Sassanian and Hakhamanishian features of the Taj Mahal

After the city of Ctesiphon was destroyed by the Tazian in 637 A.D and it's rubble used as building material for the construction of Baghdad, many finer aspects of Sassanian design endured and were passed down the generations among later Persian architects.The architects of the Taj Mahal utilized these to their advantage. 

All domed buildings of the world owe their existence to Ardeshir-e-Papakan's invention of the squinch. This includes not only Asian monuments but even those in far away places such as St.Mark's cathedral in Venice.  The technique of floral inscriptions were similar, only the fauna was different. Shah Ardeshir is also credited with the development of the minaret.

The gardens of the Taj are in traditional Hakhamanishian Char Bagh fashion with fountains, running streams and shrubs to mimic the gardens of paradise. The first of these were the 10,000 square metre garden surrounding the Palace of Cyrus the great at Pasargad.  

The Persian architect’s song. 

Millennium ago, Tigris’ banks, resplendent city existed, Ctesiphon, 

Magnificent gardens, bewitching palaces, a beholder would swoon. 

Alas! it was destroyed, plundered, ruined, forgotten, sand covered, 

Indian king, Persian art, unique, singular, inimitable, discovered.

Unrivalled, unmatched, sepulchre, as homage for his beloved wife, 

Yamuna’s bank, my forefathers’ skill, art will bloom, renewed life. 

We’ll make, char bagh, in Cyrus’, Pasargad, of antiquity had been, 

With flowing streams, gushing fountains, only in paradise are seen. 

Besides streams, plant, sweet smelling shrubs, Persian lilac trees, 

Tomb’s walls embellish, venerable, majestic, noble, cypress trees. 

Persevering, untiring, from ceaseless toil, we do not cower, flinch, 

We’ll place a dazzling, ornate, incomparable, dome on its squinch. 

Only Persians in lifeless, passionless, stone, can compose a song, 

Tho’ fate hasn’t given us occasion, to construct a palace, so long. 

Scavenging for building materials, stones had Ctesiphon erased,

Architectural principles, unforgotten, far off monuments raised.