Several ancient cities of Mesopotamia and Persia are known to have had a circular plan.

The Round City of Baghdad, reconstructed by Guy Le Strange (1900)
Aerial photo of the modern town of Firuzabad and the ancient circular city of Gor nearby. Greenery seen from above with segmentation due to infrastructure visible; a large circular segment is prominently featured.
Aerial photo of the modern town of Firuzabad and the ancient circular city of Gor nearby

List of circular cities

List of cities with circular design
City/townEstablishmentCoordinatesNotesReference
Sagbat/Hagmatana700 BC
Sam'alHittite period
CtesiphonDetails are still under discussion. Circularity may be a result of natural growth of the city rather than design.
Metropolis (Thessaly)3rd and 2nd century BCEarly Western travelers reported that the fortifications surrounding the ancient city was completely circular.
Hatra3rd or 2nd century BCThe plan is round, but it lacks "a genuine geometrical concept".
Gōr (old Firuzabad)3rd century[dubious – discuss]The city plan was a perfect circle of 1,950 m diameter, divided into twenty sectors. The plan also featured a circular city center, with a tower at its very center.
Veh-Ardashir3rd centuryThe circular wall is uncovered.
HarranSasanian period
Gay / Jay (Isfahan's twin city)
IsfahanThe round city of Isfahan is not uncovered yet.
Basra630sKnown mostly from literature.
Kufa630sKnown mostly from literature.
Baghdad762Known as "the round city of Baghdad".
Darab8th centuryThe uncovered imperfect circular perimeter is reportedly a defensive work built in the 8th century, and the city itself was triangular in design.
Heraqla790s
Venus Project (design)1955In Miami, Jacques Fresco presented designs of a circular city.
Rotonda West197026°53′09″N 82°16′10″W/26.88583°N 82.26944°W/ 26.88583; -82.26944

See also

  • Iranian architecture#City design