Kermanshah

Kermanshah is a big city in Iran.

It sits near the tall Zagros mountains. The mountains bring rain to the land. This makes the city more wet than Tehran.

Many people live in this city. Most people there are Kurdish. They speak a way of talking called Kermashani.

People lived here a long time ago. They lived in caves and made clay figures.

You can see art carved into rocks. These carvings show kings and horses.

It is a very old and special place.

Kermanshah is a large city in western Iran.

It is the capital of its province. The city sits near the tall Zagros mountains. These mountains make the weather quite special. The city gets more rain than Tehran. Summers can be very hot during the day. Winters are often cold with snow.

Many people live in Kermanshah. About 1,117,000 people live there today. It is the largest Kurdish city in Iran. Many people speak a local dialect called Kermashani. This is a way of speaking Kurdish. Most people follow the Shia Muslim faith.

This place has a very long history. People lived in the area a long time ago. Some lived in caves. Others lived in very old villages.

You can see amazing art on the rocks. The Taq-e Bostan site has large carvings. These carvings show kings and horses. They have lasted for almost 1,700 years.

Kermanshah is a large and busy city in western Iran.

It serves as the capital for its province and its district. The city sits near the tall Zagros mountains. These mountains change how the weather feels in the city. Kermanshah gets more rain than the city of Tehran. Summers can be extremely hot during the day. However, the winters are often cold with snow.

This mountain setting creates big changes in temperature each day.

Many people call Kermanshah their home. A 2016 census counted 946,651 people living there. Experts estimate that 1,117,000 people live in the city by 2025. It is the largest city in Iran with a Kurdish population. Most people speak Persian or a Kurdish dialect called Kermashani. This dialect belongs to the Southern Kurdish language family. While many people are Shia Muslims, others are Sunni Muslims, Christians, or Yarsanists. This mix of people makes the city a major center for Kurdish culture.

The history of this area goes back a very long time. Scientists believe it is a cradle for prehistoric cultures. People have lived in this region since the Lower Paleolithic period. Some early humans, like Neanderthals, lived in caves nearby. You can see remains of these early people in caves like Warwasi and Do-Ashkaft.

Very old villages were also built here thousands of years ago. Some of these settlements date back to 8,000 or 10,000 years ago.

Ancient kings also left their mark on the land. The name Kermanshah comes from a title used in the Sasanian era. It means "King of Kerman." A prince named Bahram IV founded the city in the year 390. He used his royal title to name the new place. The city even became a capital for the Sasanian Empire. It was a famous summer resort for kings to visit.

They enjoyed the beautiful mountain setting and fresh air.

Today, you can still see amazing art from the past. One famous spot is called Taq-e Bostan. It features large rock carvings that have lasted 1,700 years. These carvings show kings, angels, and even horses in battle armor. One large carving shows King Khosrow II riding his horse, Shabdiz. These carvings sit near a sacred spring and a reflecting pool. They were placed along an old path used by travelers. Visiting these sites helps us see how people lived long ago.

Kermanshah is a major urban center located in western Iran. It serves as the capital for its province, county, and district. The city is a vital hub for Kurdish culture in the region. It is recognized as the largest Kurdish-populated city in Iran.

Most residents speak Persian or Kermashani. Kermashani is a specific dialect within the Southern Kurdish language family. The city's population has grown steadily over recent decades.

The population of Kermanshah has seen significant increases according to official records. The 2006 census recorded 784,602 people living in 202,588 households. By 2011, the population rose to 851,405 people. The 2016 National Census measured the population at 946,651. Current estimates suggest the population will reach approximately 1,117,000 by 2025. This growth highlights the city's importance as a regional center.

The climate of Kermanshah is classified as a hot-summer Mediterranean climate. It borders on a humid continental climate due to its geography. The nearby Zagros mountains heavily influence local weather patterns. This location causes the city to receive more precipitation than Tehran. However, the area also experiences huge diurnal temperature swings. Diurnal swings refer to the large changes in temperature between day and night. Summers are often rainless and extremely hot during the day. Winters are quite cold and usually include snow cover for several weeks.

Archaeological evidence suggests Kermanshah is a cradle of prehistoric cultures. Human occupation in the area dates back to the Lower Paleolithic period. Researchers have found hand axes in the Gakia area to the east. Middle Paleolithic remains appear in places like Tang-e Kenesht and Taq-e Bostan. Notably, Neanderthal Man once existed in this specific region. The only discovered skeletal remains of these early humans in Iran were found in three caves here. These caves include Warwasi, Qobeh, Malaverd, and Do-Ashkaft Cave.

Early human settlements also emerged here between 8,000 and 10,000 years ago. These sites include Asiab, Qazanchi, Sarab, Chia Jani, and Ganj-Darreh. Ganj-Darreh is significant because it is near where the first potteries in Iran were made. In 2009, researchers identified a very old village in Sahneh dating to 9800 B.P. The city itself contains four important archaeological mound sites. These sites are named Chogha Kaboud, Chogha Golan, Morad Hasel, and Tappa Gawri. These mounds represent layers of occupation from the early Bronze Age.

The city's name has deep roots in the Sasanian era. The name "Kermanshah" translates to "King of Kerman." This title belonged to Prince Bahram, the son of Shapur III. He was appointed as the governor of the Kirman province. In AD 390, Bahram IV became the king and founded the city. He applied his royal title to the new settlement. During the Sasanian Empire, Kermanshah served as a capital city. It was also a famous summer resort and health center for Sasanian kings.

One of the most famous historical sites is Taq-e Bostan. This site features large rock reliefs from the Sasanian era. These carvings have survived nearly 1,700 years of wind and rain. The reliefs include depictions of the investitures of Ardashir II and Shapur III. One impressive carving shows King Khosrow II on his horse, Shabdiz. The horse and rider are shown in full battle armor. The carvings are located near a sacred spring and a reflecting pool. This location was once a waypoint along the historic Silk Road. The art reflects themes of power, religious devotion, and festive joy.

Kermanshah has faced many historical shifts and challenges. The city was conquered by Arabs in AD 629. Later, it became a cultural center under Seljuk rule in the eleventh century. The city was also sacked by the Mongols in 1257. In modern history, it faced occupation by Russian and Ottoman armies during World War I. The city suffered heavy damage during the Iran-Iraq War from 1980 to 1988. While it has been rebuilt, the city is still recovering from that period. Today, it remains a complex and vital part of the Iranian landscape.