SARI

city and capital, Mazandaran ostan (province), northern Iran. Founded during the Sasanid period (AD 224651), it became the capital of Tabarestan (7th9th century) after the Arab conquest of the region. The city was ravaged by the Mongols in the 12th century and visited by the historian Mostowfi in the 14th century. Agha Mohammad Khan (ruled 177997) of the Qajar dynasty chose Sari as the capital of his empire. Situated on the western bank of the Talar River, Sari is inhabited by Persians, Turks, Kurds, Bangashis, Afghans, and Turkomans. Industries produce bricks, mosaics, woven cloth and jute, ginned cotton, carpets, milled rice, alcoholic beverages, canned meat, and other food products. A railway connects Sari with Gorgan, and roads link it with Babol, Nowshahr, Shahsavar, and Amol. There is a ruined palace of Agha Mohammad Khan and the tombs of the imams Yahya and Zein al-Abedin. Pop. (1976) 70,936.