‘Salman the Persian’ recreates Sassanid Iran's glory

The historical TV series ‘Salman the Persian’, directed by Davoud Mir-Baqeri, is bringing the grandeur of Sassanid Iran back to life through the construction of meticulously designed film sets that show the era's stunning architecture. 

Abbas Bolvandi, the set director for the show's "Ancient Iran" part, revealed the massive effort behind recreating iconic landmarks and architectural marvels of the Sassanid period.

Leading a team of 400 craftsmen and artists, Bolvandi said that filming locations were built in several Iranian sites, including Ghazali Cinema Town, Shahroud, and Absard Damavand, to reconstruct key elements of Salman the Persian's life from his birth to his youth. 

Among the key sites brought to life are the ancient cities of Tisfun (the Sassanid capital) and Jei (modern-day Isfahan), as well as the military camps of Bahram Chobin and Khosrow Parviz. Temples, palaces, streets, and markets reflecting the architectural prowess of ancient Iran were recreated with precise attention to historical detail.

Bolvandi noted that each site was designed to faithfully replicate Sassanid architectural features, including columns, domes, decorative carvings, and wall inscriptions. 

Given the scarcity of surviving Sassanid archaeological sites, the production had to construct most of these locations from the ground up. In some cases, older filming locations from other historical productions were restored and adapted for use in the series.

The production also included scenes shot in Behardeshir and Baghdad, with the construction of docks and ship ports to reflect the maritime movements of the era.   

Bolvandi emphasized the project's long-term value, stating that the film sets were built with solid engineering foundations to ensure sustainability and future use in other cinematic and television productions. He highlighted the significance of preserving these locations as a cultural and artistic legacy for future generations. 

Filming of the series began in 2019 and is expected to span three parts with a total of 60 episodes, covering the life of Salman the Persian, a prominent Iranian companion of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The storyline is divided into three chapters, exploring the regions of Sassanid Iran, the Byzantine Empire, and Hejaz during the early days of Islam. 

The series features a star-studded cast, including Alireza Shoja-Nouri, Daryoush Farhang, Farhad Aslani, Majid Mozaffari, and Ehteram Boroumand.