Gorgan Wall

the Gorgan Wall is one of the most impressive but lesser-known fortification systems of the ancient world, and it belongs to the Sassanian Empire. Here’s a detailed breakdown:

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Overview

Name: Great Wall of Gorgan (a.k.a. “Red Snake” because of its red bricks).

Location: Northeastern Iran, running between the Caspian Sea and the Alborz mountains.

Length: ~195 km (second only to China’s Great Wall in scale).

Date: Built during the Sassanian dynasty, most likely under Khosrow I (531–579 CE), though some foundations may be earlier.

Purpose

Defense line against northern steppe nomads (Huns, Alans, Hephthalites, and later Turkic tribes).

Protected the fertile plains of Gorgan and the road to the Persian heartland.

Served as both a military frontier and customs/trade control point.

Construction Features

Brickwork: Constructed with millions of red fired bricks (hence “Red Snake”).

• Width: Around 10 m wide in places.

• Height: Estimated 6–10 m originally.

• Forts: About 30+ forts spaced roughly every 10 km along the wall.

• Infrastructure:

A canal system supplied water for brick kilns, soldiers, and agriculture.

Evidence of garrisons and settlements for troops and families.

Historical Significance

1. Engineering Marvel: Largest defensive wall of the ancient Near East.

2. Military Organization: Suggests a highly centralized and resource-rich empire.

3. Comparisons:

• Often called the “Persian Great Wall.”

• Longer than Hadrian’s Wall (~117 km).

• Comparable in ambition to Rome’s limes or China’s walls.

4. Continuity: Parts were reused in Islamic times for regional defense.

Modern Archaeology

Rediscovered and studied extensively in the 20th century.

Remote sensing and excavations show the wall’s alignment, forts, canals, and brick kilns.

It is now recognized as one of Iran’s most important ancient heritage sites, though not as globally famous as Persepolis.

In short:

The Great Wall of Gorgan was the Sassanian Empire’s northern shield, a 195 km-long brick fortification with forts, canals, and garrisons — demonstrating Persia’s military sophistication and ability to mobilize vast resources.

Gorgan Wall with other great walls of antiquity (China, Hadrian’s, Derbent)?