Comparative Review of Achaemenian Era (330–559 B.C.)Architecture to Sassanids Era (224–651 A.D.)

Architecture in any civilization reveals the manifestations of that civilization, and isseriously engaged with point of views, social conditions, societies growths, and growthof arts of any nation. This article focuses on architectural review of Achaemenian &Sassanids eras and introduces the architectural styles in these periods with benefittingfrom existing sources, and then, compares them.Palaces, castles and militaryfortifications, religious buildings, tombs, petroglyphs, inscriptions, and other existingtraces reveal that architecture indicates religious, economic, and cultural values andimperial greatness and strength. Achaemenes in architecture likewise politics acted onstruggling for organizing and stimulating of a great number of different tribes, races,and cultures.Achaemenid architecture was independent in design and principles and isconsidered as Persian style. With the fall of the Achaemenid Empire and dominance ofGreeks and then the rise of the Parthians, the architectural style was replaced with theParthian style that was different from that of Persian style in design, elements,decorations, Performance and even materials. Although the new style formed the basisof modern architecture of Sassanid era, due to the variety of designs and elements usedin the style, and also due to the lots of adaptations from the architecture of differentregions, it was rather a transitional stage and a series of experiences in which theinfluence of Achaemenid architecture is obvious. After the Parthians and their low levelGreek style, Iran's ancient civilization was again active in the country. Due to the littleimpact of Parthian architectural style on Sassanid architecture, we have ignored that ofParthians, and have discussed Sassanid architecture.With due attention to the extent ofAchaemenian & Sassanids kingdoms and existence of different cultures and nations,varieties on architectural styles of these two periods are obvious.In constructing ofvarious buildings, Sassanids in addition to this point that they were inspired fromformer periods, they took steps on growth and development of architecture and paidattention to the style and architecture of buildings and palaces as well as materials anddecorations used in those buildings that are considered in this article.