Ecological and geographical situations of Lorestan province : covering 28560 square kilometers western Iran beween 41 .22 and 50 . 30 eastern longitudes and 32.37 and 34.22 northern latitudes . It is bordered northward by Markazi (khomein and Arak townships) and Hamadan (Malayer and Nahavand townships ) provinces , southward by Khuzestan , eastward by Esfahan province . (Faridan and Golpayegan township ) and weatward by kermanshah and Ilam provinces . Parallel mountain ranges , plains and deep valleys are scattered amid soaring montains , from general appearance of the province .
Generally , parallel Zagros ranges , from weatern north ward to eastern south ward and narrow and long plains which are located between mountain ranges , fromm Lorestan province . The highest and main mountain ranges , are Garin in eastern north ward and kower (Kabir Kouh) in weatward of the province . Searching region ecosystem shows that its ecological situations hass been compatible to settle and to live human from the end of Pleistocene period . This province as a part of Zagros region , Owing suitable conditions to live , is one of the most ancient region to live in the world which has been continued in various periods of human life and its changing and evolutionary . Although , this region has not been studied completely by paleontologists but , archeological testimonies , states human living from middle stone archeologic periods up to now which has been continned during the history .
Geographic situation of Shapourkhast fort : parallel mountain ranges of Zagros , are located between central plateau southern and western parts of Iran and Lorestan is located in middle part of these mountain ranges in important passages and it has been important during the history . from Silakhor and Doroud plains to Zagros mountain ranges to exiting from these mountain ranges and entering to Khouzestan plain , a length approximately aboute 200 kms , propably couldn,t find any place like Khorramabad plain and valley having geographical situations (on connection roads) planty mirages , good weather , special situation of Falak-o-Aflak fortress . Two mountain ranges in two sides, surrounded Khorramabad valley from Northwestern to south eastern , and two riveres are jointed middle of this valley to the south . whit this description , a cliff with 20 meters height and approximately 5300 squar meters measurement of the level of suburbs lands in the results of geologic reactions , which is close to its intrance valley and passages
This hill and cliff with its special situation of location next to golestan fountationhead , based on ancient testimonies , had been considered human during the Shapourkhast forthad been noticed by Sasanian kings which has gone on its life in eslamic periods , Hassanouge , Atabegs and Valians of Lorestan through the history . 3-Effective factors to From Shapourkhast city : the noame of Shapourkhast fort has been rnixed whit Shapourkhast city in historical books . Has the Shapourkhast fort affected on formation of Shapourkhast city or viceversa ? The past records of whichone is more ? and have they communicated eachother? These ore questions which archeology researches can helpus in clearening that . There are Other important ancient sites in Khorramabad valley sach Masour Hill which the fortress could be related to them , in other hand , brick Minarett of Shapourkhast city , is a work that many researchers known it has related to Falak-ol-Aflak Fortress . Therefor , considering archeologic experimental dowsing in Falak-ol-Aflak , which shows Mads , Hakhamanesh , part and Sasanians in ancient layers of the fort , it markes us certain a period until the first of the first mellinum p.c. Although , it had not been any exact study on the old Shapourkhast city. But random discoveries , distinguish a city belong to the Sasanies and the first of Eslam to soventth century A. H , like architectural works remains in Qaz: Abad area , discovering big vats in Poshte Hossein Abad area , connect it historic period .
Hence , various Factors , are effective in formation of Shapourkhast city , such , good weather (good invironmental conditions ) , locating at passage of communicational . ways , having a well - fortified ford which could make it secure . But why did the Shapourkhast hadn’t been fomed around the fort but developed many kilometers far from that ? or why viceversa , the fort handn t been constructed in city ? In this case , two effective factors could be refferd , one special situation of Falak-ol-Aflak hill and another , Khorramabad river . In the Other word , it hadn’t been possible to forbear this special situation and when forming the city around the fortress , Khorramabad river had been an abstacle for permanent relations to city , which must be in the passage of available and connective ways . In this period , the city independently had a special performance and the fort , using watch towers on Sefid Kouh and also brick Minearett etc … had a security relation with the city and canmt said it,s true that direct equivalent "Kohan degh" township and Rabz about the fort and Shapourkhast city and how to from it .
Perhaps these two with their speciall performing , have direct role in eachothers life and they have continued this pace until seventh century A.H, which the city formed around the fortress. Ravlinson has written about the importance of fortress: Khorramabad fortress surely , has had aspecial situation any time , and in ancient periods had been settled by rulers of this region.( passing from Zohab to Khouzestan page 138).4-the history of Shapourkhast city: In geographians and historicals books of the Eslamic period , valueable information have been written about , Lorestan cities , which helps us in acquainting their situations . There are works and locations related to Shapour can mention such : Shapourkhast Shapourkhast fortress , Shapouri bridge and Shapourabad in Aligoudarz . Mr Ali Mohamad Saki has written , reffering to Shahname Poems: "Ferdowsi belives that Khorramabad has been construcated at Shapour ZolAktaf time.
Deceased Saki while reffering to Shahnameh text and rely on other researchers :" It Khay Dalou location present Khorramabad , had been located at Khay Dalou location in Sasanian time. (Any archeological do cumen has been found about Khay Dalou situation , yet ) And Lor Atabege were dominant to Lorestan on century 5 th A . H and constructed Khorramabad on the rained places of Sasainan city . Mr IzadPanah rejected this theory and wrote . " this issue which is said that Khorramabad has been described in Ferdowsi s Shahname must be said that Khorramabad Lorestan is n means.
However there isn’t any name of Khorramabad in historic texts first Eslam . exept Four 4 locations in Balkh , Ray , Marv , And Tabarestan and distances them to Khorramabad to Jondi Shapour , make mentioning the name of Khorramabad brought under Ferdowsi s sight , negative . completely . There for ther isn t any name of Khorramabad in historic events of the first of Eslam ihat Arabs could occupied the important parts of Iran in year 21 A. H . But at the end of Osmanian government , the people of Shapour Khast revolted against Arabs, which show extraordinary importance of Khorram abad on that times . Arabs after occupying the region , they established two government centre in Masbazan and Mehrjanqazaq which werening of Koufe state .
Demorgan believes that after occupying Lorestan by Arabs , Khorramabad changed again to a strategic place with the most important. After that , oppression and cruelty of Omavi and Abbassi the Caliphs caused to revolt by Lorestan ians and Ilamians and be allianced to opponents of the Abbassid and the Omavis that can refer to contributing the Lorestan ians and and Ilamians in Babak -e Khorramdin s rising against Mamoun Abbassi . In the book –e Hoobud -e alam men Al mashreq el Maghreb , to mention Jebal cities after Nahavand and Lishter , the Sarjalast city has been reffered . Because Nahavand , Alashtar and Shapourkhast located in ancient passage from Hamadan to Khouzestan , have been reffered by Moqadas and Estakhri . In Mojmal –ol-Tavarikh and Alqesas , about Shapour to Say : Its in Seir –ol-Molouk that Shapour was Ardeshir and God know . But he had a great ambition and he is similar to his Father and deceased Shoushtar in Justice and Flourishing and he is wonders of the world He built many cities like , Shapour , and Neishapour and Andio Shapour and Shapourkhast and Balash Shapour .
As mentioned , the writer of Majmal-ol-Tavarikh and Al qesas , mentioned the Shapourkhast belonging to Sasanian period and the first Shapour had been founder of it . Shapour is a Famous Iranian king , who had been interesting to city building , constructing and Flourishing and in this matter , he had left these and public benefits buildings like dam and bridge . But the oldest geographic and historic resource which describes Shapour khast , is the book Alboldan by Ebne Faqih . He has written four words about Shapourkhast Situation , as follow : Bath Master is the Same Shapourkhast " Dr Ali Ashraf sadeqi has written about this: Shaporkhast is the old name of Khorramabad , but Bath Master which is equivalent to Shapourkhast , it is not certain Batn in Arabic means land , valley and deepland . He makes to remember a place by the name Telmaster which had been attention by Qobad ebne Firouz and written it in the raw of masbadan and mehr Janqazaq . Therefor Finding the location of Shapourkhast in third century had been cared by Ebne Faqih which is depending on finding Bath Master that is the same Shapourkhast . Khorramabad with its funnel- Shapecl position must be the same Tel Master that Ebne Faqih mentioned it .
