Located on the eastern bank of the Tigris River near present-day Baghdad, Iraq, the city of Ctesiphon served as a royal capital of the Parthian and Sasanian Empires for over eight hundred years. The city’s most iconic structure was the Taq Kasra (Throne of Khosrow) palace, one of the wonders of the ancient world. Built by the Sasanian ruler Khosrow I (reigned 531–79), the palace’s vaulted brick throne room measures eighty-four feet across, making it the largest of its kind. To celebrate this exceptional monument that still stands today, hear several internationally renowned scholars discuss the site’s historical and archaeological importance and recent preservation efforts there. Then, watch the first documentary on this unique monument, Taq Kasra: Wonder of Architecture, directed by Pejman Akbarzadeh, produced by Persian Dutch Network, and funded by the Soudavar Memorial and Toos Foundations. Watch the trailer.
Image: Ctesiphon; Antoin Sevruguin, 1933, Freer|Sackler Archives, FSA A.4 2.12.Sm.65