Nisa

Nisa was an ancient Parthian royal center near modern Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Its two fortified sites preserve palace, temple, and tomb remains associated with the early Arsacid dynasty.

Old Nisa: A fortified Parthian royal site near Ashgabat, known for monumental architecture and elite objects. Its palace and ceremonial buildings form the best-known part of Nisa.
Arsacid dynasty: The ruling dynasty that founded and governed the Parthian Empire. The dynasty established Nisa as an early center of its power.
Parthian architecture: The architectural traditions of the Parthian period, combining Iranian forms with influences from neighboring cultures. Nisa's monumental structures belong to this varied architectural tradition.
Viktor Sarianidi: A Soviet and Turkmen archaeologist known for excavations across Central Asia, including Old Nisa. His excavations helped uncover the site's royal architecture and artifacts.
New Nisa: An ancient settlement mound near Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, associated with Parthian-era occupation. It is the companion settlement to the royal complex at Old Nisa.
Parthian Empire: An Iranian empire that ruled much of western and central Asia from the third century BCE to the third century CE. Nisa belonged to the empire's early political and cultural landscape.
Parthian art: Visual art produced under Parthian rule, blending Iranian, Hellenistic, and regional styles. The site's sculpture and luxury objects display these combined artistic influences.
UNESCO World Heritage Site: A place recognized under the UNESCO World Heritage Convention for outstanding universal value. Old Nisa received this designation for its testimony to Parthian civilization.
Parthian rhytons: Elaborately decorated drinking horns produced in the Parthian cultural sphere. Ivory rhytons excavated at Old Nisa show the court's ceremonial art.
Mithridates I of Parthia: A Parthian king who expanded the realm into a major empire in the second century BCE. Tradition links the royal foundation at Nisa to the Arsacid expansion of his era.

Linked from 6 pages