Iranian experts to restore Taq Kasra - Ctesiphon

A team of Iranian experts has been called up to document and restore the world’s largest adobe vault, Taq Kasra - Ctesiphon .

Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts (MCTH) will send a team of renovators and experts to Baghdad to estimate the damage and to see if the historical monument needs urgent restoration.

Iran and Iraq formed the coalition to save the historical vault after part of the structure collapsed a few months ago.

Activists from both countries organized a campaign and asked the officials to take serious measures for preserving the heritage.

According to Iranian officials, initial estimates indicate that renovation of the site needs US$ 600,000.

Activists and officials wish they can prevent the complete collapse of the precious Taq Kasra which dates back to the Sassanid period (3rd to 6th century).

Iraq's government blocked any visit to the site and doesn’t want to add any structure to it that underestimates its historical and cultural value.

The government prefers the restoration of Taq Kasra to be carried out by Iran since the structure is a part of Iranian culture and history.

Almost 60 to 75 percent of the bricks of the monument have fallen down due to rain and other environmental causes.

Taq Kasra is the remain of a monument located near the modern town of Salman Pak in Iraq. It is the only visible remaining structure of the ancient city of Ctesiphon.

The archway is considered a landmark in the history of architecture and the largest single-span vault of unreinforced brickwork in the world.

PR/MG