Shushtar

  • Shushtar, also known as Susa, was an ancient island city on the river Karun in the Parthian Empire (Iran). It was surrounded by fortress walls.
  • Nearby is a Roman Dam Band-e Kaisar which supplied water to the city of Bishapur, both built by captured Roman Legionaries.

History

  • In 260 CE at the Battle of Edessa, the Emperor Valerian (253-260 CE) became the only Roman Emperor to be taken captive, and he died in captivity.
  • The Persian King, Shapur I used the captured Roman Legionaries to build a Roman Dam here called Band-e Kaisar.
  • In 266 CE the Legionaries also built the nearby city of Bishapur in the Province of Fars, where they, and Valerian, then lived. The Legionaries built a Palace for Shapur I, with Roman Mosaics.

Caesar’s Dam

  • Band-e Kaisar (Caesar’s Dam).
    • This is a Roman Dam at Susa {Shushtar, Iran) built by the captured Roman Legionaries.
    • It is the most eastern Roman Monument.
    • It has been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 2009 CE.
    • It was the first combined Bridge and Dam in Persia.
    • It is an overflow Dam, which was used to irrigate the surrounding area.
    • The arched bridge carried the road from Pasargadae to Ctesiphon.
    • The Dam was subsequently copied by Persian engineers, influencing their techniques of hydraulic engineering.

Bishapur (Ruins)

  • In 266 CE the captured Roman Legionaries built the nearby city of Bishapur, in the Province of Fars, where they, and Valerian, then lived.
    • The Legionaries built a Palace for Shapur I, with Roman Mosaics.
    • They also constructed the Temple of Anahita.
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Shushtar Hydraulic System

266 CE
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