Derbent and Dagestan
دربندDerbent, the Sasanian gate between the Caspian and the Caucasus, where Tat, an Iranian language, is still spoken.
Derbent takes its name from the Persian dar-band, the barred gate. The Sasanians fortified this narrow pass between the Caspian and the mountains in the sixth century, with double walls running down to the sea, and its citadel, Naryn-Kala, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
In villages of southern Dagestan and among the Mountain Jews of the Caucasus, Tat, a south-western Iranian language close to Persian, is still spoken.
Cities and towns
Derbentدربند
The gate city on the Caspian
Makhachkalaماخاچقلعه
The capital of Dagestan
Landmarksبناها و نشانهها
Naryn-Kala
نارین قلعهThe Sasanian citadel of Derbent
Derbent and Dagestan through time
Iranian historyThe Pahlavi century and afterدوران پهلوی و پس از آن
Two Pahlavi shahs built railways, universities and a centralised state, while poets, novelists and film-makers created a new Persian culture. The era ended with the revolution of 1979.
- Derbent citadel inscribed by UNESCO