Ctesiphon

Ctesiphon was the Capital of the Parthian Empire and of the later the Sassanid Empire between c.120 BCE to 637 CE.
It was located on the east bank of the river Tigris, 20 miles southeast of Baghdad, at Salman Pak in Iraq.

Ctesiphon was a huge city of 30 square kilometres, compared to Rome’s 13.7 square kilometres in the fourth century CE.
By 570 CE it had become the Ancient World’s largest city.
Its wealth came from its position controlling the Silk Road and its overland routes.

The city was captured several times by Roman Armies using siege machines, but it was too far east to be held permanently, and its walls were always rebuilt by the Persian defenders.
- In 116 CE
  - Trajan captured Ctesiphon and Mesopotamia during Trajan's Parthian War, but was forced to abandon it shortly afterwards.
- In 165 CE
  - Avidius Cassius, the Roman General acting for Marcus Aurelius, captured Ctesiphon.
- In 197 CE
  - Septimius Severus captured and sacked Ctesiphon, taking its wealth of Gold and Silver. Part of Its population was transported.
- In 226 CE
  - captured by the Persian King Ardashir I and became the capital of the new Sassanid Empire marking the end of the Parthian Empire.
- In 260 CE
  - the Battle of Edessa where the Parthian King Shapur I defeated and captured the Emperor Valerian and his entire army of 70,000 soldiers.
- In 299 CE
  - Diocletian sacked Ctesiphon.
- In 363 CE
  - Julian attacked the Persian Army outside of Ctesiphon, and won the Battle of Ctesiphon on 29th of May. However, as he had no siege engines, the defeated Persian Army was able to retreat into Ctesiphon and await reinforcements. Julian died from his wounds after a surprise attack during the withdrawal.
- In 627 CE
  - Heraclius, the Byzantine Emperor, encircled the city, but left after the Persians negotiated a Peace Treaty.
In 637 CE, it was finally captured by the Arab armies during the conquest of Persia by the Rashidun Caliphate.

Location:
- The Ruins of Ctesiphon are located 20 miles (32km) southeast of Baghdad, in Iraq.
Great Arch of Taq-i Kisra
- This is the only Remaining Ruin. It was the largest brick vaulted arch in the world when it was built and was part of the Imperial Royal Palace.

Arch of Taq Kasra, Ctesiphon