Taq Kasra

Taq Kasra, commonly called the Arch of Ctesiphon, is the surviving monumental iwan of a Sasanian imperial palace near the ancient site of Ctesiphon in modern-day Iraq and is one of the best-known examples of late antique Persian monumental brick architecture.

The structure dates to the Sasanian period when Ctesiphon served as a royal and administrative center; the vaulted hall was part of a ceremonial palace complex. Over the centuries the complex declined, and the arch survived as a monumental fragment; it has been subject to archaeological study and intermittent conservation efforts in the modern era.

Taq Kasra stands at the site of al-Mada’in, southeast of Baghdad in Baghdad Governorate, adjacent to the Tigris floodplain and the remains of the ancient city of Ctesiphon.

• Largest surviving element: The standing brick arch is the largest known single-span vault of baked brick from the Sasanian period and remains the site's most prominent surviving element.
• Conservation note: Located beside the ruins of the ancient city of Ctesiphon (al-Mada'in), the site has been subject to conservation work and occasional damage over time due to natural decay and regional conflicts.

What to See #

• The arch (Taq Kasra): The monumental vaulted iwan - a brick-built ceremonial arch that is the surviving remnant of a Sasanian palace hall and the site's defining structure.
• Palace ruins and complex: Surrounding palace foundations and masonry platforms marking the footprint of the wider royal complex associated with the ancient city of Ctesiphon.