| Iraj Castle | |
|---|---|
| Native name قلعه ایرج (Persian) | |
| Qaleh Iraj, Iraj Citadel | |
 The eroded walls of the Iraj Castle | |
| Type | Fortification |
| Etymology | Mythical king Iraj |
| Location | Near Varamin , Sasanian Empire (modern-day Asgarabad-e Abbasi, Iran) |
| Coordinates | 35°20′35″N 51°40′51″E / 35.3431°N 51.6808°E |
| Area | 190 hectares (470 acres)[1] |
| Elevation | 1,440 metres (4,720 ft) |
| Height | 25 metres (82 ft) |
| Built | 4th or 5th century AD |
| Built for | Sasanian army |
| Original use | Military base |
| Current use | Agriculture |
| Architectural style(s) | Sasanian |
| Governing body | Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Pishva County |
  Location of the Iraj Castle on the map of Iran | |
Iraj Castle (Persian: قلعه ایرج Qal'eh Iraj)[2] is a fortification built in 4th or 5th century AD in the central region of Ray, Sasanian Empire, near modern-day Asgarabad-e Abbasi, Iran. The monument is known for its peculiar design: large defensive walls with embedded rooms and arches, with towers at regular intervals, enclosing a vast empty interior of 190 hectares (470 acres).
The design is similar to several other Sasanian campaign bases. The permanent service members supposedly occupied the walls and the rooms inside it, while the empty interior would be occupied by tents or used for training or military assemblies. It probably served as a central military base for operations elsewhere, especially against the incursions of nomadic nations in the north.
- ^ موسوی نیا, سید مهدی; نعمتی, محمدرضا (19 February 2017). "بررسی باستانشناسی قلعه ایرج ورامین؛ تاریخگذاری و کاربری". مطالعات باستان شناسی (in Persian). 8 (2): 189–208. doi:10.22059/jarcs.2017.61778. ISSN 2251-9297. Retrieved 18 October 2019.
- ^ Persian pronunciation: [ɢæˌle iːˈɾæd͡ʒ]