Ham dollah Mostofi also in mentioning the Shapour Khast situation , describes the wy Nahavand to Esfahan and soys : On that side (south ) of Boroujerd the way devides into two branches : the right branch goes to Shapourkhast and the left which is the main road goes eastward to Karaj Abudolf. Yaqout, in Mojmal –ol- Boldan book says :'" Sarmaj fort Hassine is between Hamadan and Khouzestan in mountains Badr ebne Hassanouye Al kordiya is the rouler of Shapour khast " and written about Sabourkhast fort : the name of fort of Sabourkhast city is Dazbaz :
And but Estakhri in describing the way which passes from Hamadan to Khouzestan and mentioning the from Roud Avar to Nahavand 7 Parasang(6kilometers) and from Nahavand to Lashter (Alashtar) 10 parasang and from Lashter to Shaber Khast 12 parasang and from Shapourkhast to Lour 30 parasangs and etc … . and E bne Houqal also reffered to these distances , from Nahavand to lashter 10 parasanges and from Lashter to Shapourkhast 12 parasangs . In Edmonds log mentioned the location of Shapourkhast in persent Khorramabad and believed that renameing Shapourkhast has taken place at 13th century A . D . In a research by the name , " researching highway " done on year of 1375 , the passages reffered by historians and geographians were examined that the passage of Nahavand to Lashter is through Nour Abad and Ash Valley passage have been done which is a distance about 60 kilometers which it is the same 10 parasanges and it is a distance about 50 kilometers between Al eshtar and Khorramabad .
Therefor , is the present Khorramabad the same old Shapourkhast ? and if we add the distance of Khorramabad city to this passage , this passage reaches to 65 km too , which is about 11 parasans , also , the old city of Alashtar is 6 k m to the north of present Alashtar , it had been located near to Amir Fountain head , that with accounting it, the situation of ShapourKhast must be around brick minarette . and Qazi abad region to poshteh Hossein abad . Sir Henry Rawlinson in his passed through Khorramabad in 1836 A.D. he call Khorramabad the same Sasanian Shapour Khast . Cherikov , in 1850 A.D refers to rained places of an old city which surrounded all angles and even southern part of the fort .
After that , Ernest Hertsfeld 1928 A.D .,relying to archeologic documents of Rock –Face inscription wrote this : It is important that the location of inscription -Khorramabad mentioned manytimes by the name Shabarkhast which its mentioned manytimes by the name Shaberkhast which its means Shapours dom which gives us a certain situation to historic geographical locating of the ragion . In addition to Roch – face inscription and popular narrations( about ShapourKhast fort and Shapouri bridge) can reffered to two another locate sitation near to Khorramabad by the name Sabour Hill and Masour Hill . But Sabour Hill isn,t in a situation that considered as the remains of a city and Masour Hill also lacking citizen architectural testimonies related to Sasanian and Eslamic Periods.
However , presence of Rock - Faceiuscription in Shariati street of Khorramabad which to call as a archeological document from Alafchar region of Shapourkhast city , Shows that we must search the situation of Shapour Khast in a distance not Far from this inscription .Alafchar or pasture were regions agricultural capability . Though , presence of works from Eslamic primary centuries , like , brick minarette , Pole-shekaste , Gerdab –e Sangi , Asiab Gabri and also archeologic testimonies in Gazi Abab region until near to Gabri mill narrates of an old city that discovered randomly during gas and water piping operation which generally is stone and gatch architect , as a result , the old city of ShapourKhast is located in mentioned restricted area. Also , archeologic excavations in this area can help us reaching a cer tain result . Therefor , as reffered , ShapourKhast city which is the passage of important ways , linking Iran Plateau to sonth and westward , has importance and in 4 th century A. H , it changed to seat of Bad- ebne- Hassanouye .
In history of Jahangoshai (world conqueror) by Joweini , explaining moving Soltan Jalal eddin to Baqdad , he has written :''beginning of months of the year of 621 A.D. that the king decided to settl , in Testar " (Shoushtar ) river , in winter … when the king reached to Shabourkhast , and Stayed for a month . Shabourkhast had been a big Famous city which it mentioned in great histories , but , now , is n ,t some of it " . Joweini , remembers shapour khast here as shapour khast. In Farsname by Ebne Balkhi , constructing shapour khast is attributed to Shapour- ebne Ardeshir , and says that shapour khast is Pahlavi ol Ashtar (Alashtar ) In '' Tarikh e Gozide " ( selected history ) published in 731 A. H , Hamdollahe Mostofi mentioning the cities of minor Lor , has written : " There are there flourishing cities , Boroujerd , Khorramabad and shapour khast , at first it was a city with different people and it was flourishing and beautiful and platform of king and now it is a borough .
Based on historic texts , shapour khast city , kept on its life to 8 thh century A. H , Mostowfi , remembered it as a borough . He , in Nozhat-ol Qoloub , which written 10 years later in 740 A. H , he didn,t mention a name of shapour khast, just to call Khorramabad which " Khorramabab was a good city but now it is ruined with plenty of dates :. Probably selecting Falk ol Aflak fortress as a governmented Ary ( citadel ) of Lorestan Atabegs has affected on these changes and after 8 th century A. H , it has continuously kept on its life . And finally , Safialdin Abdolmomen Baqdadi in Mersadol etela , died in 739 A. H , has written about shapour khast that it is the name of a city located between Khozestan and Esfahan , 20 Parasangs to Nahavand , Lour city is between this city and Khouzestan . 5-ShapourKhast Fortress at the time of Hassanouye , Aleka- Kouye and Ale Barsaq governors : Between years 348 to 4oo A.H, a powerful dunasty appeared in weatern region of Iran celebrated to Ale Hassanouye .
Based on historic texts of the first of Eslam, Lorestan province is counted as a part of Jebal land , which in 4th century A.H had been dominated by the Hassanoute,s (historic geography). shapour khast city at the time of Badrebne Hassanouye selected as governmental center of this dynasty . Flourishing and magni ficence of shapour khast(shabarkhast ) must be related to Hassanouye dynasty , specially it had been supported by Ezedodole Deilami and then Fakhro dole . Remained works such forts , bridges , inscriptions , coins and historican points who to rembered many times of shapour khast and Hassanouye dynasty it has Shoued the importance of Lorestan during this dynasty governership more than ever . considering Badrebne Hassanouye to shapour khast fort and changing it . into governmental Arg and place of maintaining own rtreasuries , anecdotes flourishing that .
Describing this event in " Majmal o tavarikh valgesas " as follows : the minister of court- Abouqaleb-took away plenty of properties from shapour khast fortress . They took away , gold , silver , thrones and clothes . and uniqne cash and jewelries , the rented beasts and loaded them to Baqdad . Lorestan refers to role and importance of shapour khast in this period and writes : shapour khast fort exited from a periodical isolating and lessoning which sometimes had been Sheltered to a new power and then becomes under the authority of Hassanouye ebne Barzi Kani –the power ful man of the west . Hassanouye and his sons , established the base of their government on this fortress in Lorestan . Hassanouye established Sarmaj Arg fort , located in Sarmaj Hassain Khani Village , 20 kms to Southeastern of Bisotoun in the passage of linking high way of Hamadan , Kermanshah and Iraq as his governing domicile which its reminded is still Firm , and Badr , also selected shapour khast fort which was connecting passage from north to south , and can can be paid attention for some reasons. North to south highway had been important in this period . Kashkan and Mamoulan bridge inscriptions narrates the attention this powerful ruler to the ways issue . Also , it shows the importance of Lorestan in this part of history, Furthermore,the importance of shapourkhast fortress and city , which mentioned in historic texts as famous fort and city in Lor,s mountains in which located in the passage of transporting paths .
