Abbasid Samarra

Samarra

سامَرّاء
The spiral minaret of the Great Mosque of Samarra
Shown within Iraq
Location	Samarra, Saladin Governorate, Iraq
Coordinates	34°21′42″N 43°48′07″E / 34.36167°N 43.80194°E / 34.36167; 43.80194
Type	City
History
Builder	Al-Mu'tasim, Abbasid Caliphate
Founded	836
Abandoned	circa 892, with partial settlement thereafter
Site notes
Condition	Ruined
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Official name	Samarra Archaeological City
Criteria	Cultural: ii, iii, iv
Reference	276
Inscription	2007 (31st Session)
Endangered	2007–
Area	15,058 ha (37,210 acres)
Buffer zone	31,414 ha (77,630 acres)

Samarra is a city in central Iraq, which served as the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate from 836 to 892. Founded by the caliph al-Mu'tasim, Samarra was briefly a major metropolis that stretched dozens of kilometers along the east bank of the Tigris, but was largely abandoned in the latter half of the 9th century, especially following the return of the caliphs to Baghdad.

Due to the relatively short period of occupation, extensive ruins of Abbasid Samarra have survived into modern times. The layout of the city can still be seen via aerial photography, revealing a vast network of planned streets, houses, palaces and mosques. Studies comparing the archeological evidence with information provided by Muslim historians have resulted in the identification of many of the toponyms within the former city.^[1]

The archeological site of Samarra was named by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2007, calling it "the best-preserved plan of an ancient large city."^[2] The modern city bearing the same name lies within the Abbasid ruins.