Temple of Anahita

Several temples dedicated to the goddess Anahita can be visited in Iran, the two principal ones are located at Kangavar, and Kazerun on the site of the antique quoted Sassanide of Bishapour.

The temple of Anahita with Kangavar

It is the greatest architectural whole of Iran dedicated to the worship of the goddess. Located on a chysteuse height halfway of Hamadan and Kermanshah, overhanging the plain of Kangavar, the temple of Anahita was set up on a site of 4.6 hectare. Following the example other Persian monumental constructions like Persépolis, the temple is built on an elevated platform.

The Greek geographer Isidore de Charax mentions for the first faith the temple of Anahita with Kangavar like " temple of artémis" in Ier century after JC. Between 9th and XIVe century, Arab geographers and historians visit the temple and consign their observations: Muhammad de Tus, Abou Doulaf, and Yaqout Al-Hamawi. In 1840 French Eugene Flandin, and Pascal Coste visits and studies the site, provide a detailed description of it, noting in particular its extent on a square surface of 200 X 200 Mr. In 1968 an Iranian archaeological team undertake excavations, and extends the perimeter of the temple on a rectangular zone of 230 out of 210 Mr. the culminating point of the site is with the north-eastern angle, with height of 32m. Other excavations reveal the existence of external pillars of which the approximate height was of 35,4 m along the western walls, is, and southern. It will be necessary to await new excavations in 1995, to release the northern wall completely. A monumental staircase of 1,48m top and resembling that of Persepolis is on the southern frontage, represented the main entrance of the temple. 26 steps were preserved by it measuring 41,5 broad, 12 cm in height, and 32cm of depth. However, other staircases on the North-eastern section of the wall east suggest the existence of other entries. The central part of the temple shelters a wall well preserved being 94 m long, and 9m top, running of the frontage is with the western frontage of the temple. A channel was discovered with the northern part, having been able to be used with abduction as water for ritual ends.

The stones used for the construction of the temple come from several of careers, known in the past being located at Chehel Maran, Soltanababad, and Helal-e Ahmar. But of new careers having been used for construction of the temple were updated in 2005 in the national garden of Kangavar, in Qureh-Jin, Shahrak-e Vali-e Asr, and Allah-Daneh. A first size was carried out on the spot, then, the blocks were conveyed for the site of the temple where they underwent a last finer size as well as a polishing.

The origins of the site go back to the period Parthian, as attest some multiple tombs, parts of pottery and worked stones on the spot found. The majority of the tombs are on the slope Is, and are subdivided in 3 groups. The first date of the Parthian period between -100 and +100, the bodies are placed there on the back in pits cut in the rock, head turned towards the temple, and sometimes left hand placed on the chest, possibly as a sign of respect. Certain of these burials contained coins struck under the reigns of Phraatès Ier or Orode III placed under the head of the late one. The tombs of the 2nd group are later, dating from Ier century after JC. The bodies are placed there in ceramics sarcophagi inserted in rock and covered cavities of terra cotta flagstones or hones lime. The faces of late are also turned towards the temple. The tombs of the last group take the shape of earthenware jars also deposited in rock cavities, covered by stone slabs, the late one also making vis-a-vis the temple. The temple continued to be used for the period Sassanide, as the traces of restorations of many parts of the temple attest some carrying the signature of the techniques in force at this period. Traces of occupation continues Seldjoukides, Safavides, Qadjar are and of passage of wandering tribes were also found, attesting of a quasi continuous occupation lasting these periods.

The temple of Anahita with Kazerun

Located in the antique quoted Sassanide of Bishapour, at 12km of Kazerun, province of Fars, Iran, the temple of Anahita is remarkably preserved.

The temple is on a level lower than the palate; one reaches it by a covered staircase of a barrel vault preserved very well. It is built according to the typical Iranian plan: a square part whose each wall is bored doors opening each one on a corridor. The walls are filled with rubble, covers of broad stones finely polished maintained by steel cramps. They reached approximately 15 Mr.

The central part is entirely occupied by a basin dry aujourdhuis, which was supplied by a complex network of channels still in the state, according to the corridor. floods entering and outgoing of the temple, ansi that the level of repletion of the basin were regulated by the insertion of panels which one can still see the ruts located at each door.

Water came from the river Shapur rud , was brought to the temple by an aqueduct, its circulation was facilitated by the declivity, the temple being under the level of the ground.

The roof was not a cupola (it is thus not a chahar taq); it flat, was maintained by beams resting on 4 Protome S of bulls, another recall of Persépolis, laid out per pairs facing. The protomes on the principal frontage, are turned towards outside; two of them in place, another, are still preserved better, is visible with some m of the temple.

The network of drains and the basin seem to indicate that a worship of water took place in this temple. However in a nearby Islamic building was found a furnace bridge of fire made up of a base, a low column and a square table, which one can also put forth the assumption that it comes from the temple,

Random links: