Typology of Chahartaqi Buildings in Ilam Province

Subject Areas : Archaeology

Fariba Saghari ¹ , Bita Sodaei ² , Leila Khosravi ³ , Maryam Kolbadinejad ⁴

1 - Ph.D Students in Archaeology, Department of Archaeology, Humanities of Sciences, Central tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University,Tehran, Iran
2 - Department of Archaeology,Faculty of Humanities,Islamic Azad University of Varamin-Pishva Branch,Tehran, Iran
3 - Department of Archaeology of Iranian Center for Archaeological Research (ICAR), Tehran, Iran
4 - Department of Archaeology, Humanities of Sciences, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Received: 2024-06-24 Accepted : 2024-08-05 Published : 2024-08-29

Keywords: Ilam, Chahartaqi, Typology, Dadgah Fire, Adoran Fire,

Abstract :

One of the most important archaeological remains from the Sassanid period is the famous structures called Chahartaqi, which are related to religious beliefs and are considered part of religious architecture. The recognition of these buildings regarding the sacred fires erected in them is faced with ambiguities. Ilam Province is located in the western part of central Zagros, which has attracted the attention of archaeologists due to its proximity to Mesopotamia during the Sassanid period. Investigations carried out in various sites in this province indicate the existence of many fire temples and Chahartaqi structures, some of which have been introduced and some remain unknown. This research aims to introduce typologies of the fire temples and Chahartaqi buildings in Ilam Province to recognize the architectural style and pattern and their relationship with the sacred fires based on Zoroastrian religious texts. This research has used the documentary method with a descriptive-analytical approach. The results show that the Chahartaqi buildings in Ilam Province are divided into simple and compound Chahartaqi in terms of architectural pattern. Simple Chahartaqi consists of a square plan, four thick piers, four wide openings, and a domed roof, which, according to Zoroastrian religious books, belong to the Atesh Dadgah. Compound Chahartaqi consists of a square plan, a protected corridor for the fire, and corridors around the building that lead to the surrounding spaces, which were used for the residence of Mobeds and the maintenance of auxiliary equipment related to the fire temple

References:

Alibeigi, S., 2011, Does the uncovered Gucci object from the Cham nemshat area has a sign of a asanian-era fireplace? Archaeological studies of the Modares. No,8 (4), pp.196-202
Azad, M, 2016, Dictionary of religious buildings before Islam in Iran، First edition, Tehran: Shahid Bahshti University.
Boyce, M., 1968b. On the Sacred Fires of the Zoroastrians. Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies. Vol 31. No 1. pp: 52-68.
Boyce, M., 1975. A history of Zoroastrianism, the early period. In A history of zoroastrianism, the early period. Brill.
Boyce, M 1975,” On the Zorasterian Temple Cult of Fire”, JAOS95, 464-465
Boyce, M., 1977. A Persian Stronghold of Zoroastrianism: Based on the Ratanbai Katrak Lectures, 1975. Oxford at the Clarendon Press.
Boyce, M., 1979. Zoroastrians: Their Religious Beliefs and Practices. Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd. London.
Boyd, J., Kotwal, F., 1983. Worship in a Zoroastrian Fire Temple "the H. B. Wadia Ātaš Bahrām". Indo-Iranian Journal. Vol 26. No 4. pp: 293-318.
Boyce, M., 2001. Zoroastrians: Their religious beliefs and practices. Psychology Press.
Boyce, M. and Grenet, F., 2015. A History of Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrianism under Macedonian and Roman Rule (Vol. 8). Brill.
Boyce, M., 2017. Zoroastrianism. A new handbook of living religions, pp.236-260.
Choksy, J. K. 2006. Altars, Precincts, and Temples: Medieval and Modern Zoroastrian Praxis. Iran. Vol 44. pp: 327-346.
Duchesne-Guillemin, J., 1986. The History of Ancient Iran. German
Huff, D. 1975. Sasanian Čahar Taqs in Fars. in Firuz Bagherzadeh (ed.). Proceedings of the 3rd Annual Symposium on Archaeological Research in Iran 1974. Iranian Center of Archaeological Research. Tehran.
Godard, A., 1938, “Les monuments du feu”, Athar Iran, 12
Kaim., B., 2004., “Ancient Fire Temples in the light of the Discovery at Mele-Hairam”, in: Iranica Antiqua, vol.XXXIX.pp.323-337.
Khosravi, Sh, Reshno, A., 2013, Emergency exploration of the area of the round leopard in Islamabad, Kermanshah. Collection of short articles of the twelfth annual meeting of Iranian archaeology, 29 to 31 March. The village of Cyrus and Mehran Gholami. Tehran: Institute of cultural heritage and tourism. pp.177-179.
Mohammadifar, Y., Motarjem, A. 2012. 'Julian; A new fire temple from Sassanid era in Abdanan', The Monthly Scientific Journal of Bagh-e Nazar, 8(19).
Moradi, Y. 2009. 'Chahār Tāqi of Mileh Milegeh, A Fire-temple from the Sassanian Era', Journal of Archaeological Studies, 1(1), pp. 155-183.
Mole, M., 1997, Ancient Iran. Paris
Modi, J. J. 1922. The Religious Ceremonies and Customs of the Parsees. British India Press, Mazagon, Bombay.
Naumam.,R.1965, Takht-i Sukeiman und Zenan-I Sukiman, Vortaufiger beruchtuber die, Ausgrabungen in den Jahre 1963 und 1964, AA 1965, pp 621-623.
Namjoo. A., 2013, Chartaqi buildings of Iran with emphasis on Islamic texts of the third to ninth centuries., first edition. Tehran: the organization of the University jihad publications.
Nourallahi, A., 2005, Report of the third chapter of the Archaeological Survey of the city of Ivan, the archives of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and tourism of the province of Ilam.
Nourallahi, A., 2006, Report of the third chapter of the Archaeological Survey of the city of Shirvan and Cheravdel, the archives of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and tourism of the province of Ilam.
Nourallahi, A, 2022, Archaeological Survey of the fireplaces of Colm, the valge of Badra Islam section in central Zagros, ancient Iranian Studies, Year 1, No. 1: 135-173
PourDavoud, E., 2002. Yasna. Tehran
PourDavoud, E., 2002. Bondhshen.Tehran
PourDavoud, E., 2003, Notes from the Gaths.Tehran
PourDavoud, E, 2006, Gaths. Tehran
Saadati, M., 2019, Archaeological study of the Ghome May Chartaqi, dehran, scientific quarterly specialized in archaeology, third year, No.11-pp 1-17
Sarikhani, M., Sharifinia, A. Ghanbari, N.,2013. '', Glory of Art (Jelve-y Honar) Alzahra Scientific Quarterly Journal, 4(2), pp. 21-28. doi: 10.22051/jjh.2014.28
Seid Moradi, Z., 2009, Chapter Six Archaeological Survey and Identification of the city of dehloran central section archives of Cultural Heritage Handicrafts and tourism of the province of Ilam
Stark, M.F, 1984, Travelogue of the Alamot, Lourestan and Ilam, Translated by Ali Muhammad Saki, Tehran, scientific publications
Stein, A., 1940, Old routes oe western Iran: Narrative of an archaeological journey carried out and recorded, Macmillan and Co, London.
Tafazoli, A., 1999. History of Iranian literature before Islam.
Tafazolo, A.,1983., Minoye Kherad. Tehran
Vandaee, M., M. J Jafari. 2012. Siāh-Kal: A Newly Discovered Chahar Taq in Zarneh of the Ilam Province. Sasanika Archaeology 9.
Vanden Berghe, L., 1977,” Les Chahartaqs du Pusht Kuh”,Iranica Antiqua, 12. 175-77.
Zaehner, R.C., 1961. The dawn and twilight of Zoroastrianism. History of religion.