This point has the most important that shapour khast fort notonly has had flourishing but also it had counted as an unaccessible fortress , having special situation , Badr ebne Hassanouye selected it as governmental Ary fort, and also his own treasuries store. About 400A.H , Halil by a plot against his father , exited and arrested Badr in Famous fortress of Derazine and selected fortress of Halil as his government seat , but after a short time , Bad asked Ale Bouye rulers to help that Baha o Dowle accepted it and sent his minister of the court to help him . Abou Qaleb helped him and after defeat and arresting Halil , he plundered Badr theasuries in shapour khast and transferred then to Baqdad .
Shapour khast city and fortress provided , causes of elevation of Hassanouyes power ful government , and in the Shadow of this government , shapour khast city and fortress reached to the top of its own economic and military flourishing and splendour . Now addition to kashkan , Kalhort , Mamoulan ,Gavmishan and Dokhtar bridges plenty of coins from shapour khast minthouse related to Badr and also a Rock inscription of a water store related to 375 A.H maintains in Falak-ol Aflak museum which is a memorial of Hassnouye times . The land of minor Lor (Lorestan and Ilam ) after becoming extinct of Ale Hassanouye dunasty until attacking saljogh forks to western Iran , occupied by Bani Ayar and Ale Kakouye rulers . Alao dowle Kakou ye 398 to 443 A. H , after retreating Shamso dowle Delami from Lorestan , occupied shapour khast city . In his second journey to Lorestan in 423 A. H apparently , Ebn e Sina great Iranian philosopher , had been fellow traveler with him and Ebne Sina brought the book "Shafa" to an end in his way to shapour khast. After ruling the Saljoughis in 429 A. H , western Iran (jebal) presented to Ebrahim yanal by Togrol beik . He at first weat to Boroujerd and then to Hamadan that Boukalijar Garshaspebne Ala o dowle kakouye was governing there , that after informing of the leaving of yanal to shapour khast he followed him , because , people of Hamadan , by obediencing , proclaim themselves , stipulated to ward off Garshasp .
Ebn e Asir Says: "yanal desisted from the pouple and after taking properties of the Balads went to Garshasp and while nearing to shapour khast , Garshasp went to a fort at upper heights and became a refugee . Ebrahim besieged shapour khast , the people of city threatening Qazes fought them and couldn to defeat them and yanal occupied the city by force and Qazes plundered people and did bad behaviors and returned to Rey with booties ." There for , minorLors region was occupied by Seljukian . After a while , Kakouye off spring was along political events and their land was devided among Seljukian leaders , that Shapourkhast and its around regions were donated to Barsaqi rulers that instead of their services , the property of Lorestan were donated them . In this period , Masoud ebne Malekshah-e Seljuki attacked to Lorestan to suppress Barsoq rulers to show incompatibility , and forced them to yielding and the first Toqrol (524-526 ) entered Shapourkhast- the capital of Barsoq rulers , toescape from opponents . Barsoq dynasty rulers , governed on Lorestan and Shapourkhast until the middle of 6th century A.H . Rectangle cubic graves have been remained as two-floor graves , in which , there , are four bulges in its four corners and now a few Samples of them are in FalakolAflak fortress.
khorramabad fortress in minor lor Atabegs time ( Kharazmshahian , Mongols, Teimourian 570 to 700 A.H) from second half of the 6 th century A. H (580 A.H)Lorestan was under the governorship of minor Lor Atabegs by Seljukian Khrshid ruling . Khorshid dynasty couled by a good policy , dominate on a goognaphic land which surrounded from north by kordestan and Kermanshah and from south by Khouzestan and from weas by present boundaries between Iran and Iraq and from east by Major Lor . In 621 A.H , Soltan Jalal din Kharazmshah who was fighting with Mongoles , while passing Lorestan to Baqdad , he stayed in Shapourkhast city for a month . In jahan Goshay History book , Mr joweini - the writor - explains : And when the king reached to Shapourkhast , there was big , famous and mentioned in official histories , he stayed there for one month . Lour rulers attended after rest , they west to Baqdad , in this year Shojaedin Khorshid –the progenitor of Lor Atabege died "
The most important events in this period befor Teymours attacking Shas Shojas Ahacking that happened in 785 A.H for cooperating and unity of Malek ezedin Lor Atabege with his brother , Mahmoud that had revolted against him , that this event has been written in "the History of Mozafar dynasty" as follow :" when , the king came back from Qazvin region , he dispatched the army in the passage of minar Lor until reached to Khorramabad . His son , near to Khorramabad fortress proposed Malek Ezedin s dauyther and sent Moalna Ensi to the fortress to conclude a marriage and another night he wedded . After four days he went Dezpoul and Shoushtar ." This even has been explained in :RowzatoSafa " that : " Zafars Army fought including infantry and cavalry to the wall . Because the king Ezedin knew that contumacy causes to corruption , he send out a lot of them .. " reffering to wall is probably means Khorramabad fortress wall .
The most important events of this period are Teymour Lang attack to Lorestan in 788 and destroying Khorramabad fortress and arresting Malek Ezedin and banish him to Samar Qand and also Shah Esmail Safavi and Qezelbash (redheaded)forces to Lorestan and yielding Malek Shah Rostam and than hanging Shasverdikhan in 1006 A. H by the first Sahabbas and starting governorship of Vallian dynasty . Lorestan writes , Khorramabad , had been the most important part of minor Lor after Boroujerd , in Amir Teimour time . After Malek ezedin of minor Lr Atabegs had union to Shah shoja , Amir Teimour started his attacks to suppress and to dominate on Lorestan region and finally , as Khand mir says , arrested the leader and occupied Khorramabad . Sharafedin Ali yazdi in ZafarName (hisbook) expained bedieging the fortress and occupying Lorestan :" He reached to Khorramabad at 30 th days of victory , Malek Ezedin escaped
The army stayed there one night and next day determined a part of army to siege the fortress and wanted Omar Sheikh to pursue Malek Ezedin and Army went to repelling rebellioued and to eradicate them and after Khorramabad went to Tastar ." In the book of RozatoSafa this event explained as follow :" He commanded to plunder and occupying Khorramabad fort , and destroyed there and killed most of Lors." Historians while explaining the events of this period , they mentioned that conquering this fortress is very hard and called as the white fortress and says, that no one ever could occupied the fortress exept Rostam … Amir Teimour anguished a lot for occupying the fortress , and minor Lor,s position,s were so important to him that presente them to Eskandar ebne Omar Sheikh until it come out from the occupation of Lorestan rulers …. This winner , in his second attack after victory again in Lorestan , he appointed Soifedin Goltash with approximately 500 infantry and eavalry troops to guarding Khorramabad fortress . the Historian refers shows that conquering the fortress is equall to conquering the city and the fall of regions government .
In Soltan Hossein Mirza,s governorship time (875 . 911 A. H ) – the last successor of Teimour -mentioned in Ahsano Tavarikah(the best histories) that ; It seems , Khorramabad and fortress were occupied by some rulers of this period . In Manshato Salatin book , in the first king Rostam (minor Lor Atabegs) 873 to 920 A. H mentioned . occupying Khorramabad fortress by Aq qoyoun Lou Torkamans as follow ; "It is clear to all which Khorramabad fortress in Lorestan land , although many times tried to occupy by Shahrokh Mirza in Hazrat Khaqan Saei d,stime but didn,t and deceased king - jahan Shah Mirza conldnt occupied it , God helped us and this land hasn,t been occupied by enemied ."In Safavid period , Falak –ol-Aflak fortress was also official -political center of Lorestan leaders . Lor Atabegs also , superficially obeyed the central government, and they succeed to keep on their half-independed government . They were at the high level of power and political influence and Lorestan had become a Biglar Beigi under their authority on that time . In this period , refractoriness and autonomity . of Atabegs caused to political -military interfering toward Safavid kings . Therefor , ShahAbbas campaighed to Lorestan which finally led to extinction of this dynasty
The first Shah Abdas after attacking in 1002 A.H after Shahverdikhan escaped , Shah Abbas donated Khorramabad fortress and its regions to Madi qolikhan . In the second attack which was takn place in 1006 A. H heseiged Shahverdikhan houses which were next to Falak –ol-Aflak fortress . 7- Effective factors in the formation of Khorramabad city (khorramabad ); Shapourkhast in latter parts of seventh century A. H , was ruined without residents and people moved to westward of Falak –ol-Aflak fortress which had more water , suitable situation and security , indeed , the fortress included maincore of the city and caused to from it , in this region . Also it seems , Shapourkhast water , had been supplied from eastward of city , in which drying this river may be cause to leav this city . from the time of forming Khorramabad city , Khorramabad fort has been mentioned in historic texts.
