A piece of historical research about the construction of the ancient Arch of Taq-iKisra, part of the imperial palace of the Sasanian Empire in the city of Ctesiphon, has been carried out. The information obtained, an analysis using graphic statics, the use of a physical model with hanging chains, and an ad hoc optimization program written in MATLAB have shown that the designer of this sixth century ad arch, a Byzantine named Farghán, was aware of the effects of the uneven distribution of loads and the differential settlements of the foundations on the equilibrium shape of structures working exclusively in compression and was able to control them. This discovery predates the earliest statement about the link between the shape of the catenary and that of an arch, by Robert Hooke, by eleven centuries and makes this building relevant not only because of its historical, archaeological, and architectural importance, but also because of its importance in the history of structural engineering. The building is currently in need of restoration to stop its collapse, and an awareness of the way it was designed could be of practical use for the definition of the intervention needed.

一项关于泰西封市萨珊帝国皇宫的一部分 Taq-iKisra 古代拱门建造的历史研究已经开展。获得的信息，使用图形静态分析，使用带有悬挂链的物理模型，以及一个特别的用 MATLAB 编写的优化程序表明，这个六世纪广告拱的设计者，一位名叫 Farghán 的拜占庭人，意识到载荷分布不均和地基的差异沉降对完全受压结构的平衡形状的影响并且能够控制它们。这一发现比罗伯特·胡克 (Robert Hooke) 关于悬链线形状与拱形形状之间联系的最早说法早了 11 个世纪，并且使这座建筑具有重要意义，不仅因为它的历史、考古和建筑重要性，而且还因为它在结构工程史上的重要性。该建筑目前需要修复以阻止其倒塌，