Saveh

In the 7th century BC it was a stronghold of the Medes. During the Parthian rule of Persia, it was called Saavakineh, and was one of the main hubs of the empire.

In the 11th century, it was a residence of the Daylamites and of the Seljuks. It was severely damaged by the Mongol invasion in the 13th century; it was restored during the Ilkhanids. Saveh was again sacked by the Timurids, but later grew under the Safavids. In the summer of 1725 the city was besieged and captured by the Afghans after a battle with Tahmasp Mirza.{{Cite book|isbn=2910640051|title=The Afghan Occupation of Safavid Persia, 1721-1729|last1=Floor|first1=Willem M.|year=1998|publisher=Peeters Publishers & Booksellers }} It eventually lost much of its importance when Tehran became the official capital of Persia and, in the mid-19th century, many of the inhabitants moved to Tehran.

At the time of the 2006 National Census, the city's population was 179,009 in 48,221 households.{{cite report|title=Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1385 (2006): Markazi Province|language=fa|publisher=The Statistical Center of Iran|website=amar.org.ir|url=http://www.amar.org.ir/DesktopModules/FTPManager/upload/upload2360/newjkh/newjkh/00.xls|access-date=25 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920084413/http://www.amar.org.ir/DesktopModules/FTPManager/upload/upload2360/newjkh/newjkh/00.xls|format=Excel|archive-date=20 September 2011}} The following census in 2011 counted 200,481 people in 58,255 households.{{cite report|title=Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1390 (2011): Markazi Province|language=fa|publisher=The Statistical Center of Iran|website=irandataportal.syr.edu|via=Iran Data Portal, Syracuse University|url=https://irandataportal.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/Markazi.xls|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230119170600/https://irandataportal.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/Markazi.xls|archive-date=19 January 2023|access-date=19 December 2022|format=Excel}} The 2016 census measured the population of the city as 220,762 people in 67,230 households.{{cite report|title=Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1395 (2016): Markazi Province|language=fa|publisher=The Statistical Center of Iran|website=amar.org.ir|url=https://www.amar.org.ir/Portals/0/census/1395/results/abadi/CN95_HouseholdPopulationVillage_00.xlsx|access-date=19 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017052005/https://www.amar.org.ir/Portals/0/census/1395/results/abadi/CN95_HouseholdPopulationVillage_00.xlsx|format=Excel|archive-date=17 October 2020}}

Saveh has a hot semi-arid climate, (BSh) in Köppen climate classification and (BS) in Trewartha climate classification.{{Cite web |url=http://www.chaharmahalmet.ir/iranarchive.asp|title=Climate: Saveh - Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table |publisher= IRIMO.IR |access-date=30 August 2013}} Its summers are very hot and dry, while its winters are cool to cold and somewhat rainy.

{{Weather box |metric first= Yes |single line= Yes |location= Saveh, altitude: 1108.0 m, from 1992–2005.

