Dr. Yousef Moradi delivers two talks in Japan
Dr. Yousef Moradi, a Marie Curie Research Fellow at SOAS will give two talks in Tokyo and Kyoto on 19 and 21 February, respectively:
Talk 1: Rediscovering Sarab-e Murt and its Relation to the Town of Holwan
Summary: This presentation is the first detailed account of a large body of excavated material from Sarab-e Murt, a large administrative, manorial and religious complex, with a strong Zoroastrian tradition. This monumental building complex lies on the lower branch of the ‘Great Khorasan Road’, near the present-day town of Gilan-e Gharb in the province of Kermanshah in western Iran. This talk also highlights the significance and changing function of Sarab-e Murt in relation to the ancient town of Holwan during the late Parthian, Sasanian and early Islamic period. Sarab-e Murt’s proximity to the town of Holwan gave this local administrative centre added importance; and its history and function are closely connected with the fortunes of the capital city of Holwan.
Talk 2: Takht-e Solayman in the Light of Archaeological Excavations: Report of Seasons 2002-2008
Summary: From 2002 to 2008, the Iranian archaeological expedition led by Yousef Moradi conducted seven seasons of excavations at the World Heritage Site of Takht-e Solayman located in the Western Azerbaijan Province of Iran. Although the site contains archaeological materials from the Achaemenid period to the Il-khanid period, it enjoyed two major occupations in Sasanian and Il-khanid periods. During the Sasanian period, Takht-e Solayman was a ritual centre for the Zoroastrian followers and hosted the temple of Ādur Gušnasp—the fire of the warriors—which was one of the three most sacred Zoroastrian fire temples of the Sasanian Empire. Exploring the northern areas of the site, the new excavations exposed the inner part of the northern gate of the complex, segments of the Sasanian mud-brick perimeter wall, the peristyle forecourt of the fire temple of Ādur Gušnasp, as well as a number of impressive structures from the late Il-khanid period including dwelling houses, smith’s shops, public bathhouses, pottery kilns and a mosque.
