Roman city design. This design was never repeated in the architecture of Iran. Excavations and research The site was cleared by the Russian-French archaeologist Roman Ghirshman in the 1930s. The British archaeologist Georgina Herrmann has also written a book about the Sasanian rock reliefs in Bishapur which was published in 1980. Decoration The main part of the excavations took place in the royal sector, in the east of the city. A water temple, interpreted as an Anahita temple, was erected near the palace. In the center there is a cross-shaped space with eight large square exedrae decorated with 64 alcoves. The French excavators believed it had been covered with a dome roof, but this reconstruction has been rejected. To the west lies a courtyard decorated with mosaics; to the east, a square iwan used as a reception room. Its walls must have been covered with small stucco ornaments: rows of medallions, bands of foliage, and topped with merlons inherited from Achaemenid architecture. All these decorative techniques were still used after the Islamic conquest of Persia. The floor was paved with black marble slabs, with a mosaic border. Along the walls runs a narrow band featuring a series of heads and masks, in a frontal or profile view, on a white background. At the top of each alcove there was a picture of women naked under their transparent veils: courtesans, musicians, dancers, women twisting garlands, together with a few richly attired noble ladies. See also Academy of Gundishapur Shapur cave Roman architecture Roman art Byzantine art References External links Bishapur; Photos Bishapur, Photos from Iran, Livius. City of Bishapur (Video) Buildings and structures completed in the 3rd century Architecture in Iran Roman Empire art Sasanian cities Buildings and structures in Fars Province Former populated places in Iran Kazerun County Geography of Fars Province Tourist attractions in Fars Province Stone buildings Shapur I