Troglodytic Architecture of Alamut Castle

The territory of Alamut in the Caspian catchment basin is a closed and hilly region in the form of a U shaped valley. The high Alborz Mountains on either side of the territory have made up border walls of the Alamut Citadel or city or the Cultural landscpae of Alamut, turning it into an impenetrable barrack and sanctuary. With their natural and artifi cial trenches and caves, these mountains are the construction site of Ismailia’ historical fortresses in the region. Natural heighst form an integral part of the defense structures of the fortresses, and their settings and landscapes constitute a part of the valuable natural heritage of the region. The outcome of nearly two centuries of Ismailia’ dominion and activity in the Alamut territory is about 20 citadels constructed in the awe inspiring heights and close to terrifying drops. These fortresses that have been built olong access roads to Alamut Valley along with the villages in form of scattered town parks form the structure of the Kish Alamut city. The habitats, forts and mausoleums in Alamut Valley have been created in accordance with the structural conditions of the earth and the special environment of the region. Given the limited facilities of the period, the use of cliff topography in the construction of the troglodytic fortress and its interior spaces clearly proves human recourse and ingenuity in successful exploitation of the natural resources and the his faculty and skill built on knowledge. The most famous of these fortresses is the Hassan Sabah Fortress (Ruler’s HQ), which forms the hub and core of the Alamut Cultural Landscape. The ruins of the Alamut Fortress is to be found on the south western fl anks of Mount Hoodekan in the central Alborz Range, built on a conglomerate cliff with terrifying drops. This cliff stands 220 m above the surrounding land at an altitude of 2163 m above the sea. The fortress-like cliff constitutes a section of the architecture and fortifi cations of the castle’s main walls, making it impenetrable and unconquerable.The foundation of the cliff fortress is of conglomerate. More than half the architecture of the fortress consists of the cliff where the constructions of Ismailia’ period were made on. Using the available terrain and materials, the architects have brilliantly succeeded in creating the most important fortress in Alamut. The walls, ditch and water supply network in the cliff, gates, guardrooms, hand carved stairs, paths and archways, large and small water reservoirs, food stores, vaults, living quarters, watchtowers, collection of chambers with stairs and interlaced stores, all carved in the cliff, are among valuable architectural discoveries made during the archeological explorations of Alamut. Implementation of a plan for appropriate protection, restoration and use of the troglodytic spaces, as a unique example of the ecological architecture allows the creation of an important tourist attraction in the Alamut Fortress.