Qal'eh Dokhtar
{{Short description|Castle in Firuzabad County, Iranian national heritage site}}
{{For|other places with similar names|Qal'eh Dokhtar (disambiguation){{!}}Qal'eh Dokhtar}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Atashgah Castle
| native_name = قلعه آتشگاه
| native_name_lang = fa
| former_names =
| alternate_names =
| image = Ghal'eh Dokhtar2.jpg
| image_alt =
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| caption = Dezh-e Dokhtar, or "The Maiden's Castle," Iran, built by Ardashir I in AD 209, before he was finally able to defeat the Parthian empire
| location =
| address =
| location_town = Firuzabad
| location_country = Iran
| coordinates = {{coord|28|55|15|N|52|31|48|E|region:IR|display=inline,title}}
| altitude =
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| map_type = Continental Asia#Iran
| map_alt =
| relief =yes
| map_caption = Location within Iran
| building_type = Castle
| architectural_style = Sasanian
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}}
{{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site|child=|WHS=Sassanid Archaeological Landscape of Fars Region|image=|image_upright=1.2|caption=|location=Iran|includes=|criteria={{UNESCO WHS type|(ii), (iii), (v)}}(ii), (iii), (v)|ID=1568|coordinates=|year=2018|area={{convert|639.3|ha|acre|abbr=on}}|buffer_zone={{convert|12715|ha|acre|abbr=on}}}}Qal'eh Dokhtar, Ghale Dokhtar, Dokhtar Castle or Dezh Dokhtar ({{langx|fa|دژ دختر}}, "The Maiden Castle") is a castle made by Ardashir I, in present-day Fars, Iran, in 209 AD. It is located on a mountain slope near the Firouzabad-Kavar road.{{Cite web|url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/qala-ye-doktar|title=QALʿA-YE DOḴTAR|last=Huff|first=Dietrich|date=2006|website=iranicaonline.org|language=en|access-date=2017-02-03}}{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Qal'eh Dokhtar|url=https://www.itto.org/iran/attraction/qaleh-dokhtar-castle-firuzabad/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=24 February 2021|work=itto.org}}
Name
The name of the castle implies it was dedicated to the Goddess Anahita, to whom the term "Maiden" refers.
Location
The castle is built on a high bluff which overlooks the river and roadway running south from Fars.
Specification
It was presumably roofed by an arched vault. Beyond this there are steps to a third level and a large rectangular room with ¼ circle squinches at each corner supporting a domed roof. This was buttressed by very thick walls on all sides, presumably to ensure its stability, and the cupola could be reached by a spiral staircase on the south side.{{cite web|last=|first=|date=9 July 2017|title=مرمت قلعه دختر فيروزآباد تا پايان تيرماه|url=https://www.isna.ir/news/fars-47527/%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%AA-%D9%82%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%87-%D8%AF%D8%AE%D8%AA%D8%B1-%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B2%D8%A2%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%AA%D8%A7-%D9%BE%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AA%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%87|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=24 February 2021|publisher=Iranian Students' News Agency}}
The 1,800-year-old castle has lost some four meters of its original height over the last century and experts warn if urgent measures are not taken to enforce it, the castle may soon collapse.{{cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=ابلاغ ایجاد شهرستان کوهسرخ در استان خراسان رضوی|url=https://www.irna.ir/news/81688692/%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%AE%D9%8A-%D9%82%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%87-%D8%AF%D8%AE%D8%AA%D8%B1-%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B2%D8%A2%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%A2%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%87-%D8%AB%D8%A8%D8%AA-%D8%AC%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A-%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=24 February 2021|agency=Islamic Republic News Agency}}
Gallery
File:Qaleh Dokhtar 1 by Hadi Karimi.jpg|Far view from the castle
File:Dokhtar castle, Firuzabad- by Hadi Karimi.jpg|Far view from the castle
File:Dokhtar Palace2.jpg|Palace
File:Dokhtar Palace1.jpg|Palace
File:Bishabour - Daughter castle - panoramio.jpg|View of the castle
File:Ghaledokhtar Firuzabad Fars.jpg|View of the castle
File:269 قلعه دختر فیروزاباد فارس.jpg|View of the castle
File:Ghale Dokhtar Bishapour 1.jpg|View of the castle
File:Fars, Ghale dokhtar (فارس، قلعه دختر) - panoramio (3).jpg|Castle from above
File:Fars, Ghale dokhtar (فارس، قلعه دختر) - panoramio (1).jpg|Main chamber
File:Qaledochtar.jpg|Main chamber
File:Fars, Ghale dokhtar (فارس، قلعه دختر) - panoramio (2).jpg|Main chamber
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Qal'eh Dokhtar, Firuzabad}}
- {{Cite web|title=Photo: Maiden Castle - Firouzabad - Iran|date=9 October 2009 |publisher=Flickr|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/27575684@N05/4118817493}}
{{Iranian Architecture}}
{{Fars Province}}{{Castles in Iran}}{{Sasanian castles}}
Category:Buildings and structures completed in the 3rd century
Category:Buildings and structures in Fars province
Category:Tourist attractions in Fars province
Category:Buildings and structures on the Iran National Heritage List