Document Type : Original
Authors
1
M. A.Student in Urban Design , Department of Urban Planning and Design, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Shiraz University
2
2. Associate Prof., Department of Urban Planning and Design, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
3
Associate Professor, Department of Urban Planning and Design, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Shiraz University
10.22052/jias.2025.256972.1405
Abstract
Bāghshāh Gate, as one of the prominent symbolic elements within the historical urban fabric of Shiraz, is referenced in numerous textual and visual historical sources. However, due to the physical destruction of the structure, absence of tangible field evidence, and ambiguities embedded in historical records, its precise location has remained uncertain. This research aims to identify and reinterpret the spatial position of this gate within both the historical and contemporary urban context of Shiraz, an endeavor to reconstruct a lost component of the city’s spatial memory. The study employs a qualitative methodology, integrating interdisciplinary approaches such as documentary analysis, historical semiotics, intertextual reading, and spatial correlation. Data were collected from diverse sources including travelogues, historical maps, archival photographs, and descriptive texts. Through comparative and content-based analysis of these sources, organized around shared temporal axes and overlapping spatial themes, the study seeks to discern recurring patterns, semantic discontinuities, and zones of interpretative ambiguity to arrive at an evidence-based localization of the gate. Findings indicate that Dehnādi Street lay outside the historic city walls, and the approximate position of Bāghshāh Gate was located between Dehnādi Street and the Municipality Square. Moreover, the georeferenced analysis of the 1923 map (1302 AH Solar Hijri) revealed inconsistencies between the gate’s mapped location and its placement as inferred from visual documentation. This discrepancy underscores the greater reliability of archival imagery over the hand-drawn, low-precision cartography of that era. Based on these comparative analyses, a revised version of the 1923 map has been produced, offering a more accurate and evidence-based representation of the gate’s surrounding area. By recovering the spatial identity of a lost architectural element in Shiraz's historical landscape, this research contributes not only to reinforcing the city’s historical memory but also provides a documented foundation for future studies in historic fabric regeneration and the re-interpretation of Shiraz’s spatial organization. It further offers insights for informed policymaking in urban heritage conservation.
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