a town of Persia, province of Irak-Ajemi, an extensive plain 60 miles S. by W. of Teheran. It was built by the Saracens, about the beginning of the ninth century, upon the site, as D'Anville supposes, of the ancient Choana. It afterwards became one of the finest cities in Persia, and was long celebrated for the manufacture of silks. It was taken, and all but completely destroyed, by the Afghans, on their invasion of Persia in 1722. Part of it has since been rebuilt, but it still has the appearance of a vast ruin. There is a very beautiful college, with a celebrated mosque and sanctuary, erected to the memory of Fatima, the daughter of Imam Reza, and containing the tombs of Sofi I. and Shah Abbas II. Pop. about 8000.