Archeologists in Search of Heraclius in Khosrow’s Castle

Tehran, 20 February 2006 (CHN) -- Archeological excavations have stated that they have found one of the biggest and strangest architectural structures of the world, the traces of Heraclius, the Roman Emperor in the Khosrow Parviz's castle. In some historical books, this Roman Emperor has been described as the plunderer of Khosrow’s Castle in Qasr-e Shirin a city in Kermanshah Province, which indicates the importance of this castle.
“Foreign archeologists provided a plan from Khosrow Parviz Castle, which today is the resource of the studies of the Sassanid architectural style. The first plan of this castle was prepared by Jacques de Morgan, French archeologist, later on developed by other archeologists. However, none of them is very precise,” said Yousof Moradi, head of the Kermanshah-Qasre Shirin Sassanid Project. Archeologists, geographers, and historians all talk about the stunning architectural style used in the construction of this castle. “Nobody knows the exact date of the construction of the castle and its usage. Whether it was used as a management center or had merely an economical usage or both. During our excavations, we are trying to find an answer to this question. In addition, we are trying to find out about other rulers who lived in this complex, the influence of the architectural style of this castle on other monuments built afterwards, the changes made in this castles and its usage after the end of the Sassanid era,” said Moradi.
Khosrow Parviz castle is located on the north of the city of Qasr-e Shirin, near a square dome fire temple. Its building is 500 meter in height and 150 meter in width. Iranian and Arabic geographers such as Yaghoot Hamavi have described it as one of the wonders of the world. Recent excavations have aslo lead to the discovery of a defensive wall and 35 historical sites in Qasre-Shirin.