Ghal'eh Dokhtar
in 209AD, before he was finally able to defeat the Parthian empire.
Ghal'eh Dokhtar Castle, is a castle made by Ardeshir I, in present day Fars, Iran, in 209 AD. It is located on a mountain slope near the Firouzabad-Shiraz road. Despite damages sustained by the castle, its majesty still produces awe in visitors. This structure was built by Ardashir I as a defense fortification, early on during his campaign to defeat the weakening Parthians. After capturing Isfahan and Kerman from the Parthians, he (re)built the city of Gur nearby the castle in Firouzabad, making it his capital. After defeating Ardavan V (Artabanus V ), the Parthian king, in a great battle in 224 AD, he built the Palace of Ardashir nearby the Ghal'eh Dokhtar castle, to facilitate the reception of guests, and to elevate his image as the new emperor of the Sassanide dynasty. The 1800-year-old castle today has lost some four meters of its original height over the last century and experts warn if urgent measures are not taken to restore it, the castle may soon be gone forever.
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