Kangavar Anahita Temple

Kangavar Anahita Temple is one of the buildings related to pre-Islamic historical periods in Iran, about which various archaeological researches have been done so far.

The historical site of Kangavar is one of the most important historical sites in Kermanshah province. It was registered in the list of national monuments of Iran on September 15, 1941, under the name of the ancient Parthian ruin with the number of 31. The history, architecture and use of the Anahita Kangavar Temple has been one of the most controversial topics in this historical monument, about which many experts and researchers have offered different theories. In various historical texts, travelogues, books and scientific articles, many statements have been made about the construction of the Anahita Kangavar Temple, each of which is very important in its own way. Greek geographer Isidorus Characenus mentions this place as the Temple of Artemis in his book Parties stations. According to this book, most scholars called this temple the temple of Anahita, the Persian goddess of water equivalent to Artemis, who is the Greek water goddess. The use of the sacred element of water in a magnificent and engineered form reinforces this theory.

History of Anahita Kangavar Temple

As mentioned, there are different views on the history of Kangavar Anahita Temple. Researchers and archaeologists do not agree on the original date of construction of the Anahita Temple. However, with the progress of the excavation operation in Kangavar hill, evidence from various historical periods has been obtained, which shows that the construction of this temple has been done during different historical periods. Different views on the history of the building from about 200 BC, the Seleucid, Parthian and Achaemenid period. According to Saifullah Kabakhsh Fard, this temple has been established for a thousand years from the fifth and fourth centuries BC until the end of the Sassanid period. During their reign, Sassanid kings used this temple to propagate the ideals and rituals of the time. However, the role of this building is more significant in the Parthian period, and in the Sassanid period, according to the Parthian context, this sacred building was used for religious fire ceremonies. With the arrival of Islam in Iran, there was a religious conflict with Zoroastrian beliefs, and as a result, the Anahita Temple lost its status and remained intact for about 140 years, but over time, and especially from the third century AH, there were changes in its body. One of these changes is the use of its materials as the foundation of the Islamic building of this Kangavar hill. Remains of half-finished stone fragments indicate that at the time of the arrival of Islam, Anahita Temple in Kangavar was abandoned incompletely. It should be noted that in the meantime, Dr. Azarnoush also introduces the construction of the Anahita Kangavar Temple as the unfinished palace of Khosro Parviz at the end of the Sassanid period.

Architecture of Kangavar Anahita Temple

Regarding the architecture of Kangavar Anahita Temple, Kangavar Cultural Heritage Office has provided explanations in 2004. This building is built on a natural hill with a maximum height of about 32 meters relative to the surrounding land. The plan of Anahita Kangavar temple is quadrangular and has dimensions of 209 × 224 meters. Each side of this structure is in the form of a wall with a thickness of about 18 meters, on which a row of thick columns is placed. The materials used in the construction of these walls are stone pieces and gypsum mortar. The exterior is also covered with pieces of cut stone, which are in the form of dry porcelain. The columns in this place, unlike the Apadana of Darius and Pasargadae, are simple and unadorned and can be studied from both architectural and sculptural aspects. In the center of the building, a platform with a length of 94 meters and a width of about 9 and a half meters with an east-west direction has been built, which is between 3 and 5 meters high. This platform is made of large stone pieces with at least one of its surfaces being smooth. The facade of the mentioned platform is covered with gypsum mortar, and in some of the lower levels of the wall, there is no sign of gypsum left. A two-sided staircase with a length of 154 meters has been created on the south side of the building. The number of stair stones in the eastern stairs is 26 steps and in the western stairs is 21 steps. But given the estimated height of the wall, of which only part remains now. Certainly, the number of stairs were more than this. There are corridors on the four sides of Anahita Temple, at the bottom of which water streams flow back and forth in the middle of the temple. On the upper two sides of the Anahita Temple, the heads of four cows are facing each other on each side, during the watering of this temple, the photo of cows' heads are engraved on the water.

Demolition of Kangavar Anahita Temple

Regarding the destruction of Kangavar Anahita Temple and the damage done to this ancient structure, it should be noted that this temple has been seriously damaged over several periods. These damages can be classified into two general groups, natural and human. Successive rains in Kangavar area on a temple with no roof, as well as the occurrence of two earthquakes approximately one hundred years apart in the 11th and 12th centuries AD, have severely destroyed it. On the other hand, fire and improper use of the building and its materials in recent centuries has caused many changes and alterations in the building, which is one of the largest stone collections in pre-Islamic Iran. Other factors influencing the destruction of this structure include incomplete drainage and generally little knowledge in building construction. Incomplete drainage of the building has caused the infiltration of running water in it. Due to the infiltration of these waters and also the passage of time and weathering of mortars, the strength and adhesion of building components has decreased and the outer wall has been severely damaged. However, according to the remains of the Kangavar Anahita Temple in Kermanshah province, its greatness can be well understood. To visit this magnificent work, you can join the tourist tours of Persiantrips group.

 

 

Tags: Kermanshah Province, Kermanshah Attractions, Anahita Kangavar Temple, Architecture of Kangavar Anahita Temple

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