Parthian Nowadays Turkmenistan.

First capital is Nisa. Mud-brick archaeology. A Rhyton have been found (bone/precious stone/clay). A lot of potsherds (ostraca) have been found in Nisa. They tell of import of wine (which they grew locally). Merv: palatial structures, citadel. Parthians won several battles against the Romans. They stop roman power in Mesopotamia. Parthian empire: Hatra, Northern Iraq (reminds of roman architecture). They mix up meditterreanaen culture with Iranian/Mesopotamian. (greek vases+Mesopotamian lions). Much of what we know is from coinage. Dura Europus: roman military foundation. We have a synagogue (inscriptions from the book of Esther). Seleucid colony founded by Seleucus in 300 BC. In 113 BC dura europus were captured by Parthians, and retaken by Romans in 165. Shah= King.. Sasanid: last empire before Islam. 224651 Iranian powerful empire ruling over a large territory. The sasanid empire were founded by Ardashir I. He established the capital Ardashir-Khwarrah/Gur/Firuzabad in the early 3rd century. It is a round city. We have a palace from here: use of a courtyard. Many money has been put into restoring these palaces. Ctesiphon (6th century) restored by Saddam Hussein. In Iran. Takht-I Sulaiman: temple complex, in a vulcanian area, northwestern Iran. Takht = throne. The throne of Solomon. A fire temple next to a palace. A hollow volcano nearby is called the prison of Solomon. Imagery of Ardashir taking power from the Parthians.. Sasanid art and architecture: Rock carvings + Silverware + coinage. Rock carvings: Grotto of Khusraw II (591628). Sasanid architecture: mudbrick and stone are main materials. Forms: columns typical of achaemenid architecture + vaults and domes. Forms: Fire temples, palaces and fortifications. Surfaces and floors coated with plaster (especially gypsum). Shapur I (240-272 BC) son of Ardashir I Defeats three Roman emperors. Relief in Naqsh-I Rustam: shows his victory. Shapur is showed capturing roman Valerian (Standing) + Philip (the arab). He destroyed Dura Europus in 256.