Kangavar

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pushpin_map_caption =Location in Iran
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subdivision_name1 = Kermanshah Province
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latd=34|latm=30|lats=06|latNS=N
longd=47|longm=57|longs=42|longEW=E
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Kangāvar (PerB|کنگاور) ("Konkobar" or "Concobar") is the name of a small district in the province of Kermanshah in Iran, as well as of the town that is the district's administrative capital.

The district, which lies in the Kangavar river valley, is very fertile and contains 30 villages. Kangavar township is 47 miles from Hamadan on the high road to Kermanshah.

In the early 20th century, Kangāvar was held in fief by the family of a deceased court official, forming a separate government.

Today, the town is best known for the archaeological remains of a Hellenic-style edifice. During the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, the ruins were misused as a source for building material for the expanding town.harvcolnb|Kleiss|2005.] Excavation first began in 1968, by which time the "large structure with its great Ionic columns set on a high stone platform"harvcolnb|Kawami|1987|p=326.] had been associated with a comment by Isidore of Charax, that refers to a "temple of Artemis" ("Parthian Stations" 6) at Concobar - so the Greek name of Kangavar - in Lower Medea, on the overland trade route between the Levant and India. References to Artemis in Iran are generally interpreted to be references to Anahita, and thus Isidore's "temple of Artemis" came to be understood as a reference to a temple of Anahita.

Although a general plan of the complex has been compiled, it is still not sufficient to learn about the function and shape of the terrace and the buildings that stood there. Given the lack of archaeological evidence for a temple-like building, "it is questionable whether the [temple noted by Isodore] is identical with the ruins of Kangāvar. Isidorus described obviously another temple of the first century AD, somewhere in the region of Congobar (Kangāvar) or at the place of the later platform, which, according to the results of the excavation, seems to be built up in Sasanian times."harvcolnb|Kleiss|2005.]

"Under the Parthians any observable western influence can just as well be a survival from the Hellenistic period, which is why the monument at Kangāvar was once acceptably dated as early Parthian while recent investigations proved it to be late Sasanian."harvcolnb|Keall|1987|p=328.] "The ruin at Kangāvar [is] now thought to be a late Sasanian palace."harvcolnb|Huff|1987|p=332.]

Despite the archaeological findings, the association with the divinity of fertility, healing, and wisdom has made the site a popular tourist attraction.

Bibliography