Temple of Anahita, Istakhr

[1] The temple was ransacked by the Macedonians during Alexander the Great's conquests.

[2] Ardashir I (r. 224–242), who overthrew the Parthian Empire and established the Sasanian control over the country, reportedly sent the heads of his enemies in his early campaigns to the temple, which was later repeated by Shapur II (r. 309–379), who had the heads of Christians stringed there in 340.

[2] Under Bahram II, the crown lost much of its religious authority, with the Zoroastrian priest Kartir receiving the guardianship of the Anahid temple.

[6] By Shapur II's reign, however, the Sasanian hold over the temple was certainly restored.

[7] The last Sasanian emperor of Iran, Yazdegerd III, was crowned in the Anahid temple in 632.