Ctesiphon, Archaeological site in east-central Iraq
Ctesiphon is an ancient city and archaeological site on the eastern bank of the Tigris in Iraq, about 35 kilometers southeast of Baghdad. Its most conspicuous remnant is the Taq Kasra, a light-stone structure in two sections: a tiered facade with rows of blind arches and open arches below, and a single parabolic arch springing from a broad base, with a small rectangular opening in the wall beneath.
The place arose around 120 BCE as a Parthian military camp and grew into the winter capital of successive empires. The Sasanians expanded the city greatly from the third century CE before Arab forces captured it in 637.
The name Ctesiphon comes from the Greek Ktēsiphôn, though it may Hellenize an older local name such as Tisfōn. Arabic speakers called the merged metropolis al-Mada'in, "The Cities", after the seven towns it absorbed, among them Veh-Ardashir, where a large Jewish community lived and the Nestorian church had its seat.
The ruins lie in the village of Salman Pak southeast of Baghdad and can be reached by a road that follows the river. Visitors should prepare for uneven ground and note that the area has limited infrastructure.
The Taq Kasra is the largest unsupported brick arch from antiquity, reaching 37 meters (121 feet) high and 26 meters (85 feet) across. The construction stands without additional support pillars and demonstrates the advanced building techniques of Sasanian engineers.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,075 contributors worldwide.
