Ispahan (ĭs′ pȧ-han′), properly Isfahan, a famous city of Persia, capital of the province of Irak-Ajemi and formerly capital of the entire country. It is situated on the Zenderud, in an extensive and fertile plain. It still is an important city, the seat of manufactures of all sorts of woven and ornamental goods, firearms, swordblades, glass and earthenware. Under the caliphs of Bagdad Ispahân was a large trading town; in 1387 it was taken by the Tartar conqueror, Timur, and 70,000 of its citizens massacred; in the 17th century it became the capital of Persia, and was a city 24 miles in circumference, with 600,000 inhabitants. It was the great city of the east. After the ravaging of the city by the Afghans in 1722, Teheran became the capital. Ispahân is the religious center of Persia, the seat of the high priest. Population 80,000.
