Apadana Castle Susa
Apadana Castle is one of the most magnificent historical buildings in Iran and a source of great pride in Susa. It was built during the Achaemenid period by the order of Darius the Great, showcasing the beauty of Iranian architecture in ancient times with its stone walls and columns adorned with various motifs. Although much of the castle’s remains are preserved in museums outside Iran, Apadana Susa still stands as a testament to the greatness of Iranian architecture.
History
Apadana Castle, located in Susa, dates back to 515 to 521 BC. The Elamite civilization in Susa is one of the earliest known civilizations in the world, which adds to the historical importance of Susa. The castle served as the winter palace of the Achaemenid kings, and it had various units including the public hall, harem, gate, reception palace, and three central courtyards. In ancient civilizations, buildings consisting of halls with several columns were referred to as Apadana, which is a type of pillared hall in ancient Iran. Apadana Castle Susa is considered one of the largest Apadanas in Iran, after Persepolis. The expansion of the Achaemenid Empire, from the Indus to the Nile, made Susa the capital as it was located in the center of the empire. Undoubtedly, the glory of Susa’s ancient history played a significant role in this choice. Achaemenid Darius considered himself the heir of the rulers of Elam, and thus, he ordered the construction of a magnificent palace in Susa.
Architecture of Apadana Castle
Apadana Castle is a complex that consists of 6 courtyards, out of which three are quite large and are situated on an east-west axis. The interior of the Apadana Castle is connected to the northern part through a spacious corridor. You can observe circular holes in the largest and easternmost courtyard, which were used to hoist flags. Archaeologists believe that this courtyard was either used for military purposes or served as a place for the palace guards to line up and gather. In the north of this courtyard, you can see four-meter-long lions that have remained intact over time. The castle has three smaller courtyards located towards the north, which provide ventilation and lighting to the various rooms and buildings of the castle. The bed of these courtyards is covered with ocher red bricks. One of the most significant parts of Apadana Castle is its public hall, which is square-shaped and spans across an area of about 3,500 square meters. The hall has 36 columns, each of which is around 20 meters tall. The columns have cow-shaped heads, and each porch has two rows of 6 columns.
Visiting hours of Apadana Castle
Visiting hours for the castle are from 9 am to 7 pm in the first half of the year and from 9 am to 5 pm in the second half of the year.
