Nisa was an ancient city, located near modern-day Bagir village, 18 km southwest of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
Nisa is described by some as the first seat of central government of the Parthians. It is traditionally assumed to be founded by Arsaces I, and was reputedly the royal necropolis of the Parthian kings, although it has not been established that the fortress at Nisa was either a royal residence or a mausoleum.HistoryNisa was a major trading hub in the Parthian Empire. Nisa was later renamed Mithrada
tkirt ("fortress of Mithradates") by Mithridates I of Parthia (reigned c. 171 BC–138 BC).Nisa was totally destroyed by an earthquake, which occurred during the first decade BC.ExcavationsExcavations at Nisa have revealed substantial buildings, mausoleums and shrines, many inscribed documents, and a looted treasury. Many Hellenistic art works have been uncovered, as well as a large number of ivory rhytons, the outer rims (coins) decorated with Iranian subjects or classical mythological scenes.The fortress at Nisa was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2007.
