The «round cities» of Central Asia

In Central Asia a considerable number of cities has been discovered whichare circular in plan. They are to be found in all parts of this region (Parthia, Nisaya, Mar-giana, Bactria, Sogdiana and Khwarezm). The earliest of these settlements date from theearly centuries of the I millennium BC but the use of this plan for the building of cities wasat its most widespread in the Achaemenian era. On the basis of an analysis of archaeologi-cal and written sources the authors endeavour to demonstrate that this particular lay-outwas not a legacy from the Bronze Age but the result of the influence of the Zoroastrianconcept of the «ideal city».