Ancient city of Belqis
The city of Belqis or ancient Esfrāyen is located near the town of Esfrāyen (northern Khorāsān region) and dates back to the Sasanid-Safavid period.
The city of Belqis with an area greater than 180 hectares, is one of the largest buildings in adobe and mud of Iran and consists of a complex of monuments including the remains of a citadel and a perimeter ditch, the urban public area that includes: the tower and the ramparts, the mausoleum of the Sheikh Āzari, the ruins known by the name of Menār-e stages (Friday mosque), the oven to cook the earthenware, a cistern, a bazaar, a caravanserai, a building known as Yakhdānha, and a large cemetery near the eastern entrance door.
The most intact monument and also the most impressive of the remains of the city of Belqis, is a citadel of adobe (fortress Nārin) with an area of about 51 thousand square meters that possesses 29 towers high around the 11 meters.
Around the citadel that once had three floors, there is also a large moat that made the fortress difficult to conquer.
Among the works found in this place we can mention the following: types of glazed ceramic pottery and simple, in particular that of the "type of Neishābur" and also heavenly and white ceramics of the Safavid period, some copper coins dating back to the Samanid period, a game die Back elephant tusk gammon, a single marbles ball and small ceramic statues ...
Regarding the attribution of the name "Belqis" to this city, which once stood on the edge of the Silk Road, there are many theories; some believe that, after the Islamic army's conquest of Esfrāyen in the 31 year of the lunar Hegira and given the resemblance of this area from the climatic point of view with the country of the Queen of Sheba "Belqis", the city has become note with this name; others seek the cause of the attribution of this name in the order of restoration of the city by Belqis Khātun, mother of Teimour Gorgāni.
Life in this historical city continued in a continuous way until the end of the Safavid period until, at the end of the time of Tahmāseb II and at the beginning of the reign of Nāder (in the year 1131 lunar Egira), it was completely destroyed by the Afghans. much to lose its previous importance.
