Zoroastrian crypt silence tower

best Zoroastrian crypts or silence tower of Yazd

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Remembrance of corpses in Zoroastrian crypt

The Zoroastrian crypt of Yazd or silence tower is a place where the Zoroastrians placed the bodies of the dead in these places based on the belief that the corpses were impure so that the flesh of these dead bodies could be eaten by predators and birds. According to Zoroastrians, burying a human corpus contaminated the sacred element of the soil.

In Zoroastrianism, mourning for the dead is forbidden. In ancient times, there was no building as a crypt, and corpus were placed only in remote places to be destroyed. The use of the term refers to a time when the Aryan tribes burned the corpus of the dead and the burial sites were called Crypt.

 With the advent of Zoroastrianism, the custom of burning the body became obsolete; But the crypt remained in place and was used to mean the location of the deceased or the burial place of the case.

The architecture of the caves

The Zoroastrian crypt of Yazd or silence tower is a circular area that is located 100 meters above the mountain and is far from the city. The walls around the Zoroastrian crypt of Yazd or silence tower were made of stone and cement, and a small iron door was installed for entry and exit. The crypts had special sections, each with a specific function. The various sections of the crypt included the crypt road, in stone or iron court, the crypt inscription, the male-female ring, the female-female ring, the child-ring of the child, and the master or coffin. Zoroastrian crypt of Yazd or silence tower were built so that carnivorous animals and birds could access the corpus with the passage of time and changes in the religion of Zoroaster, the function of the Crypt became more complicated, and from then on, the corpses of the dead were removed by light. The tombs were cylindrical towers made of stone so that they would not be made of soil.

 Most of them probably did not even have a door and went inside them with a ladder. Natural stone was found and the dead were tied to it, then vultures and carnivores ate and cleaned the dead body except for the bones. In the middle of this tower, there was a hole in which the surviving bones of ordinary people were thrown and the bones of the great and powerful were kept in “Ostudan” or “Asadaneh”.

Zoroastrian crypt of Yazd or silence tower road

Because the crypt was so far from where people lived, they had to use the road to reach it. Part of this road was used by the public to bring corpus for delivery; But from the bottom of the Zoroastrian crypt of Yazd or silence tower to the door, only the crypt officials were allowed to cross. Today, the road that has been used for transportation is a staircase so that people can easily go to the caves.

Inside the crypt

The inner surface of the tower consists of a flat, round space covered by large boulders. This section hypothetically consists of three circular strips, which are:

The male part or the male corpus ring in the end circle strip, which is larger than the other circles and attached to the wall around the crypt.

The female section or the female dead ring is in the middle circle bar after the male section.

The children’s section or the children’s dead circle in the inner circle bar, which is the closest part to the center of the Zoroastrian crypt of Yazd or silence tower.

A hole in the middle of a rocky ground

The inner surface of the Zoroastrian crypt of Yazd or silence tower has a slope from the wall to the center and in the middle of the crypt reaches a deep well with a moving rock called “ervis” at the bottom. This deep well was connected to the four deeper wells around the crypt, and one meter deep all the wells were filled with sand. The middle well of the crypt was covered with stone and cement so that germs and contamination would not spread outside when the bones were present and before the well was cleaned. The name of this tea means bone place.

The ritual of building a tomb

The construction of the Zoroastrian crypt of Yazd or silence tower also had a special ritual that had to be observed. Among these ceremonies, we can mention the tradition of hitting 4 large nails, 36 medium nails and 260 small nails on the ground. The builders wrapped a special cotton string around the nails and recited some special Zoroastrian prayers. After this stage, they had to sit in the middle of the crypt and read a certain zikr 300 times, with each zikr a small stone was thrown into the crypt until the number of stones reached 300. After performing these rituals, the crypt was built in this place.

last word

The cemetery of good and bad people. The cemetery that invited people away from memories. It was a place to transfer from this mortal world to the next world. This place, which has a special etiquette, is related to Zoroastrian religion, who believed that man is born from nature and returns to nature.