Mr Khodgou , believes that various factors like political situation , communication and geography interfered in forming Khorramabad city and he writes :" Falak –ol-Aflak has had a keyrole . special geographic situation of fortress , placed on various linking ways from west to east and north to south in fertile and full of water valley of Khorramabad and having completely military and strategic situation , all caused to it becomes the primary core of Khorramabad city as the governing seat of minor Lor Atabegs during mentioned centuries . He also narrates from Iraj-e Afshar (Sistani) that origin factor of Khorramabad city had been , fullwater , natural and funnel shape valley and also Falak ol Aflak fortress which had been a secure place and a firm trench for rules confront molestins.
As mentioned in previous chapter , the vacancy of nearing between the fortress and Shapourkhast city and another natural and human factors caused that city residents gradually move around the fortress and the fortress as Ary or citadel form the central core of Khorramabad city .
From ancient works of this part of city can refer to an ancient cemetery that Zeinebne Ali,s Shrine is located there which based on historic texts , Zeinebne Ali Dargazini , had been the minister of the Second Toqrol Saljouki in 527 and hanged in Shapourkhast . And also , BabaTaher,s shrine which some people mention it as BabaTaher Oryan and some others call him Ataiee . Based on archeological testimonies , it is related to Saljuk period which repaired and restorated in the next periods . Another located in city suburbs , is Gerdab-e Sangi , dates baek to the Sasanian period and probably repaired in 4th century A. H. Falakedin Hassan,s shrine from Lorestan Atabegs is located eastern north of Khorramabad city and and khezr shrine belonging to Jamaledin Khezr (692 to 693 A. H) is located in an ancient cemetery in the same name in ancient Khorramabad western south ward
Monsieur Cherikov named three elements in designing Khorramabad city in 1850 A.D , which from historic sequence point of view , have parallel importance and he writes : "the ancient fortress is pentagonal with 8 towers. Probably this fortress had been the core of this ancient city .When the city form based on the fortress (such samples are in western and east ern designing ). The forts are expanded , but historic core , gives up its own main nature and remains as architectural historic heritage " He introduces the fortress as the expending core of city toward northwestern , which based on designing structure of city limit had been developing from fortress to ting districts and curved streets in north western ward . Another consider able point is mentioning ancient gates of Khorramabad city in Russian council report .
1-Khoz gate on the way of caravan way to Dezfoul.
2-Gerdab gate on the way of caravan way to Kermanshah and also an old bridge which had been a place to transporting internal and external passengers , and is located on the way to Boroujerd . This bridge was located eastern ward of Khorramabad city , that sertainly their pointings are toward Pole-Gap (big bridge) and one of fortress gates introduced as the same bridge which it means bridge gate , that in Mr chaqervand describes , this bridge has been built of brick and plaster , its height 8 Zar-E(each Zar=104 centimeters) and length 300 Zar .E. undoubtedly potencial and natural faculty of this valley always prepared forming and continuing old cities . Shoushtari demonstrates: Khorramabad is beautiful , and has gardents and good buildings and always had been settled by Moulian Fili and he described this valley .It seems, the same factors effected on forming Shapourkhast city and locating Khorramabad linking junction between Arak , Boroujerd , Khouzestan and Kermanshas to Khoramabad and Hamadan to Khouzestan viceversa had had an important role to from and developing it . And geographic role must be added to all this cases .
FALAK OL AFLAK Fortress in Lorestan Valian time
After killing Shahverdikhan by Safavid Shah Abbas and extincting Lorestan Atabeg government , he attributed Hossein Khan for Lorestan government and gave him the title of vali (governor) and new series of local governors formed in history by the name "Lorestan Valian" and the last vali was Qolam Reza Khan . In this period, cared to repairing shrines , creating gardens and parks and architectural relics such as , Pol-e Gap, Khorramabad and Hossein Khani s Bathroom are as reminder . And Khorramabad Masjed jame (Mosque ) had been also repaired by Soltan Hossein Safavid command in this period . Falak –ol-Aflak fortress as mentioned , attracted europians who traveled Lorestan and Khorramabad and all of them described it that we mentioned some of them .
Sir Henry Rawlinson had been in Iran from 1249 to 1255 and traveled Lorestan and while passing Khorramabad , he had described the fortress as follow :" There is a big and single rock with approximate 900 meters area . this rock has Sharp slope and there is a spring near to the fortress . This is Khorramabad fortress which in lower n part two layer wall is stretched all around in and a palace has been built atop it , having firmnesses .This palace which Mahamad Ali Mirza is the builder , is a very beautiful building , in which a big pool length 60 meters and width 40 meters is inside , it that supply from the spring . The palace and neighbor buildings are located inside the fortress and also a garden.
Khorramabad which is located beside the fortress in its north westernward is a ting and new city that its population is about 1000 family . A wide and thin river is flowing south eastern ward the city and the fortress which been the capital of minor Lor Atabegs". Nader Shah Afshar campaigned several times to Lorestan and fought rebelliouses like Mazafar Ali beik.
In this period , historians explaining Nader,s travels and conquests haven,t mentioned Falak-ol-Aflak fortress, perhaps , one of the reasons had been the lack of applying the title of Falak-ol-Aflak to this fort . Any way, "Alam Araye Naderi s book a sanctuarized there and they relate it to Tahmoures period in which " Alam Araye Naderi " that its to wers heights had been equall to Falak-ol-Aflak and its firmness had been described as " Sekandar" dam . unfortunately mentioned distance from Boroujerd to the fortress four day and night that match to Falak-ol-Aflak,s geographic situation .
Mohamad Ali Mirza famed to Dowlatshah appointed governing Kermanshah and Lorestan in 1237 A.H . the fortress which become half – ruined up to this time and just had been repaired a little by a person by the name Mirza Abutaleb and settled there , it repaired and reconstructed by Mohamad Ali Mirza and he constructed court and barrack at the down of the fortress . Falak-ol-Aflak fortress was paid attention to , in Qajar period for various reasons , and became government domicile and region,s military and official center and Qajar governors,s traffic increased there , that some of them were scientist and artists who left notes about the fortress . For example , Masoud Mirza Zallosoltan , son of Naseredin Shah who governed Esfahan and Lorestan also added to his territory , while traveling to Lorestan , in his own memories mean time reffering to greatness of of Lorestan,s ancient cities like , Khave Alesh (Alashtar ) Sei mare and Jaider , writes ;
" Today from all that flourishings and governments remained nothing exept niches and a lot of dusts and the only building you see all over the Lorestan , is Khorramabad city which really named it citizenship , which is a big town , and Lorestan Atabegs building famed to Falak-ol-Aflak and Hasht Dehesht are located city easternward and Mohamad Ali Mirza entitled Dowlat Shah , repaired this building and well constructed barrack and so on , although after him , the great princes became governor but noone took action to flourishing it , and I don’t know what their responses to people ? I saw nothing exept heap and immidiately commanded to repair it and Ipaid 20000 tomans for buildings expenses " Lorestan newspaper dated 1274 A.H No 343 about repairs done at Ehteshamo Dowle times , writes ;" Khorramabad fortress and Ali Abad Sarvestan garden , by lapse of time gave up its flourishing and this high fortress and heaven garden wasn,t brisk and the noble prince - NavabMostatab of Ehteshamo Dowle , a few years is going to repair and flourishing it and at this time repairing fortress done and completed which as arrangement and glory is better than early and although Sarvestan garden ,its old cypresses dried and cutted from early disorderlies but , another fruitful and non- fruitful planted and now this garden is fruitful and green and pleasant "
the best description of Falak-ol-Afalk fortress which shows Qajar times situation is a description probably by one of dispatched agent to Lorestan about 1300A.H written in a book by the name Pishkouk and Poshtkouh Lorestan geography :" A fortress is located aside the city . the fortress origin is located atop a hill, with 60 Zar ( each Zar=107 centimeters) hight and surrounded by mountain from three sides and there is no way unless the only other side which is soil . construeting the fortress atop the hill made it misleading . The fortress way from west ward is the hill and the rock cutted and made it cobblestoned . when Lorestan vallian (rulers ) rightless and cruely , dominated there and acted by corrupted dreams , this fortress hadn’t so many monuments but two or three towers which were dwellings and they had built a few storages and walls . At Khaqan Maqfour (Fath Ali Shah-e Qajar ) which government got into shape ,Lorestan government ceded to Navab Mohamad Ali Mirzai (older son of FathAliShah ). Atop the same hill , tower , building , private place , firm wall, bathroom ans son and a room atop the tower were built and named it , Falak-ol-Aflak and the fortress is higher than all the building and it is imminent upon the whole Khorramabad city . It had been a pleasant place and now the all building is ruined and the roofs has been fell down and to destructing . From khaqan Maqfour upton now , a suitable repairing hasn,t done and Mirza Aboutalebkhan repaired it a little and had been settled there . After that year , ruines were added specially it is said that a few years ago , Fowj-e Hamadani was garrison and settled there and burnt most of wooden beams where , the firewood is cheap in Lorestan , and without exaggeration , in some places they destroyed aroof that expenses more 200 Thmans for using a manna wood .
