SEOUL, July 28 (AJP) - UNESCO's World Heritage Committee has inscribed Alamut Castle and six associated mountain fortifications in Iran on the World Heritage List during its 48th session in Busan, making the serial property Iran's 30th UNESCO World Heritage property, the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Seoul said Tuesday.
The inscription covers Alamut Castle and six associated fortifications that together formed a defensive network across the rugged Alborz Mountains in Qazvin Province, about 150 kilometers west of Tehran. Built into steep cliffs overlooking narrow valleys, the fortifications relied as much on the surrounding terrain as on walls and towers, with the mountain itself serving as part of the defensive system, according to the embassy.
From the late 11th century to the mid-13th century, Alamut served as the political, administrative and intellectual center of the Nizari Ismaili state after its leader, Hasan-i Sabbah, a prominent Ismaili leader who took control of the castle in 1090, established it as his base of operations. Historical accounts referenced in UNESCO's evaluation indicate that the site's library attracted scholars from across the Islamic world and contributed to advances in astronomy, medicine and philosophy, the embassy said.
Although Alamut is widely associated with Hasan-i Sabbah and the legends surrounding the so-called "Assassins," the embassy said the UNESCO inscription offers an opportunity to recognize the site's broader historical significance as a cultural landscape shaped by architecture, religious and intellectual life, and the natural environment.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.