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yazd | Amir chakhmaq mosque

Jameh Mosque of Yazd

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Jameh Mosque of Yazd

 

Jameh Mosque of Yazd with a history of 900 years, is one of the most magnificent and beautiful historical buildings and sights of Yazd province, which is located in the center of the Yazd city with high minarets. Jameh Mosque of Yazd is a porch in the heart of the desert and has been built for about 1000 years and three periods. The main foundations of the mosque were laid on a fire temple during the Sassanid period, but after Islam in the patriarchal and Timurid period, it was completed as a mosque.

Jameh Mosque of Yazd is the oldest example of architecture in the ninth century AH in the architecture of the religious district of Yazd. The length of Yazd Grand Mosque is 104 meters and its width is 99 meters and it has seven entrances. These seven entrances are connected to several alleys and exit routes. In the past, the mosque was located in the middle of the old city, in the middle of the fence.

This building is famous for its sleeping dome, high and tall entrance, as well as beautiful and unique tiles. Jameh Mosque of Yazd is really a combination of three mosques that have been formed in different historical periods.

History

 

The original builder of this mosque was Ala Al-Dawlah Kalnjar, a descendant of Al-Buwayh and ruler of Yazd during the reign of the Seljuk king. His buildings have been destroyed. After him, Sayyid Rukn al-Din Nizam al-Husseini built the current Jameh Mosque with a luxurious building on a large plot of land on the side of the Qibla.

Rokn al-Din died while the building of the dome and porch was unfinished, and after him Ashraf al-Din Ali Yazdi, one of the famous Yazd in the Timurid period, completed the construction of the dome and porch according to the will of Seyyed Rokn al-Din. After this, during the reign of Amir Teymour, the dome and porch of the mosque were tiled.

The construction and completion of the Jameh Mosque of Yazd has been done during a century and in different historical periods, the most important of which are the patriarchal monarchy, Safavids, Timurid rule, Al-Muzaffar and Qajar rule. In fact, every part of this monument has been built and restored over time by several founders.

The construction and completion of the Jameh Mosque of Yazd has been done during a century and in different historical periods, the most important of which are the patriarchal monarchy, Safavids, Timurid rule, Al-Muzaffar and Qajar rule. In fact, every part of this monument has been built and restored over time by several founders.

Shia Islam symbols

The maps used in the decorations of the Jameh Mosque of Yazd are symbols that are somehow related to the beliefs of the Shiite religion; These paintings include sun and star motifs, chandelier motifs, altar-like motifs, chain plasters, and so on. The sun and the star make up the majority of the designs used in the mosque.

Star motifs in the interior of the mosque dome

Some of these geometric and Islamic motifs, such as the 72 full-headed suns at the entrance, the suns of the south porch and altar-like designs on the decorative columns of the dome entrance, are some of the landmark motifs used in the Jameh Mosque of Yazd, which is in another building. From this era and in this beauty and grandeur cannot be found.

These motifs in the Jameh Mosque show a kind of Shiite thought of its builders and founders, considering the establishment of a central Sunni government at the time of construction.

Entrance of Jameh Mosque of Yazd

Jameh mosque of Yazd is one of the most beautiful mosques of the Timurid period, which is one of the most beautiful architectural masterpieces of the ninth century AH in terms of tiling, high porch, minarets and inscriptions. The height of the minarets is 52 meters and although the main building of the mosque is attributed to before the Timurid period, but the current building according to existing inscriptions shows that it was built in the Timurid period.

 The inscriptions of the mosque are one in brick Kufic script and the other in white thirds script on azure tiles. In the text of Sardar inscription, the name of Shahrokh Teymouri and Sultan Jahanshah and the date 861 AH is mentioned.

This mosque is important for several reasons: First, it is the oldest example of architecture that has been imitated in the religious architecture of Yazd region during the ninth century AH; The design consists of a domed mausoleum and a long, elongated rectangular nave. The rectangular plan of the mosque is derived from the architectural pattern of the Kaaba. It has a completely sacred and sublime building in Islam and is used as a cosmic symbol in Muslim architectural patterns.

According to Master Pirnia, this dome has two shells, and the inner covering of the dome, which is formed in accordance with the spatial and executive requirements of the mosque’s interior architecture, creates conditions that are different from the outer covering, which is formed in accordance with the external requirements.