Inside the fortress , ancient time , a well which its mouth is 3 Zar ( each zar is 107 centimeters) sculptured the rock and cutted stone and reached to water and they pulled water by a bucket from a spring located with in a hill , and they expenced a lot to supplying bathroom , garden and fortress,s residents it had been verey useful on that time that Molok-ol-Tavayefi (feudality) and disordering were anywere . A fortress also has been built , down to this Kashkoul (a bowl) Shaped fortress , and around it , is about 1/5 Farsakh (about 1/5 kilometer ) and has two gates . One opens southward and another to northward (bases on a map which has been provided about 150 years of fortress and Khorramabad city , this gate , located south western ward of the fortress) . It has several towers , one of those to wers is famed to stone tower which totally , sculptured stone , brick and gatch , is so firm . In the second year of governing sir majesty Zal o Soltan (Masoud Mirza sin of king Naser din Qajar) <<long live the King>> has built a little erupian hat like a pleasant place and repaired 1 /3 of fortress body and towers which were very ruined and has built another towers famed to Davazdah Borji (72 towers ) with stone and brick and from this 12 towers to stone tower that approximately is 2/3 of the fortress body is ruined and has been repaired and if it not to be repired until this time it will be destroyed. Court building , artillery , barrack , artillery and post office stable , mill and some ruined land are located within this wall.>>
This valuable report clears up ambiguous points and drak angles of fortress past situation .Describing thewall , mentioning the name of fortress old towers such stone tower, access way , wall limit , courthous , and report and xrerikov,s council maps and old photos can near us to a clearer and more actual image of Falak-ol-Aflak fortress and castle . Moino Saltane , in 1334 A. H has written Lorestan geography and about the Falak-ol-Aflak fortress writes :<< This fortress is one of ancient buildings but has changed any time and age and has been occupied , mentioned fortress constructed atop a haturd hill and the hill is a mix of stone and soil and approximately is 30 Zar height . this constructed building hasn’t also a way to outside be cause it is stone . But three other sides , because of being soil , has way to outside.In has had veryhigh and firm towers , one of them is a tower which is higher than all other towers and is famed to Falak-ol-Aflak .Atop that tower , had been a room with three doors whith a pleasant view . River and gardens were located down to mentioned tower . city block appears from north and south ward , other towers also been constrvucted multiple rooms atop them, outside and in side , bathroom , stable and jail availabled among the fortress yard and etc….
In 1257 A.H when Baran Dobed – the tourist visited Khorramabad, the fortress had been defended by 6 pieces of artillery . According to his statement , after then Mohamad Shah Qajar aquires monarchy , immediately commands , to concentrate a lot of Iranian various provinces artilleres in the capital but don’t take the fortress artilleries which have been erected there from Mohamad Ali Mirza ,s time . Edmonds in septembre 7 1917 A. H in has own trip,s notes about Falak-ol-Aflak fortress writes : <<the palace and whaterever relevant to it, unfortunately is destroying . Stable, barrack and artillery have been ruined . The palace yard in which a square poor located there isn’t so ruined but hasn,t a good situation …..Arow of rooms which located west ward the yard , previously had been the courthouse means , a place that ruler sat in .>> In the first pahlavi , some , builings constructed for stable , barrack and Army division staff 5 in Davazdah Borji(12 towers) wall limit which two buildings of whole mentioned buildings remained in Sepah surroundings and another buiding famed to stable building was ruined by Sepah Pasdaran in 1378 solar year .
Also two another buildings of the all buildings related to that period remained in the university persent limit which one of them is a place to celebrating classes in two floors and registered in national works No 3765 (The symmetry of this building , was ruined by Lorestan university in 1373 and chemistry department has been constructed instead of it ) and another is a one floor building which is used as a bank . Mentioned buildings constructed eastern –western length , in addition , another building of this time remained in officers club,s present area which is covered disordercly by lining of white cement . Notable adventage of mentioned buildings is an it,s agreement to historic and ancient tissue , around the fortress and is an autlook of a period of Iranian architecture can call it , Iranian –europian architecture . However , mentioned buildings have notable adventages of their time ,can mention , symmetric plan using goiety seam , durable brickwork , projeeting in the university building and also gable roof . the most beautiful build in this collection is the university building in which attracts any visitors atteution .
