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Ctesiphon

Type Object Region Mesopotamia Time c. 1–500

Ctesiphon, on the east bank of the Tigris, was capital of the Parthian and Sasanian empires, forming a twin city with Seleucia opposite.

Timeline

  1. c. 1–224Ctesiphon · CtesiphonAround the turn of the era, Ctesiphon was already an important capital of the Parthian Empire, facing Seleucia across the river and controlling a key crossing of Mesopotamia.
  2. c. 224–350Ctesiphon · CtesiphonAfter the founding of the Sasanian state, Ctesiphon was elevated to imperial capital; successive rulers built palaces and vaulted halls, bringing the city's scale and splendor to a peak.
  3. c. 350–500Ctesiphon · CtesiphonIn the fifth century Ctesiphon remained the political heart of the Sasanian Empire; the vault of the Taq Kasra palace became a hallmark of Sasanian architecture, and the city's population and trade continued to flourish.

Sources