{"id":65725,"date":"2023-11-23T09:03:55","date_gmt":"2023-11-23T09:03:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/?p=65725"},"modified":"2026-02-03T14:31:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T14:31:13","slug":"alexander-prison-in-yazd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/alexander-prison-in-yazd\/","title":{"rendered":"Alexander Prison in Yazd"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/yazd-travel-guide\/\">Yazd<\/a><\/strong>, a globally renowned city, boasts a wealth of historical attractions that require days, if not weeks, to explore fully. These structures not only reflect the rich culture and civilization of the city but also showcase the creativity of <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/iranian-art-10-world-renowned-iranian-contemporary-artists\/\">Iranian art<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With Yazd gaining international recognition, more and more foreign tourists are eager to visit this ancient city. Among its ancient treasures, the <strong>Historical Prison of Alexander<\/strong>, also known as <strong>Ziyaiyeh School<\/strong>, is highly recommended for a visit during your trip to Yazd. Join <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/\">SURFIRAN<\/a><\/strong> as we delve deeper into its history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-flat ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/alexander-prison-in-yazd\/#the-construction-of-alexanders-prison-in-yazd\" >The Construction of Alexander&#8217;s Prison in Yazd<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/alexander-prison-in-yazd\/#architecture-of-alexanders-prison-in-yazd\" >Architecture of Alexander&#8217;s Prison in Yazd<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/alexander-prison-in-yazd\/#inside-ziyaiyeh-school\" >Inside Ziyaiyeh School<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-construction-of-alexander-s-prison-in-yazd\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"the-construction-of-alexanders-prison-in-yazd\"><\/span>The Construction of Alexander&#8217;s Prison in Yazd<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"695\" title=\"Alexander's Prison\" src=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Alexander-Prison-Yazd-Iran-1-1024x695.jpg\" alt=\"Alexander's Prison\" class=\"wp-image-68284\" srcset=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Alexander-Prison-Yazd-Iran-1-1024x695.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Alexander-Prison-Yazd-Iran-1-780x529.jpg 780w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Alexander-Prison-Yazd-Iran-1-768x521.jpg 768w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Alexander-Prison-Yazd-Iran-1-220x150.jpg 220w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Alexander-Prison-Yazd-Iran-1-693x470.jpg 693w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Alexander-Prison-Yazd-Iran-1.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Alexander Prison, Yazd, Iran<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The construction of Alexander&#8217;s Prison in Yazd began in the 7th century by a man named <strong>Zia al-Din Hosseini<\/strong>, taking approximately <strong>74 years<\/strong> to complete. Situated in one of Yazd&#8217;s oldest neighborhoods, <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/fahadan-neighborhood-in-yazd\/\">Fahadan<\/a><\/strong>, in Imam Square, this historic building stands adjacent to the <strong>Twelve Imams Shrine<\/strong>, making it convenient for tourists to explore two of Yazd&#8217;s historical marvels in one visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to historical accounts, after Alexander&#8217;s invasion of Iran, he built a prison on the route that is now known as Yazd. Initially, this prison was named &#8220;<strong>Kisheh<\/strong>,&#8221; and it is believed that Alexander used it to detain his opponents. However, the change of name from Kisheh to Alexander&#8217;s Prison might have been due to the fear and apprehension that the people of that era had towards Alexander. This prison is considered the first building constructed by Alexander&#8217;s command in <strong>Yazd<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During the reign of the <strong>Al-Muzaffar<\/strong> dynasty, Yazd gained prominence in terms of education and culture, earning the title of &#8220;<strong>Dar al-\u2018Ulum<\/strong>&#8221; (House of Knowledge). Ziyaiyeh School, located in the same era, played a significant role in this regard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-architecture-of-alexander-s-prison-in-yazd\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"architecture-of-alexanders-prison-in-yazd\"><\/span>Architecture of Alexander&#8217;s Prison in Yazd<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" title=\"Alexander's Prison\" src=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Architecture-of-Alexanders-Prison-in-Yazd-Iran-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Alexander's Prison\" class=\"wp-image-68286\" srcset=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Architecture-of-Alexanders-Prison-in-Yazd-Iran-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Architecture-of-Alexanders-Prison-in-Yazd-Iran-1-780x520.jpg 780w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Architecture-of-Alexanders-Prison-in-Yazd-Iran-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Architecture-of-Alexanders-Prison-in-Yazd-Iran-1-705x470.jpg 705w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Architecture-of-Alexanders-Prison-in-Yazd-Iran-1.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Architecture of Alexander&#8217;s Prison in Yazd, Iran<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Alexander&#8217;s Prison, also known as Ziyaiyeh School, exhibits a simple yet beautiful architectural style. The construction of this building solely utilized raw bricks, with minimal decorative <strong>tilework<\/strong>. Despite undergoing restoration and maintenance over time, the enduring quality of the raw brickwork has contributed to its longevity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The courtyard of Ziyaiyeh School features a well, surrounded by various speculations regarding its purpose. While some believe it served as a notorious dungeon during Alexander&#8217;s time, the existence of this well is mainly attributed to subsidence in the middle of the courtyard, sparking various theories among the public. Another noteworthy aspect of this grand historic structure is its ongoing repairs and restoration efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-inside-ziyaiyeh-school\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"inside-ziyaiyeh-school\"><\/span>Inside Ziyaiyeh School<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" title=\"Alexander's Prison\" src=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Inside-Ziyaiyeh-School-Alexander-Prison-in-Yazd-by-IranRoute-1024x681.jpg\" alt=\"Alexander's Prison\" class=\"wp-image-68287\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Inside-Ziyaiyeh-School-Alexander-Prison-in-Yazd-by-IranRoute-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Inside-Ziyaiyeh-School-Alexander-Prison-in-Yazd-by-IranRoute-780x518.jpg 780w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Inside-Ziyaiyeh-School-Alexander-Prison-in-Yazd-by-IranRoute-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Inside-Ziyaiyeh-School-Alexander-Prison-in-Yazd-by-IranRoute-707x470.jpg 707w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Inside-Ziyaiyeh-School-Alexander-Prison-in-Yazd-by-IranRoute.