A celebrated city of Persia, occupying a charming site on an elevated plain, 165 m. NE. of Bushire; founded in the 8th century; was for long a center of Persian culture, and a favourite resort of the royal princes; its beauties are celebrated in the poems of Hafiz and Sadi, natives of the place; has been thrice wrecked by earthquakes, and presents now a somewhat dilapidated appearance.