Sarvistan

Here is the basic study, with measured drawings, photographs, and written description, of a major monument in Iran, the ruins of Sarvistan, which has been much discussed but up to now has been poorly documented and is thus little known. The author examined the ruins of all buildings which had been attributed over the years to the Sasanians, Iran’s last pre-Islamic dynasty (A.D. 226–651), concentrating on the impressive remains of a building near the town of Sarvistan, 100 km southeast of Shiraz. Sarvistan, considered a key monument of Persian architecture since its “discovery” in the 19th century, occupies a prominent place in the history of medieval architecture of both East and West.

“A thorough study of a well-preserved building which has been regarded as one of the most important examples of the palace architecture of Sasanian Iran (A.D. 224–615). Bier’s first-hand examination of the site, enriched by numerous photos and plans, demonstrates how poorly founded have been past accounts of Sasanian architecture.”—Near East Archaeological Society Bulletin

Lionel Bier is Associate Professor of Art History, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York. He was awarded the James C. Healy Award (New York University, 1979) for the outstanding dissertation in the humanities.

Art History & Architecture

           Art Theory & Criticism

Religious Studies & Religion

           Art & Architecture