Bam & Its Cultural Landscape

Arg-e-Bam, the largest mud brick complex of the world, is a huge fort, at the heart of which the main Arg (castle) is located as the highest sector; however, the name "Arg-e Bam" refers to the whole construction.  

Bam city and its Arg had been among the most historical military forts constructed along the Silk Road. According to some narrations, the origins of this Bam complex can be traced back to Achaemenid or Parthian eras, although it continued to live as a residential area up to the late Qajar period.

Mud brick, clay and rarely stone, brick and palm tree trunk are the main materials used in structure of this place. The historic Arg-e-Bam is composed of different architectural sectors as: ditch, fence, various forts and gates, mosque, bazaar, tekyeh, fire temple, inn, school, bath, prison, gym, and aristocratic or public residential area (interconnected public houses), royal domain including soldier’s home, stables, mill, the house of army commander and the ruler house parts including, an edifice for four seasons (a three-story building as royal palace), monitoring tower, and water well (the drinking water of Arg inhabitants was supplied from the wells in the yard of their houses).

This unique complex was damaged seriously in the earthquake in 2003 and it has being restored and reconstructed cooperated with many countries as Japan, Italy and France.

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1208