Arg-ebam

Bam, a small town by the famous Silk Road, is connected to the coast of the Persian Gulf. It was founded before the advent of Islam i.e. during the Parthian period and flourished to be a thriving city in the tenth century AD. Concerning the economy and trade the city was was of great value and importance and most of the textiles and cloths produced in Bam had universal fame. The area of the citadel, Arg-e Bam, is 180000 square meters enclosed with a fence of 6 or 7 meters high and 1815 meters long. There are two large towers, known as Bidar Bash towers, built within the interior fence, which involves the dais. There are also six small towers installed within the third fence. The sum of the towers in the whole ancient city, Bam, is 67 ones. Here we can get a clear idea of a traditional Islamic city, better than any other place in Iran, because it is preserved so that we can easily understand the main applications of different parts of any building. The design and architecture of the citadel, Arg-e Bam, is very clever and leading so that it shows that it has been built in a certain period to let the parts be complete and cover each other. The citadel, Arg-e Bam, is located at the center of the city, which is the highest part. The value and importance of it is to the extent that all the other remains and buildings around it are known as Arg-e Bam. The architectural form of Bam in the past was in a way that it was divided into three parts. This division can be distinguished even now:
1) The small town enclosed with interior wall together with Arg, bazaar and Friday mosque.
2) The fields of the oasis's in which there were sporadic houses.

According to one of the orientalist the fortifications, of Bam is better than those of the most fortified cities. These fortifications include a very high place and now involve a high thick mud wall and a vast deep moats which, Is, dry. A steep road lead us to the entrance gate of Bam. This gate has an octagonal form and some rooms for the guards. There is a view of the old city from the top of the tower. Arg is high above the entire city. The axis of the city, which is from north to south, lies between the gate and Arg and involves the very bazaar of the city with long rows of shops at both sides. There is also a large square opposite the gate of Arg. On the other side of the square, there is a caravansary, which attracts peoples attention. The building called Takye is an important construction in which special religious ceremonies were held. Mosques as symbols of Islamic cities also exist in this old city. Zurkhane (a kind of gymnasium) which is the symbol of ancient Iranian sports was of great importance in this city so that the remains are still completely apparent.

The ceiling of the central part was covered with a dome. The wind blows through the building because it is open from four sides. Of course besides the main construction, there were some other buildings, which were the rulers residence. All these buildings were ornamented with beautiful stucco and lattice windows. In the end, it is worth saying that Arg-e Bam is a unique, architectural construction, registered by UNESCO as cultural remains. It is the second splendid construction in the world, made of sun -dried bricks. The Cultural Heritage Organization has taken the responsibility for maintaining and repairing of Arg-e Bam since 1993.

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