Alamut Castle, Iran

The Alamut Castle is a ruined medieval castle located in central Elburz mountains south of the Caspian Sea near Qazvin, about 100 km from present-day Tehran in Iran. The castle was according to Hamdollah Mostowfi built about 840 by Wahsudan bin Marczuban. In 1090 was the Alamut Castle captured and occupied by the powerful Ismaili sect of Shia Islam known also as Hashshashin or Assassins led by Hassan-i Sabbah. In 1256 was the Alamut Castle destoyed by the Mongols under leadership of Hulagu Khan and is today in ruins.