|Jan record high C = 19.6

|Feb record high C = 23.6

|Mar record high C = 29.0

|Apr record high C = 33.6

|May record high C = 39.8

|Jun record high C = 42.0

|Jul record high C = 43.8

|Aug record high C = 43.0

|Sep record high C = 39.6

|Oct record high C = 34.6

|Nov record high C = 28.0

|Dec record high C = 23.6

|Jan high C = 9.6

|Feb high C = 12.5

|Mar high C = 17.1

|Apr high C = 23.7

|May high C = 29.3

|Jun high C = 35.2

|Jul high C = 37.7

|Aug high C = 37.2

|Sep high C = 33.0

|Oct high C = 26.1

|Nov high C = 17.1

|Dec high C = 11.0

|Jan mean C = 4.8

|Feb mean C = 7.0

|Mar mean C = 11.4

|Apr mean C = 17.7

|May mean C = 22.9

|Jun mean C = 28.5

|Jul mean C = 31.4

|Aug mean C = 30.8

|Sep mean C = 26.2

|Oct mean C = 19.8

|Nov mean C = 11.7

|Dec mean C = 6.5

|Jan low C = 0.1

|Feb low C = 1.5

|Mar low C = 5.8

|Apr low C = 11.7

|May low C = 16.4

|Jun low C = 21.8

|Jul low C = 25.1

|Aug low C = 24.4

|Sep low C = 19.4

|Oct low C = 13.4

|Nov low C = 6.4

|Dec low C = 2.0

|Jan record low C = -11.0

|Feb record low C = -14.4

|Mar record low C = -4.6

|Apr record low C = 0.8

|May record low C = 6.8

|Jun record low C = 13.0

|Jul record low C = 17.6

|Aug record low C = 16.6

|Sep record low C = 11.2

|Oct record low C = 5.6

|Nov record low C = -7.2

|Dec record low C = -6.5

|Jan precipitation days= 7.5

|Feb precipitation days= 5.8

|Mar precipitation days= 7.3

|Apr precipitation days= 7.5

|May precipitation days= 6.2

|Jun precipitation days= 1.2

|Jul precipitation days= 0.9

|Aug precipitation days= 0.3

|Sep precipitation days= 0.5

|Oct precipitation days= 2.3

|Nov precipitation days= 5.9

|Dec precipitation days= 6.9

|precipitation colour=green

|Jan precipitation mm = 36.2

|Feb precipitation mm = 23.1

|Mar precipitation mm = 34.1

|Apr precipitation mm = 28.0

|May precipitation mm = 14.5

|Jun precipitation mm = 1.4

|Jul precipitation mm = 1.3

|Aug precipitation mm = 0.2

|Sep precipitation mm = 0.4

|Oct precipitation mm = 6.0

|Nov precipitation mm = 28.0

|Dec precipitation mm = 33.1

|source 1 = [http://www.chaharmahalmet.ir/iranarchive.asp I.R. OF IRAN SHAHREKORD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION (IN PERSIAN)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829024954/http://www.chaharmahalmet.ir/iranarchive.asp |date=2017-08-29 }}. 1992–2005

|date=1992-2005

}}

Saveh produces large amounts of wheat and cotton. It is also well known for its pomegranates and melons.{{cite book|title=The Columbia Gazetteer of the World|url=https://archive.org/details/columbiagazettee02cohe|url-access=registration|first=Saul|last=Cohen|publisher=Columbia University Press|year=1998|page=2833|isbn=9780231110402 }} Kaveh Industrial City, the largest industrial city in Iran, is located in Saveh.

• Jameh Mosque of Saveh, built by the Seljuks during the 11th century. It includes a courtyard, porch, a 14 m tall minaret, nocturnal areas, a tiled dome (14 m tall, with a diameter of 16 m) and two altars with inscription in Kufic script.
• Red Mosque of Saveh, also known as Enqelab Mosque. Dating to the Seljuk-era, it has a brickwork dome, an 11th-century minaret, three porticoes, and internally houses an altar with plasterwork and inscriptions.
• Imamzadeh Soltan Seyed Eshaq Mausoleum
• Sorkhdeh Bridge, south of the city
• Khamseh-Abad caravansarai

Outside the city are the fortresses of Esmaeilieh (35 km), Alvir and Ardemin (56 km, on the road to Hamadan), as well as the archaeological sites of Aveh and Alishar.

According to Iranian tradition, the Magi who visited the infant Jesus traveled from Saveh, and are buried among its ruins. Marco Polo described the tombs of the Magi in his travel book, Il Milione:

{{quote|In Persia is the city of Saba, from which the Three Magi set out... and in this city they are buried, in three very large and beautiful monuments, side by side. And above them there is a square building, beautifully kept. The bodies are still entire, with hair and beard remaining. (Book i).{{cite book | author = Polo, Marco and Rustichello da Pisa | year = 1903 | title = The Travels of Marco Polo: The Complete Yule-Cordier Edition | editor = Henry Yule and Henri Cordier | url = http://www.gutenberg.org/files/10636/10636-8.txt}}}}

Saveh is said to have possessed one of the greatest libraries in the Middle East, until its destruction by the Mongols during their first invasion of Iran.

Another legend about Saveh is the Lake of Saveh. It is a lake which is said to have been located near the city. According to the legend mentioned in historical Persian texts, this lake dried out on the night of the birth of Muhammad. A recent investigation in the Zarand area between Tehran and Saveh has revealed some evidence of the existence of this lake in Zarand Plain.Okhravi, R. and Djamali, M. (2003). "The missing ancient lake of Saveh: a historical review". Iranica Antiqua, 38, 327-344.

In 2004, Saveh became only the second city in the history of the Islamic Republic to appoint a woman as mayor.

• Yusuf Adil Shah (former Mamluk and founder of the Bijapur Sultanate)

Harold f Weston - Iran10.jpg|Saveh Gate, 1920s

Saveh Bazaar.jpg|Saveh Bazaar

Saveh Mosque 8.jpg|Jameh Mosque of Saveh

Menareh masjed saveh2.jpg|Minaret of Jameh Mosque of Saveh

Saveh Bazaar Mosque.jpg|Saveh Bazaar Mosque

Sardaran square in Saveh.jpg|Sardaran square

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• [http://www.savehcity.ir/HomePage.aspx?Lang=en-US Official website]

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{{Markazi Province|state=collapsed}}

{{Saveh County|state=collapsed}}

Category:Cities in Markazi province

Category:Populated places in Saveh County