In the first pahlavi,s period the collection of 12 towers wall and fortress become military garrison and Falak-ol-Aflak fortress become a place for storing munitions of division 5 specially , munitions , explosives and mine which in mentioned year they sent out , stored munitions and prepared the fortress to entertain banishes . In this time Falak-ol-Aflak fortress become a place to keeping politic prisoners . the internal part of fortress saloons , were minor repaired for this reason .It is famed that a chanel , prisoner foot to yoke were in channel . the most import event , which happened in 1338 solar year, was ruining new constructed tower caused by earthquack . Using the fortress as a jail , continued until 1347 s . year . and in 1348 for a while changed to Army,s dead records . In this year , it was donated to Lorestan ,s Art and eulture office as an ancient construction and registered whit no 883 in national works list . Lorestan anthrology regional gallery opened in this place in 1354 and opening Lorestan,s admiralty museum in 1356 , it it continued its own task and after starting the emposed war in 1363 , for security purposes , the objects of the museum were collected and gathered and after imposed war , photo , stone , and ceramic gallery opened by repairing a part of the building , but because , of lacking needed conditions and potentialities wasn,t started until 1378 . In this year , northern part of the first yard changed to atraditional café and in 1379 repairment laboratory was equipped and transferred to southern part of the first yard in new constructed tower , now , athrology museum has been started southern part of the second yard
Falak-ol-Aflak,s denomination
In historic texts , the Variouss names of this building recorded like : Shapour Khast fort , Black fort , Dez Baz , Khoramabad fortress , white fortress , Salasel , Atabeges palace , palace , upper fortress ,Koushk , Falak-ol-Aflak fortress and region natives know it by the name Davazdah Borji . The oldest name which in historic texts applied to the fortress , is Shapourkhast fort which had been famed to this name until sixth and seventh century A . H and after that , reining Shapourkhast city and forming Khorramabad city , it called Khorramabad fortress that , which called this name until the beginnings of Qajar period . In Qajar period care to repairments done in the time of Mohamad Ali Mirz,s Lorestan governors atop one of fortress towers which had been the highes than all towers and was dominant over all city and block of Khorramabad , and a room has been built which named it Falak –ol-Aflak . This name , later , was applied for all the collection . Moino Saltane , also reffered to that tower which was higher than all towers in 1334 A. H which had been famed to Falak-ol-Aflak . But Haj Mirza Abdol Gafar Najmol molk in 1299 which 35 years ago in his journer to Khouzestan visited this building and in his log writes that a famous firm fortress known as Falak-ol-Aflak (related to Hasan Khan vali) is very important and has many sets of building bathroom and water well 100 Zar dept and etc… probably , this is the oldest reffering to Falak-ol-Aflak name .In this case that denomination that moino Soltane refers it will be denial . Falak-ol-Aflak word is applied for ninth sky which is the sky of all sky s or the highest than all and Falak ol Borouj applied to the sky , having 12 towers .Qazanfari aboute this issue writes :<< probably , reason to new naming this ancient fort as Falak-ol-Afolak can considered it one of description and magnifying likenings of << Alam Araye Naderi>> of military fortress of that time such a fortress in Lorestan and a mud-brick wall around this fortress which has 12 towers with astronomical usage . perhaps, presence of 12 towers wall in Fala-ol-Aflak fortress perimeter, and similarity to sky (falaki) 12 tawers . also . fortress splendour greatness and height affectedon this naming . The name of Davazdah Borji (12 towers) comes from a wall with approximately 10 hectare area perimeter the Falak-ol-Aflak fortress . In <<Lorestan geography>> book , around the fortress counted 1/.5 Farsakh (a meter scale1.Shapour Khast fort , missed splendour
Supplying security had been always considered from the first of human life and played an important role in human civilization movement . Zagros region in addition being Iranian tibes safe place . and defence position for this land , from invironmental situation aspect had had special conditions to creating defence shelters . left as amemorial inscription of Manai fort in Manena (eighth century ) Madi fort , kish eson Madi Khar fort , the fort of lakish city , and the fort of Astarto city of the third tiglat plaster and also Noushijan and Goudin forts show that ancient forts generally constructed in high regions. Constructing Shapourkhast fort or Falak-ol-Aflak fortress also isn,t far from this principal and confined situation of this fort and locating in connecting ways passage and existing suitable conditions from height and dominate surroundings view point , existing permant water spring caused that during the history , there always be centre of attention and it s existence continued constantly . Baron Dobed describing its situation , writes :<< Khorramabad is an exdusive place is a row of heights which crossed in a plain from general northwestern ward to southeastern ward and cutted frequently until in a river in the space of this crack flows in 3/4 of miles . there is a separated rock in the center of this cutted space which its raea is near to 1000 yards (914 meters )that this rock is very sharp and a full water spring is seen atop it. Here is Khorramabad fortress . two rows wall extended around the fortress and the fortress itself constructed atop the cliff and is defended well. George Nathanil Kerzen in 1307 visited the fortress ruined tower and wall and he compared it to Ren coast brigands firmnesses . And Ms Ower Dorand that in 1317 A. H passed Khorramabad and entertained by Zafarolmolk Khorramabad governor who settled in the fortress and about the fortress and about the fortress writes :<< Alas . that the fortress also like other ancient building is being ruined and the same word of ccit ruined >> ….. evidenced about it .
The fortresses has been consteructed in mountain regions notonly have needing sections of a fortress such wall and tower , gate , guarding water stronge , food storage , munitions and ttc , usually followed natural situation of mountain and experienced various shapes. Falak-ol-Aflak fortress also followed cliffs natural situation and in souther parts which the cliff located more down surface than the fortress , and for harmonious surfaces had to building wall . there fore, surrounding area of the fort and the length of cliff eastern western ward affected on total structure of wall and fortress . 11-Archeological dowsing : In 1379 five dowses for recognizing the cause of fortress subsided , excavated west ward which these dowses , examined archeologically . the result of this research was specified that fortress mud-brickwall was in about 17 meters dept from the present surface of the fortress . This wall built by mud mortar with sizes 35*35*8-40*40*9. the color used in mud-bricks is different to eachother to some extent and mud mortar has been used in the spaces between mud-bricks . A. Building brick surface in 42 centimeter dept with brick sizes 25*25*6 located there B.A brick wall with brick sizes24/5*24/5*5 centimeter in eastern ward dowse 1 with 75 centimeters height from northwestern to south eastern ward had been existed which probably it belongs to Qajar period . C.In 2/90 to 3/70 centimeters depth there is a mud-brick wall whit mud –brick sizes 22*22*5 centimeters that belongs to Eslamic period , Small ceramic dishes explored in this depth D. from 3/70 to 5 meter depth of dowse a mud-brick wall of the type of mudbricks 40 *40*10 centimeters exploled this layer s ceramics are big barrel with flat edge toward in side probably this wall belongs to Sasanian period .E. from 5 to 6/5 meters depth a layer of stone body explored with gotch mortar . In this layer , the ceramics of storaging food barrels and chain decorations achieved F In 7meters depth of dowse no 2 , was met to a stone wall and gray ceramics . In the same depth in layer no 1 a layer with 30 meters diameter of charcoal , wood and ash was met and beneath this layer was unspecified . Aquired archeologic testimonies show that Falak –ol-Aflak hill had been used during ancient times continually . 12.Moat: one of factors that as a defence obstade against enemies attachs fortresses and cities which had been used from Achaemenian period to Eslamic period , is the moat . the moats were built care to each region necessities in various dimensions . Asidc tham , there were defence and scouting towers that abled defenders to suppress enemies In historic texts has n,t been mentioned a name of Shapourkhast fortress moat . But a map that by Russian topographers unit under the supervising staff colonel cherikov , drew a map of Khorramabad city and fortress. Khorramabad river , surrounded a half of Davazdah Borji wall as a half cirde . Hence Golestan –e Daraie spring (Gerdab-e daraie) which joins to Khorramabad river near to pole gap and aside the old wall and could help to complete the moat , but at present there is no document related it . Therefore , one of the old gates of the fortress which is located Davazdah Borji wall northern ward by the name 12 bridges had been the passage of this connecting way .In cherikov,s point of view , the river in this region played a role as a natural defence moat . In Khorramabad valley , there is a hill by the name choqa Khandaq that shows surface searching of the Eslamic period works which is showing , using building moat teachnics in military tactics of people of this land One of element and parts forming old towers had been wall that based on fort,s importance and grade had been constructed with usage proportion . Falak-ol-Aflak fortress , because during various historic periods always used as governor,s seat , so , must count it as a governmental Arg fort . Just as the fortress , in the next periods had had been a main role in forming and developing khoramabad ,s ancient city . A Russian council , by supervising a person by the name Cherikov visited Khorramadab in 1267 A.H Cherikov who was staff colonel , presented relatively exact information about the fortress and the city . In fact the oldest extant map about the city wall and Davazdah Borji fortress is amap of a person by the name preskoriakov Vagranovich who prepared it by guiding Mr cherikov which shows that the city has been surrounded by walls and it has had tow gates by the name Gerdab (on the way to Kermanshash) and Khoz( on the way Dezfoul-Khouzestan ) . Cherikov - himself about defence order of city , gates , and the fortress appearance. Writes << The city located Khorramabad river right ward and down to Sefid : Kouh and consist into two parts: Defence walls across the fortress and city which 14 towers located in its corners and sight and defence order lines followed river coastline located in south eastern ward . The river in this region . plays a natural defence moat role . Southwestern ward has firmnesses faced to the city . Defence walls have three gates by the names : the city gate in which directly is connected to the city , the bridge gate in the north of defence walls which connects it to opposite coast of the river and the fortress ate in the south which is against its own back river and there are beautiful gardens .