A Recognition of Toopkhaneh Square, Tehran

This paper attempts to clarify the formation of Toopkhaneh Square (literally the place of cannons) -one of key historic squares in Tehran. Placing cannons before the palace initiated in the Safavid period, first to indicate supremacy and victory and later to prevent attacks on the citadel. This led to formation of an open space in front of the gate to the citadel where cannons and cannoneers were constantly posted to guard the entrance. Later, some buildings surrounded this open space to accommodate guards. Thus a new urban space was formed. Adjacent to the royal citadel, this space functioned as a military, public and governmental urban space and thus possessed an identity per se.