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Ali Majdfar | all galleries >> Galleries >> Throughout IRAN > Ghale Dokhtar
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30-APR-2008 Ali Majdfar

Ghale Dokhtar

Firoozabad - Fars Province

Ghal'eh Dokhtar, also known as The Maiden 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. This structure was built by Ardashir I. The name implies it was dedicated to the Goddess Anahita, to whom the term "Maiden" refers. After capturing Isfahan and Kerman from the Parthians, he (re)built the city of Goor in vicinity to 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 close to the Ghal'eh Dokhtar structure. Ardashir's grandfather was a prominent priest of the Goddess Anahita at the nearby temple of Darabgird, & quot; City of Darius.& quot. The entrance to the castle is through a tall gateway in a large, rectangular tower. Inside, there is a broad stairway leads up to a rectangular hall, with blind niches on both side and two large buttresses at the east end. These supported stairways up to the next level, another large rectangular room, 14 x 23 m, with an arched recess, an arc, at the east end and arched blind windows on either side. It was presumably roofed by an arched vault. Beyond this there are steps to a third level and a large rectangular room a domed roof. This was buttressed by very thick walls on all sides, presumably to ensure its stability, and the cupola could be reached by a spiral staircase on the south side. Despite damages sustained by the castle, its majesty still produces awe in visitors.
More Photos of this place:
http://www.pbase.com/k_amj/ghaledokhtar

Canon EOS 20D ,Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
1/1250s f/5.6 at 80.0mm iso200 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Patricia Kay06-Jan-2010 20:47
Wonderful image Ali.....BV
Simon Chandler12-Dec-2009 23:50
Fantastic pov and composition with a clean background to show the form of the subject. v
January Grey20-Nov-2009 06:19
Beautiful shot of the ruins, Ali. V!
Valene17-Nov-2009 05:19
Wonderful capture of these historic ruins! V
CIS17-Nov-2009 02:52
Gorgeous sight!
Peter Stahl17-Nov-2009 02:36
Excellent job on and POV. Well done!! ~
Marcela Mejia Photography17-Nov-2009 02:30
Nice shot of this ruins that seem to emerge from the stones on the hill .V
Hank Vander Velde17-Nov-2009 02:24
Nice capture of these ancient structure Ali.
marie-jose wolff16-Nov-2009 20:55
beautiful ruins! V
Colin Storey16-Nov-2009 20:39
Fantastic shot. v
Ceya16-Nov-2009 19:36
Well done, Ali! V
Jim Coffman16-Nov-2009 19:25
Very gorgeous image! V
Gerard Koehl16-Nov-2009 18:36
Superbe vestige... V
Michal Leszczynski16-Nov-2009 18:00
Beautiful photo, wonderful capture of architecture. V.
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