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.CAIS NEWS©

ARCHAEOLOGICAL & CULTURAL NEWS OF THE IRANIAN WORLD

 

Chartaqi of Niasar Hosts the "Birth of Mithra" Celebration

 

03 December 2006

 

 
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 2005 Annual Gathering of "Sun Birth" at Niasar along with Dr Ghiasabadi (Click to enlarge)

Every year the Chartaqi of Niasar hosts a large number of Iranians, that gather there to cherish their ancestral way of life and to mark the observance of the Sun's Birth on Summer and Winter Solstice. Chartaqi of Niasar located near the city of Kashan and constructed during the late Parthian or early Sassanian dynastic eras.
 
"This Chartaqi (čārtāgī) is one of the greatest and the oldest in Iran-proper that has remained intact for over 2000 years. It's plan is like a quadrangle but actually is trapezoid with sides that are almost 12m", according to the website of Dr Reza Moradi Ghiasabadi, Iranian archaeologist and historian. 
 
For the construction of this monument the ancient Iranian architects used volcanic rocks, which contain holes within, and as the result they are lightweight and resilient to weather and earthquakes, which is why after 2000 years in this earthquake region of Iran this monument is still standing. All sides of this Chartaqi like the other Chartaqis are open with no doors or windows.
 
In year 2000, Reza Moradi Ghiasabadi has forwarded a theory about the function of Chartaqi of Niasar, as a calendrical monument that works with sunlight. According to him, in each season the sunrays protruding from different angles; and with them we can say the time of the year. The accuracy of this Chartaqi has made it unique in the world.
 
Chartaqi of Niasar also from an architectural aspect is unique, in its' quadrangle plan with circle cupola place in the centre very accurately.

There are some theories that claim in the ancient times Zurvanists were using this place for their religious practices, but something for sure that this place was connected to the ancient Iranian religion of Mithraism during the Parthian dynasty (248 BCE-224 CE), and possibly it was used as a fire temple during the Sasanian dynasty (224-651 CE).
 
The next gathering will be on Friday 22nd December 2006 at 06:00 local time.
 

 

 

Extracted From/Source: Ghiasabadi.com

Please note the above-news is NOT a "copy & paste" version from the mentioned-source. The news/article above has been modified with the following interventions by CAIS: Spelling corrections; -Rectification and correction of the historical facts and data; - Providing additional historical information within the text; -Removing any unnecessary, irrelevant & repetitive information.

     All these measures have been taken in order to ensure that the published news provided by CAIS is coherent, transparent, accurate and suitable for academics and cultural enthusiasts who visit the CAIS website.

 
 

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