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Shiraz Bazaar
 The
bazaar, which Karim Khan had built in the city, is unique in
Iran for its size, solidity and the beauty of its brickwork.
The bazaar is located in the city center of the town and has
always been the business quarter. Here are the coppersmiths
at their craft, makers of fine inlaid woodwork called
khatam kari, delicately fashioning mosaics for
jewel-boxes and fine tribal carpets called kilims of
different dimensions.
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 Emerging
from the blazing mid day courtyard of the mosque, the
visitor will rest his eyes by pursuing the winding lanes of
the Regent's Bazaar. Adjoining the mosque, it may also offer
a good hunting ground for keen photographers.
Situated at the end of the bazaar, Saray-e Moshir is a new
addition to the city's tourist attractions. Over the past
century, Saray-e Moshir was the center of transactions for
the merchants of Vakil Bazaar. Its architecture is that of
original Iranian style which has been repaired with certain
minor alterations. The restaurant in this place, serves the
visitors with most delicious Persian dishes. Also, there are
some small pavilions where Persian handicrafts are displayed
for sale |
Stone Tower
In front of the tomb of
Artaxerxes is a well-preserved and nicely-proportioned buiilding
called Ka'be Zardusht (Zoroaster's Sanctuary or Cube), which is
a square structure built of blocks of white hewn limestone.
Wherever knowledge is wanting, theories abound. This is true for
this structure.
Theory 1: Fire Temple: Similar building have been shown
on coins of a later period, which had on the roof fire altars
with flames. This is, however, unlikely since a much higher
tower in Firuzabad shows clearly the signs of a spiral
staircase. It is unlikely that the purpose of this structure
was simply to puzzle later archaeologists and we would assume
that there would have been some way for priests to get to the
top. The building is specially unsuited as a fire temple.
Theory 2: This building was used by the Zoroastrian high
priest to store the holy books of the Zoroastrian faith and
recite the text in front of the royal tombs. This is equally
unlikely, since it is not certain that the Achaemenian kings
were Zoroastrian and since the similar tower in Pasargadae, far
removed from any fire altars, tombs or holy district, makes no
sense in such a context.
Theory 3: This was a royal tomb of an Achaemenian king
before Darius. A similar structure in Nurabad and the tower in
Pasargadae could support this theory. Another foundation of
similar type is also found on the other side of the Pulvar River
close to Naqsh-e Rajab.
There are many other theories, none of which could give a
satisfactory answer to explain the purpose of this unique
building. Shapur recorded the treaty with the Romans and the
successes of his government in an inscription on the left side
wall of the Ka'be Zardusht. The 500,000 drachma gold ransom
received from Philip the Arab for Roman prisoners is mentioned
here.
The Ka'be, also called Zendan-e Suleiman (Solomon's Prison), has
got only one opening in an elegant doorway at the head of a
flight of stone steps opposite the tomb of Artaxerxes I. Each of
the outer walls is decorated with rows of vertical slots cut in
the limestone; addition ally, all but the door-wall are
embellished with six recessed dummy windows of black basalt.
There is a single chamber inside with a lofty ceiling spanned by
four vast stones. |
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