Ctesiphon

Ancient city (now Tak-i-Kesra) in Mesopotamia (now part of Iraq), on the River Tigris, about 32 km/20 mi southeast of Baghdad. Building materials from its ruins were used to build Bahgdad. The facade and arched hall or throne-room of a palace are among the ruins left.

First mentioned by Polybius, Ctesiphon was the winter residence of the Parthians 129 BC. It was captured by various Roman emperors between AD 116 and 363 and in the 4th century AD, it was the principal city of the Sassanian Empire. It was surrendered to the conquering Arabs, 637.

During World War I, Ctesiphon was the scene of fierce fighting between British and Turkish forces in November 1915.