Another important feature of the building is the widespread use of national arches in the naves, which is accompanied by mosaic tiles. Another noteworthy point in the building of Jameh Mosque of Yazd is the issue of creating indirect lighting by reflecting light from the white plaster of the dome and walls. 

Also, the decorations inside and outside the dome, the exterior-interior view of the main porch and its beautiful altar, which is one of the important parts of the mosque, are extremely valuable and interesting. How the mosque was formed: These three finally became a single large mosque during the Qajar period.

 

last word

Jameh Mosque of Yazd is a meeting place for lovers to spend time with their constant companion. God welcomes you in his house to sit at the feet of your pain and heart and talk about love. For this peaceful rendezvous, in different cities and villages of Iran, prominent artists and architects gather to create a place full of love and beauty.

The combination of geometric motifs with Islamic motifs in the tiling decorations of the mosque is such that at first glance, it is not easy to distinguish between them.

Invite yourself to see the challenge of the blue color of the mosque among the blue color of the sky.

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Aghazadeh Historical House of Abarkooh in Yazd province

Aghazadeh Historical House of Abarkooh

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Alive history in Aghazadeh Historical House of Abarkooh

Aghazadeh Historical House: Some houses are abandoned, but they are still alive, and if you listen to their walls, you can hear the sound of joy and mourning, laughter and tears, anger and fights, the words and sayings of its former inhabitants, and find out their secrets. Aghazadeh Historical House in Abarkooh is one of the beautiful and historical complexes in Abarkooh city in Yazd province. This house has the most beautiful two-floors windbreaks-Towers in Iran, and this is one of the reasons why this house is so important. In 1157 AH, “Haj Hossein Abarqavi”, one of the rich people of the city, ordered the construction of this beautiful building.

Architecture of Aghazadeh Historical House

Clay, mud and bricks were used in the construction of Aghazadeh Historical House, because the use of these materials in the construction of buildings reduced construction costs and also balanced the ambient temperature.

In Aghazadeh Historical House, wood was used to make doors and windows, and gypsum mortar was used in plastering, and the combination of all these elements has made the house more beautiful. This house has two floors.

On the northwest side of the house is the entrance, which ends in a courtyard through a corridor. The rooms and other parts of the house are built in three directions of the yard. Thus, in different seasons when the sunlight is different, due to the hot and cold weather and the amount of light, one of these parts of the house was used.

The front door of the house is located in the western part of this house and leads to a corner of the yard through a corridor. The south room is built in the style of a cruciform plan and also has a five-door room and cooling devices (khishkhan). The east and west rooms of the house are also in the form of three doors and five doors.

Windbreaks of Aghazadeh’s historical house in Abarkooh

Yazdi windbreaker are larger and taller than other windbreakers and usually their structure was considered four-way or eight-way. The windbreaks of Aghazadeh Historical House are built above the main hall and have two floors. This beautiful windbreak is 18 meters high, 18 square meters in area and has 19 air flow control valves.

Pergola mansion in Aghazade historical house

In Aghazadeh Historical House in Abarkooh, there is a small mansion with beautiful decorations called a pergola, which dates back to the Qajar period. The architectural style of this building is a combination of Iranian and European architecture of that time. The pergola of Aghazadeh Historical House is located on the roof of the main hall, right next to the windbreak, and also forms the roof of the five main doors.

The architectural structure of the pergola mansion is eight feathers. In each side there is a window with colored glass and it is designed in such a way that it transmits the lightest to the main hall.

Basement with handcrafted architecture

There is a 400-year-old underground house in this historic house that has been dug by hand.

Last words

The delay of the Aghazadeh Historical House goes back to the Qajar period. This historical complex is built in a large area of 820 square meters.

A place with authenticity that speaks from the heart of history. This house is one of the most famous houses in Yazd, which beautifully shows all the styles of authentic Iranian art and architecture related to hot and dry regions.

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Windbreakers-Towers of Yazd

Windbreakers(Towers) of Yazd

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Windbreakers-Towers of Yazd

Windbreakers-Towers of Yazd are one of the symbols of Iranian architecture that are currently being built on houses in some parts of the Middle East. Windbreakers-Towers of Yazd are tall mansions built to ventilate and cool a house on its roof. Windbreaks are also built on top of reservoirs and openings for ventilation.

