Saqqakhanehs in Sangalaj Neighborhood of Tehran (Case Study of Abbas Ali Karbalai Saqqakhaneh)

Subject Areas : Archaeology

Samira Nourian ¹ , Hayedeh Khamseh ² , Mohammad Reza Saeedi Harsini ³

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Received: 2024-08-22 Accepted : 2024-12-09 Published : 2025-09-25

Keywords: Saqqakhaneh, Tehran, Sanglaj Neighborhood, Karbalaee Abbasali Saqaqhana,

Abstract :

Saqqakhaneh which is a non-profit building of the Islamic era, which were built in accordance with religious beliefs and values ​​in public streets to quench the thirst and remind the event of the Karbala desert. In most Iranian cities, Saqqakhanehs play a significant role and should be considered a "socio-religious phenomenon" rooted in the ancient Iranian culture of the sanctity of water and is intertwined with Shia beliefs about the Karbala incident. The first Saqqakhanehs in Iran were built during the Safavid era when Shia became the official religion. Oldest Saqqakhaneh belongs to this period. Historically, Saqqakhanehs were an important part of urban spaces, usually constructed in crowded areas like mosques or as standalone buildings in alleys and markets. Today, there are over 290 Saqqakhanehs in Tehran, though only a few remain. Sangalaj neighborhood is one of the neighborhoods of the Tehran Municipality, which has a part of the historical body of this city during the Safavid and Nasrid eras, and it was the most important neighborhood of old Tehran after Auladjan and Bazar neighborhoods. This study examines the sacred elements of water and fire in Saqqakhanehs, the factors that influenced their formation, architectural features, functions, and customs. By analyzing some of Sanglaj's old Saqqakhanehs, particularly the Karbalaee Abbasali Saqqakhaneh, one of the oldest from the Qajar period, we aim to uncover architectural features and historical mysteries. This study utilizes descriptive-analytical methods, library research, and field studies to explore existing documents and research.

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