The stays of an historical mountain hearth temple have been found in Iran. Whereas archaeology is aware of of just about 200 hearth temples all over the world this one is particular as a result of it shows a uncommon historical Iranian “divine” architectural format.

A group of Iranian archaeologists unearthed relics on the historical hearth temple in Savadkuh county, within the middle of the Alborz mountain vary. The temple was found about 5 kilometers from the historic Espahbod Khorshid Cave and Professor Mehdi Abedini Araqi, the chief of the archaeological survey, advised the Tehran Times that the fireplace temple dates from the Sassanian Empire (224-651 AD) interval.

Whereas there are lots of hearth temples which have been unearthed in Iran, this temple may be very particular as a result of it was designed round an historical Iranian constructing format that’s most frequently seen connected to bigger buildings, and rarely seen standing alone.

Burning hearth within the Zoroastrian hearth temple of Yazd, Iran. (Adam Jones / CC BY-SA 2.0)

The Particular Chartaqi Hearth Temples Of Historical Iran

The not too long ago found Iranian hearth temple stood in a area often called the “cradle of civilization.” A 2017 Tasnim News Agency article defined that human settlement within the Mazandaran (also referred to as Tabarestan) area of modern-day Iran dates again at the least 75,000 years.

The fireplace temple was discovered about 5 kilometers from “Dej-e-Afsanehie,” an historical cave that was first found by archaeologists in 1956 on the route from Qaemshahr to Tehran. Archaeology News Network clarify that the not too long ago unearthed hearth temple was constructed within the Chartaqi kind, which was a distinguished factor utilized in historical Iranian structure. The Chartaqi architectural type actually that means “having 4 arches,” and is an architectural unit consisted of 4 barrel vaults, and a dome.

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Earlier than we have a look at the particular Chartaqi design and discover the operate of fireplace temples, allow us to first discover the cave close to the place it was unearthed to place the brand new discovery in historic context. The huge Espahbod Khorshid Cave web site was at one time a ruined fortress and tower created with stone and mortar. At 15 meters (49 ft) excessive, with a 115-meter (377-foot) hall and stairway connecting the present two flooring, the construction has 10 rooms coated with a timber roof construction. Individuals lived on this cave throughout the Sassanid period.

In line with the Tasnim News Agency it was “in all probability the protection middle of the Espahbodan of Mazandaran prior to now.” The Sassanian Empire was the principle Iranian dynasty from 224 to 651 AD, and after the Sassanid period in Mazandaran, the Muslims would come to rule over complete province.

The outlines of the found remnants of an historical Iranian hearth temple in Savadkuh county, not too long ago unearthed within the coronary heart of Iran’s Alborz mountain vary. (Tehran Times)

A Distinctive “Stand Alone” Zoroastrianism Hearth Temple

The archaeologists found the fireplace temple was constructed within the form of a “ chartaqi,” which was a distinguished factor in Iranian structure for round 1,500 years. The Chartaqi divine constructing unit primarily comprised 4 barrel vaults and a dome, symbolically representing the 4 corners of Earth and the heavens above. Probably the most celebrated instance of a chahartaq in Iranian structure is discovered on the Palace of Shapur I at Bishapur in Pars.

Nevertheless, this newly found hearth temple is particular in one other means. Whereas many pre-Islamic chahartaqs have survived, they’re typically components of bigger complexes, however within the newest discovery the chahartaq stands alone.

What occurred at historical Iranian hearth temples? Underneath Sasanian rule the territory that’s at this time Iran was swept by nationalism and Zoroastrianism grew to become the state faith. In line with Michael Shenkar in his 2007 paper, Temple Architecture in the Iranian World before the Macedonian Conquest, the fireplace temple was often called the “ Agiary,” the place followers of Zoroastrianism introduced collectively water and hearth as a strong air purifier of the ritual setting. However hearth was additionally related with the long run happiness of the worshipers.

A reduction at Naqsh-e Rustam in modern-day Iran exhibiting Ardashir I and an unidentified cavalier. This Persian rock reduction depicts Ardashir I’s coronation scene, as the primary king of the Sassanid Empire of Iran. Ardashir I receives the cydaris ring of energy, the Zoroastrian image of kingship, from the spirit of Darius the Nice of the Achaemenid dynasty. The inscription in Persian, Parthian, and Greek, reads: That is the picture of the Hormizd-worshipping Majesty Ardashir, whose origin is of the gods. (Ginolerhino 2002 / CC BY-SA 3.0)

The Zoroastrian Yasna Texts and Ceremonies: Hearth, Ash, Water

The “ Yasna” is the Avestan title of Zoroastrianism’s principal act of worship and the phrase additionally represents the first liturgical assortment of Avesta texts, that are recited throughout yasna ceremonies. This non secular doctrine states “Clear, white ash for the purification ceremonies [is] considered the premise of formality life.”

Moreover, the rites performed at hearth temples have been designed round “the tending of a home hearth, for the temple [fire] is that of the fireplace hearth raised to a brand new solemnity.”

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Getting private, the Yasna states that the “one who sacrifices unto hearth with gas in his hand …, is given happiness.” Subsequently, we will conclude that the ritualistic goings on at this historical web site in all probability culminated with a dampening of the flames and a way of getting cleansed the previous and ready the long run, for bringing happiness into one’s life.

All this mentioned, don’t you be pondering for as second that historical temples are secular to Iran, as archaeologists have found 177 completely different hearth temples all over the world. In every occasion, the magical orange ghostly factor, hearth, was related to purification rituals and the approaching of future mild, universally throughout the Sasanian Empire, and personally inside the hearts of the person hearth worshippers.

Prime picture: Altar within the Zoroastrian Chak-Chak hearth temple within the mountains close to Yazd, Iran.                    Supply: Konstantin / Adobe Inventory

By Ashley Cowie