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Inside Ziyaiyeh School (Alexander Prison) in Yazd (photo by IranRoute)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Numerous speculations and theories surround Ziyaiyeh School, with one of the most compelling being its connection to a house belonging to the Hosseini family. After suffering damage following the Islamic Revolution, the building underwent extensive repairs using raw bricks to preserve its original form. It has been designated as National Heritage Site #770 by the Cultural Heritage Organization of Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile is-image-fill has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f94931\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\" style=\"padding-top:2em;padding-right:2em;padding-bottom:2em;padding-left:2em\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color\" style=\"font-size:25px;line-height:1.2\"><strong>Book Yazd Hotels<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons has-custom-font-size has-small-font-size is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-8c8af59c wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-font-size is-style-fill has-small-font-size\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-black-color has-white-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/orienttrips.com\/hotel-list\/yazd?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=surfiraninbanner\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-black-color\">Click and explore<\/mark><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Dad-Hotel-1024x674.jpg);background-position:48% 57%\"><a href=\"https:\/\/orienttrips.com\/hotel-list\/yazd?utm_source=blog&amp;utm_medium=surfiraninbanner\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"674\" src=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Dad-Hotel-1024x674.jpg\" alt=\"Dad Hotel\" class=\"wp-image-65204 size-full\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Dad-Hotel-1024x674.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Dad-Hotel-780x513.jpg 780w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Dad-Hotel-768x505.jpg 768w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Dad-Hotel-714x470.jpg 714w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Dad-Hotel-300x197.jpg 300w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Dad-Hotel.jpg 1310w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In summary, the Historical Prison of Alexander, also known as Ziyaiyeh School, stands as a testament to Yazd&#8217;s rich history and cultural heritage. Its simple yet enduring architecture and historical significance make it a must-visit attraction for anyone exploring this ancient city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Read More:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-related-links\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/persepolis\/\">Unearthing Persepolis: A Journey Through an Ancient Empire<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/hamadan-travel-guide\/\">Hamadan Travel Guide<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/hegmataneh-the-oldest-capital-city-in-persia\/\">Hegmataneh, The Oldest Capital City in Persia<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/fahadan-neighborhood-in-yazd\/\">Fahadan Neighborhood in Yazd: A Historic and Beautiful City<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/luxury-and-power-persia-to-greece-in-london\/\">Luxury and Power: Persia to Greece in London<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"kk-star-ratings kksr-auto kksr-align-left kksr-valign-bottom\"\n    data-payload='{&quot;align&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;65725&quot;,&quot;slug&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;valign&quot;:&quot;bottom&quot;,&quot;ignore&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;reference&quot;:&quot;auto&quot;,&quot;class&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;count&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;legendonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;readonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;score&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;starsonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;best&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;gap&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;greet&quot;:&quot;Rate this post&quot;,&quot;legend&quot;:&quot;0\\\/5 - (0 votes)&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;16&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Alexander Prison in Yazd&quot;,&quot;width&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;_legend&quot;:&quot;{score}\\\/{best} - ({count} {votes})&quot;,&quot;font_factor&quot;:&quot;1.25&quot;}'>\n            \n<div class=\"kksr-stars\">\n    \n<div class=\"kksr-stars-inactive\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"1\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 16px; height: 16px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"2\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 16px; height: 16px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"3\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 16px; height: 16px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"4\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 16px; height: 16px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"5\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 16px; height: 16px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n<div class=\"kksr-stars-active\" style=\"width: 0px;\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 16px; height: 16px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 16px; height: 16px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 16px; height: 16px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 16px; height: 16px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 16px; height: 16px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n                \n\n<div class=\"kksr-legend\" style=\"font-size: 12.8px;\">\n            <span class=\"kksr-muted\">Rate this post<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Explore the historical Prison of Alexander, a captivating architectural wonder in Yazd, Iran. Discover its rich history and enduring beauty.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":68282,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15741,308],"tags":[16201,754],"class_list":["post-65725","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-yazd","category-destinations","tag-prison","tag-yazd"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Alexander-Prison-in-Yazd-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65725","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=65725"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65725\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/68282"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65725"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=65725"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=65725"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}