Astrolabe tile fragments found in the Lambsar Castle

Iranian archaeologists discovered astrolabe tile fragments with single colors of turquoise, light blue, white, and black, during an archaeological study in Lambsar Castle in Qazvin province, Iran.

Astrolabe tile fragments found in the Lambsar Castle of the HashshashinAstrolabe tile fragments found in the Lambsar Castle. Credit: The Tehran Times

According to the Tehran Times, The study and archaeological survey, under the leadership of project leader Kambiz Kabiri, focused on the Middle Islamic Period tiles found in the castle’s western tower.

The excavation aimed to reinforce the foundations and conduct restoration work using the existing collapsed masonry. Alongside the tiles, archaeologists also unearthed an adobe wall with a stone foundation located behind a circular tower during the excavation.

Lambsar Castle holds historical significance as it was one of the fortified structures used by the Nizari Ismaili sect, which established the Nizari State, also known as the Alamut State.

Astrolabe tile fragments found in the Lambsar Castle of the HashshashinLambaser Castle. Credit: Wikimedia. CC BY 3.0

The sect was founded by Hᴀssan-I Sabbah in the 11th and 12th centuries. Hᴀssan-I Sabbah also formed a fid’i military group known by various names, such as Batiniyya, Isma’iliyya, Nizariyya, or in a Fatimid record written around AD 1120, the Hashshashin, which may have inspired the term “ᴀssᴀssin.”

The name “Alamut,” meaning “eagle’s nest,” was attributed to the castle by an 8th-century ruler who witnessed an eagle perching among its rugged lofty crags, inspiring him to create an impregnable fortress.

The ruined castle now serves as a popular tourist attraction, drawing domestic and international visitors.

The historical significance of Lambsar Castle and its ᴀssociation with the Nizari Ismaili sect have piqued the interest of archaeologists and history enthusiasts alike.

Related Posts

Ancient Egyptian genome reveals 4,500-year-old genetic ties to Mesopotamia

Ancient Egyptian genome reveals 4,500-year-old genetic ties to Mesopotamia

For the first time, scientists have successfully sequenced the complete genome of an individual from ancient Egypt, offering unprecedented insights into early Egyptian ancestry and revealing a…

Neanderthals operated prehistoric “fat factory” 125,000 years ago on German lakeshore

Neanderthals operated prehistoric “fat factory” 125,000 years ago on German lakeshore

Neanderthals in central Germany 125,000 years ago employed an advanced method of food preparation, according to a recent study: systematically stripping fat from the bones of large…

Exceptionally large Roman shoes discovered at Magna fort near Hadrian’s Wall

Exceptionally large Roman shoes discovered at Magna fort near Hadrian’s Wall

Archaeologists excavating at Magna, or Carvoran, a Roman fort near Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland, England, have uncovered an amazing treasure trove of ancient leather shoes—many of them…

Hymn to Babylon discovered, revealing ancient Mesopotamian city life

Hymn to Babylon discovered, revealing ancient Mesopotamian city life

In a collaboration between Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU) and the University of Baghdad, an ancient Babylonian hymn dating back over two millennia has been rediscovered…

2,000-year-old shipwreck discovered off Turkish coast with remarkably preserved stacked ceramics

2,000-year-old shipwreck discovered off Turkish coast with remarkably preserved stacked ceramics

A recently discovered ancient shipwreck off the Turkish coast at Adrasan is allowing archaeologists a stunning glimpse into ancient maritime trade and ceramic production over two millennia…

Ancient DNA reveals rare leprosy strain in the Americas thousands of years before European contact

Ancient DNA reveals rare leprosy strain in the Americas thousands of years before European contact

In a discovery that overturns old suppositions about the origin of leprosy, researchers have recovered two extremely well-preserved genomes of Mycobacterium lepromatosis—a rare and severe form of…