These mansions are the basic type of cooling systems today that cool the air in homes. Cool air was transferred to the rooms as well as parts under the ground through these wind deflectors. It is not clear exactly where the first Windbreakers-Towers of Yazd was built, but this structure represents Iranian civilization.

Windbreakers-Towers of Yazd are made in different shapes in the central and southern cities of Iran, each of which is designed and implemented according to the desired height and wind direction. The first Windbreakers-Towers were seen in Yazd and Kerman.

The great Windbreakers-Towers of Kerman’s Grand Bazaar, the windbreak of Dolatabad-Yazd Garden, the left windbreak of Sirjan and the windbreaks of Bandar Abbas, Bandar Lengeh, Qeshm and Sistan are among the most spectacular windbreaks in Iran.

Windbreakers-Towers consist of parts:

Column:

The column is actually a part of the windshield body that is located between the windshield opening and the roof of the building. Columns are usually in the form of cubes, rectangular cubes or prisms.

Blades:

are brick and brick elements that divide the interior of the windshield, especially the windshield column, into several small channels.

Mouthpiece:

The mouthpiece or ventilator is the upper part of the windshield which is the passage of air flow.

Roof:

Includes the highest and final part of a wind deflector.

Wind deflectors come in several shapes based on their appearance:

Rectangular-square-hexagonal-octagonal-circular

Rectangular:

A large part of the facade surface is in the direction of the desired wind and is often used in areas where the desired wind direction from northeast to southwest in summer.

Square-hexagonal-octagonal:

Used for areas where the desired wind direction is varied.

Materials used in the construction of wind deflectors:

 Windbreaks have been specific to hot, dry, hot and humid areas. In hot, dry, hot and humid areas, the buildings are generally made of brick.

How Windbreakers-Towers work

When the wind blows, air enters the windshield column through the openings. The air pressure is reduced by a thin wall in the middle of the windshield column so that air does not escape from other openings.

For better performance of Windbreakers-Towers and in very hot areas, they used mats or thorn bushes that were placed right on the opening and water was poured on it. It got cooler and wetter as the air passed through the mouth

Wind deflectors have wooden valves that have been used in winter to close the wind inlet to the wind deflector.

General types of wind deflectors

One-way Windbreakers-Towers:

It is the simplest and most economical type of Windbreakers-Towers. In this type of windbreak, the desired wind has an entrance path from only one direction. Another appearance of this type of wind deflectors is their low height compared to other types.

Two-way windshield:

This windshield is known as a twin windshield due to its small size. This type of windshield is more accurate than one-way windshield wipers. And it is mostly used in reservoirs.

Three-way wind deflector:

Its structure is such that the larger direction of the wind deflector towards the wind was desirable and it had more openings for air entry. If the wind was blowing from the other side, there was a possibility of favorable air entering from the other two sides of the Windbreakers-Towers.

Four-way windshield:

The windshield is larger than other windshields and is also more complex, however it is the most beautiful type of windshield. Four-way wind deflectors are made from four directions due to the favorable wind. And over time, the figures have increased from four to six and eight, and even one has been seen in a circular shape.

Left wind deflector:

In this type of wind deflector, the outer cubic space has been changed and knee-shaped pipes have been used instead.

Two-story windshield:

To build these windshields, they usually first built a large four-way windshield with all the details; Then in the middle of it, another windbreak was built one or two meters or more in height from the first windbreak. The two wind deflectors were completely independent of each other, and if one was damaged, the work of the other would not be disrupted.

Iran has a rich and varied architectural history going back over 3,000 years, and the remains of Iranian architectural monuments can be found from Syria to India and China. Iranian architecture makes uses of a great variety of techniques such as stone carving, stucco and plasterwork, tile and brickwork, mirror and glasswork, and other ornamental elements. As in any architecture, geographical, religious, political, technological, and natural factors determine the quality and quantity of architecture.

As Iranian architecture has greatly influenced its neighboring countries, windmills can be found throughout the Middle East as well as North Africa and as far as India. Iran’s wind catchers stand as a reminder of how ancient civilizations have adapted to the region’s harsh desert environment. (Tower-

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