>> He mentions defence wall northsouthern height , 362 meters and its eastern , western width 304 meters , and its total area , 10 hectares. All around the fortress mentioned 1/5 farsakh ( ammeter scale) in Lorestan geography book . Cherikov , devides the city into two parts , the fortress with the fort and the city whit its gardens and describes Khorramabad which constructed in the fortress thick walls sights and in its corners and is suitable for defending against unexpected attaeks of enemies tribes. He mentions passing three walls as the access way into the 8 towers fortress and ruined old palaces , jail and other buildings, and about this matter , writes ; <<The old fortress which is constructed , disorder 5 five angles Shap , has 8 towers. Here , are ruins of old palace jail and other building and accessing them is passing through these three walls >>. Edmonds in 1917 A. D refers to fort tower that governor,s seat located in side it and surrounded the fort. Dobed quoted from major Rawlinson ,writes :<< two rows of walls been extended all around the fortress .>> Mirza Rahim-e chaqervand (moino Soltane) in 1334 A. H about Davazdah Borji wall and its gates , writes :,, A big wall , extended avound upper fortress surrounding and 8zar height It has had two gates , one westward and another north ward . south ward gate , afew years ago , ruined by over flowing . flood , ruined approximately 200 zar of wall and gate place but northward gate is remained and major building and wall are ruined They need whole repairs , around the wall is approximately 1500 zar >>. He , also mentioned the fortress located easternward which both sides of fortress wall is connected to the city and another side is connected to the river . In an old picture , bridges gate is observable from the fortress northwestern ward . this gate which has 8 entrances probably had had a dome covering which had been ruined and its materials had been brick . Exit and entrance of this octangular has been symmetric to eachother and has a herringbone arch with two false arch in the two sides . Down to the corral wall a row of small chambers are seen in its body that perhaps have been horse and beasts watering through . In the corner of the corral eastern ward , there had been one of fortress towers about 100 meters distance from bridge gate . In mentioned picture is written ; << The landscape of Khorramabad bridge , gardens near the bridge and a part of governmental construction , is 500 steps the lengh of the bridge , its width is 8 steps its height 8 zar . this bridge is one of the buildings of Hasan Khan-e vali, ancestor of deceased Hosein Qoli Khane vali poshtkouh >>. At the end of the bridge to small pillar art seen in both sides of it that this method has been common in some bridge of Safavid period . The photos of Qajar period approve the words mentioned above . This wall,s height is about 8 meters or as mr chaqervand says it is 8 zar and atop it , had been crenations which formed from repeating semicirdes and there had been manholes beneath them which probably had been the shelter of the fortress guards and defenders . considerable adventage of the wall and its towers is using << vamal >> technic to construct it , in other words in the onter look , wall and towers constructed with a suitable slope to in side from down to up with gradual subsiding , that this position is seen in present 8 towers fortress . This factor affected on stability and durability of the building . Heury rawlinson (a long 1249 to 1255 A. H ) visiting a wall that surrounded , all around the fortress , he writes : << This is Khorramabad fortress , which a two layer wall extended all around it in down of it and a palace constructed atop it having power ful firmnesses Another adventage of the fortress wall , according to old pictures is the diameter of its walls which is very thick in down and its thickness gradually decreases in upper parts . Behind the wall s crentions , there had been rotation Golam (slave) for the gnards of the fortress . In the historic texts , the materials of 12 towers and the wall are not reffered a lot , the down part of one of the wall towers located the fortress south ward and aside a river famed to watery tower and it has been constructed of the stone and in another part we read that the fortress wall had been thatched with clay and straw after repairing and reconstructing . Or, that ,one of the fortress towers had been famed to stone tower . The remains of two mentioned twoers in the north western and west ward of the fortress show that theit structures formed of 25*25*5 bricks , body stone , rubble stone , mud-brick and clay that a part of the variety of materials art related to various periods repairings . Based on Qajar s pictures, a row of brick had been used in the middle of walls horizontally , that it had been preventing the corrosion of clay straw and mud brick walls . Scouting tower : Addition to 12 towers of the wall and 8 towers of the fortress foroverlooking to all movements which might done by the enemies , there was a scouting tower, at the end of southeastern ward of Sefid Kouh (montain)atop a mountain which its slope is known as <<GelEspia>>. That by superficial researches it distingnishes the Ashkaniod period works and in its down a tower famed to Bakhtiari Shelter related to recent periods located . Bron dobed refers to this tower and writes :<< A t the tip of Yafte mountain which extended its front toward Khorramabad , there is a tower that is imminent to Khorramabad in its slope and two brassy cannon are firmly fixed there >>. 15. Governmental buildings Rely on old pictures , inside the fortress surroundings , behind the bridge gate , there had been building in which , their look , show the Qajar period architecture . The court building had been located eastern , western ward against the bridge gate about 50 meters distance and in another picture , a lake is seen in the front of this building and a buildings row , northern , southern ward in the west of the lake . At the eastern ward of the lake there had been a cypress grove garden . Here , a brick wall , 4 to 5 meters height across the fortress wall (corrall) surrounded mentioned garden . According to historic texts , the materials of buildings in side the wall, had been generally of brick in which Mozafarolmolk time , its materials had been used for constructing Mohsen Abad caravanserai and governmental officers buildings. An English tourist by the name George Natil krzen who later became a politician and played an important role in Iran and Enghlab relations . He visited Lorestan and in his luy about governmental buildings writes ;<<…. At present , Khorramabad is the governor seat of Lorestan . This privilege
According to historic texts , the materials of buildings in side the wall, had been generally of brick in which Mozafarolmolk time , its materials had been used for constructing Mohsen Abad caravanserai and governmental officers buildings. An English tourist by the name George Natil krzen who later became a politician and played an important role in Iran and Enghlab relations . He visited Lorestan and in his luy about governmental buildings writes ;<<…. At present , Khorramabad is the governor seat of Lorestan . This privilege is related to city central situation and natural adverntages which remained from the middle(medieval ) ages . An individual rock located at the edge a high pass and it is overhang ing afertile plain …. In this place , rulers (mokhtar )and governors , had been living as middleages kings , The water of the palace , supplied by a deep well that had been drigged to the down spring . Inside the old tower , mohamad Ali Mirza the great son of fath Ali Shah , who had been Lorestan governor , constructed a palace for him self that at persent it is ruined . the present governor , settles in the building down to this rock .>> Also Edmonds , that at the ends of the summer of 1336 A. H (September 7 -1917) visited this region , faced to the fortress ruins, writes ; << the palace and all related to it , regretfully is ruining . stable , barrack and artillery have been ruined . palace yard which an square pool located there isn,t so ruined but hasn,t a good condition … a row of rooms in the yard eastern ward , had been previously the court means , a place who governors sat on .>> . He insisted that the fort which is the governors seat , has a defensive wall . He as if , is the first europian who stepped in side the fortress and visited all around it because he presented a good describtion of governmental building within Davazdah Borji wall and after whole describing the palace , wrtes ; << All the pool is covered by wild reeds and its water , is supplied of a spring out side there . Formerly , its pressure was so that the water ernpeted very high but now , water way is ruined and it flows into the the pool from a ceramic camel neck which is one or two inches higher than the pool . A row of rooms located the yard eastern ward , previously had been the court means a place where . governors sat and investigated the claims (and also there were bribes) and entry was free for public . Water flows beneath the court , on a rock into one of the rooms that it is said poolroom and located at a down level than Golestan garden pool room which doors of the pool open toward it . The flowing water after forming a tiny water fall , enters the Golestan . garden and pours in to a pool located in the middl of the garden . Aside the pool , cypress and willow trees have been planted and instead of former roses , now , onion and marrow , are planted and generally it is an image of a missed splendour . In the garden southernward , is a small yard with garden and basin connected to inside .In the westernward there is the house of khaje Bashis (head or chief) and another side is womanly bathroom . At the end of the garden and behind the river , a small house has been built by Amino dowle which reconstructed by gendarmerie in 1915 and there is the place where I settled >>. Based on chericov ,s report , all of its angles (the fortress ) and even , southern part , located within the ruins of the ancient