Ardestan

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Ardestan
native_name =


imagesize =
image_caption =


image_



map_caption =
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position =bottom
pushpin_mapsize = 300
pushpin_map_caption =Location in Iran
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name =‎
subdivision_name1 = Esfahan Province
subdivision_type2 =
subdivision_name2 =
established_title =
established_date =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
area_magnitude =
area_total_sq_mi =
area_total_km2 =
area_land_sq_mi =
area_land_km2 =
area_urban_sq_mi =
area_urban_km2 =
area_metro_km2 =
area_metro_sq_mi =
population_as_of=
population_footnotes =
population_total =
population_urban =
population_metro =
population_density_sq_mi =
population_density_km2 =
timezone =
utc_offset =
timezone_DST =
utc_offset_DST =
latd=33|latm=23|lats=|latNS=N
longd=52|longm=22|longs=|longEW=E
elevation_footnotes=
elevation_m =
elevation_ft =
postal_code_type =
postal_code =
area_code =
website =
footnotes =

Ardestan ( _fa. اردستان) is a town in Esfahan province, Iran. It is located at the southern foothills of the Karkas mountain chain and is 110 km northeast of Isfahan. It is believed the city has been founded in Sassanian times and was strongly fortified in the 10th century. A Seljuk-era mosque, a bazaar, several ab anbars, and historical houses of the old town are among the tourist attractions of Ardestan. Mulberry, pomegranate and a special kind of fig are the main orchard products of the town.

It has been said that the Sasanian king of kings Khosrow I (the Just) was born in this town. Ardestan is also the birthplace of Hassan Modarres.

Historical sites

* Imamzadeh Husayn: This Seljuk imamzadeh possibly made part of a Seljuk madrasah. Only little of this structure remains today. A badly damaged portal with the remains of a minaret (originally two) can still be found.
* Imamzadeh Ismael
* Friday Mosque: The oldest parts indicate a pre-Seljuk building, and it is well possible the mosque may have been built on the site of a chahar taq. The structure was incorporated in a Seljuk kiosk mosque in the 12th century, and further expanded to the classical four-iwan plan. The stucco decoration of the mihrab was altered during the Il-Khanid period.

References

* Matheson, Sylvia A. (1972). "Persia: An Archaeological Guide". London: Faber and Faber Limited. ISBN 0-571-09305-1

External links

* Photographs of Ardestan::— "Masjed-e Jāme'eh Ardestān": [http://www.flickr.com/photos/sadeghkhan/283226854/sizes/l/ (1)] , [http://www.flickr.com/photos/sadeghkhan/283226855/sizes/l/ (2)] , [http://www.flickr.com/photos/sadeghkhan/283226857/sizes/l/ (3)] , [http://www.flickr.com/photos/sadeghkhan/283226858/sizes/l/ (4)] , [http://www.flickr.com/photos/sadeghkhan/285755994/sizes/l/ (5)] , [http://www.flickr.com/photos/sadeghkhan/285755997/sizes/l/ (6)] , [http://www.flickr.com/photos/sadeghkhan/285755999/sizes/l/ (7)] , [http://www.flickr.com/photos/sadeghkhan/285756002/sizes/l/ (8)] , [http://www.flickr.com/photos/sadeghkhan/285756005/sizes/l/ (9)] , [http://www.flickr.com/photos/sadeghkhan/285756007/sizes/l/ (10)] , [http://www.flickr.com/photos/sadeghkhan/285761412/sizes/l/ (11)] .