Citadel of Karim Khan
The citadel of Karim Khan ( Persian : ارگ کريمخاني - Arg-e Karim Khani ) is located in the northeast of the Iranian city of Shiraz . It was built as part of a larger complex during the Zand Dynasty ; the eponymous ruler Karim Khan used it as a living area and a military base. In its shape it resembles a medieval fortress.
At times the citadel was used as a prison. Nowadays it houses a museum run by the Iranian Cultural Heritage Organization.
history
The citadel was built in 1766/67. Karim Khan invited the best architects and artists of his time and acquired the best materials from other cities and abroad for the construction of the structure, which was quickly erected. During the reign of the Zand it was used by the kings as a residential area, and during the Qajar dynasty as the seat of the governor.
After the end of the Qajar rule, the complex was converted into a prison and the paintings were plastered over. In 1971 it was given to the Iranian Cultural Heritage Organization ( Sāzmān Mirāz-e Farhangi, Sanāje 'Dasti wa Gardeš-gari ). The renovation of the building began in 1977.
description
The Citadel of Karim Khan is located in Shohada Square. It covers an area of 4000 m²; the building consists of four high walls, which are connected to each other by four 14 meter high round brick towers at a 90 ° angle. The walls are 12 meters high and 3 meters thick at the base and 2.8 meters thick at the top. The design of the citadel combined military with residential architecture, it was the residential building of Karim Khan as well as the military center of the dynasty.
The British travel writer James Edward Alexander described the citadel in 1827 as being surrounded by a “deep, wet ditch”.
Tile work depicting mythical stories was added to the entrance gate during the Qajar era.
Web links
- Arg-e-Karimi entry on ArchNet
- Arge karim khani ( Memento from June 18, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Information on farscustoms.ir (English)
Coordinates: 29 ° 37 ′ 3 ″ N , 52 ° 32 ′ 41 ″ E