Bam and Its Cultural Landscape

Bam and Its Cultural Landscape

Arg-e Bam or Bam Citadel

Arg-e Bam (Bam Citadel) and its cultural landscape are part of a desert environment on the southern edge of the Iranian high plateau. The origins of the city of Bam can be traced back to the Achaemenid period (6th to 4th century BC). Located at the crossroads of important trade routes and renowned for the production of silk and cotton clothing, Bam reached its peak in the 7th-11th century.

Life in the oasis was dependent on the underground irrigation canals, the qanāts, of which Bam has preserved some of the oldest ones in Iran. Arg-e Bam is the most representative example of a fortified medieval town, built using a vernacular technique, using layers of mud-bricks (chineh).

Arg-e Bam is the largest city built in raw bricks in the world that is approximately 2200 years old. This site is located on Azarin Hill, northeast of the current city of Bam. The area of ​​the ancient city of Arg-e Bam is approximately 20 hectares. Around the fortress there was a deep moat that over the centuries defended this urban complex from external assaults.

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Among the structures identified in the city of Arg-e Bam there is a main gallery that in the past was a bazaar , the remains of a Sasanian fire temple, a historical gymnasium of 'zur khane', public baths, stables, barracks, prisons and the 'Palace of the four seasons'. The common homes were built together and connected to each other. In some private houses you can see the remains of private bathrooms. The stables were located in separate areas of the houses.

Some houses in Bam citadel had two floors and this shows that in one of the eras of the past there was an increase in population. During the Islamic period two mosques were built, called the Friday mosque and the mosque of the Prophet Muhammad, and a 'Hoseiniye' (building for the commemoration of the martyrdom of Emam Hosein). The 'Four Seasons Palace' had three floors and was the seat of government, all orders and decisions of the government were issued by this residence.

In particular, the city of Bam, is known for its citrus fruits, watered by qanāts. The city of Bam also benefits from loyal tourism, with an increasing number of people visiting the old Bam Citadel every day in recent years.

After the Bam earthquake of 2003 -a major earthquake that shook Bam and Kerman the province that surrounds southeastern Iran- the city and the Bam citadel were severely damaged. The government Immediately began to plan a new city on the ruins of the old city, and reconstruct the Majestic citadel and fortunately the Tehran government continued with its plans and the city is reconstructed well and it is visited every day by many tourists.

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