art and architecture shows Western as
well as Iranian styles. Objects are exhibited in the museum in Ashgabat.
View from the entrance
Some reconstruction works have been done
The interior of the fortress
Sun baking the clay
Close up for wall structure
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