Iraj Castle instance of castle
Iraj Castle (Persian: قلعه ایرج Qal'eh Iraj) is a fortification built in 4th or 5th century AD in the central region of Ray, Sasanian Empire, near modern-day Asgarabad-e Abbasi, Iran. The monument is known for its peculiar design: large defensive walls with embedded rooms and arches, with towers at regular intervals, enclosing a vast empty interior of 190 hectares (470 acres).
The design is similar to several other Sasanian campaign bases. The permanent service members supposedly occupied the walls and the rooms inside it, while the empty interior would be occupied by tents or used for training or military assemblies. It probably served as a central military base for operations elsewhere, especially against the incursions of nomadic nations in the north.Current status
Parts of the walls have been eroded, and out of the four gates, only the main, southern gate remains today. Iraj Castle is considered as the world's largest mud-brick fort with a height of 50 feet and an area of 200 hectares.There have been attempts by the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Iran in 2008 to designate it as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but the efforts were abandoned due to "serious shortcomings" and the situation of the area, including the agricultural activities of local farmers in the interior of the structure.Illegal excavation have damaged parts of the walls. On 26 May 2018, an illegal excavation was reported in the Northern Gate. Majid Zhaleh, the head of the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Pishva County, stated that his organization lacks enough manpower.
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