city and he has mentioned that the early city ruins are seen in the slope of the rock (cliff). And these ruins may belong to more ancient building which had been inside the Arg . Golestan monument By prince mohamad Ali mirza Qajar ,constructing had been done in Davazdah Borji,s wall limit , that moino Soltan refers them as internal and external monuments , numerous private houses , bathroom , mosque, artillery , stable , big building , gardened lack famed to Golestan , that the court had been located aside it . Describing Golestan first water , moino Saltane writes: There is a first water flowing beneath the mentioned fortress and it is cold and limpid which in the summer isn,t need to ice , it has ten millstone ( a scale of measure ment ) water and now 11 elevent Hajar Tahoone of it (a scale of measure ment) is flowing when passing the mill it will be entered into the river . In bellow , a picture ( photo) taken from Falak-ol-Aflak fortress , in it , they mentioned the amount of exiting water from the beneath of the fortress is 12 mill stone that it enters Sarvestan (sypress ) monument and in that picture and other pictures a garden of sypress tress show off . At the potos margin , there has been written that :<< In is the street a Golestan garden,s water show,s photo and a two layer new constructed building photo , one of the sides is toward the court. And another side toward this garden and this street and under this building there is a basin that is so tuined and consteructed in this shap and this building 3 quarter in ruins and is in 1 quarter of angle and this monument is in early position which has two floors>>. This picture whih its raluable explainings , shows the sitation of the fortress , on that time , there is a street in this picture that there is a long water at the middle of it , that at its end , connects to a two floor building which is located against the court building . This construction architecture is comparable to Qajars time architecture . two sides of water is surrounded by two rows of paktarash stones . Eveny passage ,s width in this street , in tw sides of water is approxinnately 8 meters and there are two weeping willow trees xsymmetrial in two sides of the street andf a row of cypress tress are seen behind them . Mills and sources : In historic texts and logs , mills inside the fortress have been reffered to . In Lorestan geography ( about 13oo A.H) mentioning important springs and sources insid. The fortress and within monument famed to Golestan . their water rate have been mentioned about 10 millstone , which on that time seven of mills have been rotating . Moino Soltane while referring to coldness and limpidity of the fortress sources water and mentioning this point that a source flowing be neath the fortress has ten millstones of water but he mentions the number of mills which are rotating from mentioned water it is about 11 Hejar Tahoone , but he mentions that this topics are contradictory to eachother because the scale of measuring water , has been the mill stone. Court monument . This building thus reffered in historic texts and logs , in constructing style viewpoint has a simple structure with one brick floor that from outward has been built symmfertrically . construction architecture , shows the look of Qajar ,s time building . Ayard in front of the building has been built conseqhently two eastern and western arms of the building that surrounded by bar and circle brick pier (pillar ) . This monument has been over look the mentioned lake . Another picture related to the same collection , shows a look of Golestan garden that sypress and weeping willow trees had been located in the two sides of the water scape and a new constructed building is seen at the end of it . the garden end court scene byitselves first spring to the mind the garden of prince of Kerman . valuable notes , have been written under and edge of this pictures . At the edge of one of the pictures which shows the court building whit its beautiful reflex inside the lack, it has been written ;<< A side of photo is toward the court new building Kiblah , in the photo ,….. the court reflexed within the lacke and cernations in left side , atop the building are crenations of down fortress wall that have been constructed newly and it con nects to water tower where at the top of it , europian hats are new built and finished and there is a pleasant place . >> Baron Dobed men tioned width and length of the lack 40 and 60 yards ( water big storage) , which supply from the spring . 18 Demolition of the fortress monuments; A the time of governing Zalo Soltan that Mozafar ol Molk deputed Lorestan government , he ruined the fortress monument and transferred bricks and materals to a piece of land , famed to Ali Abad and constructed a caravanserai there . As chaqervand says: << now, exept towers , haven,t remained anything of mentioned fortress which is known as upper fortress>>. In fact local governors had had an important role in gradually ruining of the fortress , as Edmonds in his trip notes , writes ; << Mozafar ol-Molok to supply the bricks of mohsen Abad caravanserai ( which is taken of his name ) that located on that side of the river , against the bridge , he damaged a lot to the fortress buildings and monuments >>. Access way to 8 wers (Hasht Borji) Fortress: The old access way to the fortress had been in the fortress southern ward , and now , this waysremains are on cliff slope with 5/20 to 6 meters width . In this part the cliff had been cutted and garden . In Lorestan historic geography book by an unknown writer , probabley related to Nasere din Shah the Qajar,s period , has been mentioned about this topic :<< the fortress origin located atop the hill and has 60 zar height and three sides of it , is mountainous and hasn’t passage ,unless from another side which is soil . the fortress which is constructed atop the hill and made it with high wall , consequently it has become by way . the passage of the fortress located south ward the hill and has been cutted and covered by gatch >>. At present , slope percent of mentioned way and how to cololde stone it , isn,t clear , because of locating under the building siftings which poured from the fortress , but the signs of the cway with approximate 40 meters length at the slope of the hill , which has a slight slope , is completely distinct and in a part of the way , cliff is cutted and way has been built .
Describing Hasht Borji ( 8 towers) fortress: Historians and tourists description of Falak-ol-Aflak fortress as Dezh (fort) , Dez, white fortress , Salasel , mansion , palace Kiosk in addition to building performace , physic structure is said . likeing Falk-ol-Aflak fortress to Koushki fortress in the texts of Qajar,s age , is an understanding from geometric and cubic shape of this building . Gazanfari writes that :<< witnesses , narrates that foundation of Falak-ol-Aflak new monument with strange geometric shope designed and started in the time of Shoja e din Khorshid the head of Lorestan Atabeg dynasty by Molana Mohamad Dinvari , master of mathematics and accompanying Ahmad -e bne sheikhe Neishabouri.>> Falak-ol-Aflak fortress is located atop a cliff with maximum 40 meters height and 5300 cubic meters area in the middle of Khorramabad valley . this fortress that is disorder pentsgon shape and has 8 towers in various measures , at the highest part of it , to the top of the cliff has 22/5 height and to the surface of ground has 40 meters height . the fortress towers at down ward (die) constructed of body stone and mortar with 5/5 meters height and upper part , constructed by brick . It is notable that in the fortress eastern ward , a part of brick sight of the wall had been ruined that a mud- brick wall , was seen , behind it .(with 25*25 measures). Towers and walls (ramparts) towers, ramparts and crenations of fortress either from material aspect or architecture method have changed a lot , so that the pictures of Qajars period are,nt comparable whit persent situation . The only tower that wasn,t exposed to changes is a tower that has brick decorations . walls die and fortress towers of stone and according to old pictures documents , a wall with repetitive design of false arch , been by Safavid period architecture method in the fortress slope that probably has been one of multiple walls of the fortress corral and a polyhedral room atop a tower is seen eastern ward the fortress that is overlook to eastern and southern ward and probably be the same mentioned tower in Lorestan geography book which is known as Falak-ol-Aflak fortress . the width of the fortress rampart wall and its towers are thicker in the lower part and in upper parts their width are decreased , as in the roof part this width reaeh s to 65 centimeters . for consteructing rampart and tower , the Vamal method is used , in the other words , in constructing the fortress rampart it has been gradually accompanied to subside from lower part to upper part which affected on their stability and resistance . The fortress rampart has a row of brick cernation that its design is different from Qajar,s period pictures to some extent , in other words . present crenations are composed of individual pier in which their upper part are curve while the old crenations formed of repetitive half circles , side by side . The fortress entrance:
The nodous brick façade and false arch with two pillar are located the building,s northwestern ward and facades associates the entrances of Qajar,s period .After entrance gate , there is an octangular and then a corridor that has a way to the first court yard by turning to left side . There is a space in two side of enterance octangular that probablay leads to guards pavilion and there is a small room behind the right side pavilion which had been the guards,s room . Also right side the corridor , there is a space that its surface is about 70 centimeters lower than the corridor surface which is usage isn,t distinguished . The entrance part of the fortress is composed of octangular , guarding rooms and entrance hall with the tower no one (entrance right side ) is the only part of the fortress which has been constructed with two floors . The second floor is composed of some rooms with western-eastern direction that is overlook from outside to the fortress entrance way
The first courtyard
The first courtyard with 31*22*5 meters length and width is surrounded from southern ward by a row of renovater constructions that have been reconstructed in 1362 as a result of ruining the fortress tower no two and also in northern ward , a building is located with rectangle plan which its floor is 75 centimeters lower than the yard floor and at the middle of it , 6 brick piers with sides walls , bear the load of the roof skull-cap dome .
Northern ward the mentioned space is , against the entrance gate , internal space of tower no.
