Ancient Persians have always been well-known for the ways they had treated water, supplied it, preserved it, harnessed it, transferred it, redirected it and distributed it. Water management in a geographical location where it cannot be found abundantly all year round is a challenge by itself. It represents the determination of a nation to survive and thrive.

There are different water-related structures and facilities that are still there in Iran for the Iranians as well as foreign travelers to visit and appreciate how mater has been managed for centuries in this country. I am going to introduce some of them here so that you can have a general picture about them.

Kariz (Qanat) Water Supplement System

In a different post about Kariz (Qanat), I’ve explained how interesting this system is. In principle, ancient Persians, who arrived in Iranian plateau after migrating from Caucasus mountains around 3000 years ago, settled in south and central Iran. These two areas are the places where we have most of such water management instances. Kariz is an underground aqueduct dug by shovel and spike through all sorts of soil and rocks to transfer water from high mountains located tens of kilometers away from the human settlements that have no easily accessible sources of water.

People did not leave their territories for discovering better living conditions. Instead, they invented this system using natural resources and laws to let water flow in man-made water channels in a smartly-devised gradient and run down the ducts for long distances to bring life to villages and towns. Up to this point, water has been transferred. Now, it’s time to harness the power of flowing water and preserve it.

Water Reservoirs in Human Settlements

A water reservoir with four wind catchers

A water reservoir with four wind catchers

 

Huge underground tanks were built and insulated using traditional cement called Saruj for keeping the water that had arrived in a village after a long journey. Such structures are called Ab Anbar in Farsi, meaning water storage. There are two openings, one inlet and one outlet, at two sides of such structures at slightly different elevations.

Water was filling these tanks from one side and leaving them on the other. So, there was always a constant flow of water. It was never still. That’s why it could always be kept fresh and drinkable. Besides, the other vernacular energy-saving invention of Persians, Badgir (wind catcher), was implemented in these water reservoirs. At least a couple of them were constructed at both sides of such tanks and a dome covered the top of the tanks.

Badgirs let the air blow in from one side and out from the other. So, water was always exposed to fresh air too. A piece of salt rock was also thrown into the water to make sure it keeps water clean. Some other openings were worked out to have the light in as well. I’ve explained these structures at vernacular structures of Iran. You can read it to learn more about them.

Traditional Ice Houses of Iran

An Ice House with its wall casting shade on northern side in winter

An Ice House with its wall casting shade on northern side in winter

People loved to have something icy cold in the hot summer time. Although central Iran and eastern part of it was not so arid at the time when people started devising such systems for water management in ancient Persia, very warm climate demanded having some ice and icy refreshment to make and consume in  summer time.

Desert nights were quite cold and water could freeze. This is exactly what people needed to make ice out of water in ditches or pools next to a wall adjacent to a large mud-and-brick dome covering a huge storage underneath. Every night ice was made and the next day the wall cast shade when the ice needed to be preserved in a cool place. The ice made as such could be kept in such structures until the end of summer due to the efficient insulation system planned for ice-houses.

Multi-Functional Solid Bridges

33-arch bridge in Esfehan from 16th century reviving the ancient styles

33-arch bridge in Esfehan from 16th century reviving the ancient styles

The oldest remnants of bridges trace back to Sassanian period, 3rd to 7th centuries. They are so strongly built that are still partially standing despite all the forcefully flooding events slapping them for centuries. Most of these bridges have been constructed on very powerful rivers at the south west of Iran. The main material contributing to the solidity of these structures was Saruj, the same traditional cement I referred to above.

There were arches built on top of the Saruj-made foundations with flat roofs on the very top of all the structure. These flat surfaces were connecting ancient roads on one side of the river to the other. The empty spaces between arches and below flat tops created enclosed areas as shelters or shady spots, which could sometimes function to let more raised water to go through and help the entire structure resist against the current.

Stone, rubble, pebble and bricks were glued to one another using Saruj. Once hardened, this locally crafted mixture turned into a hard rock-solid cliff-like wall making its presence felt in the powerful stream of water. Thank to this technique ancient Persians have invented to construct bridges in Iran, we can now view and study another aspect of water management in ancient Persia.

Water Dams in Large Rivers of Iran

What’s left from those ancient water dams indicate the rigidity of the structures they could make and install in those big rivers of Iran blocking the water and using this source of life for agriculture by redirecting them into the farming fields. The same local constructional materials referred to earlier were made use of for building such structures.

Basically, the purpose beyond building some of the bridges in Iran had been to make it possible for the caravans and people cross those rivers while it had been planned to raise the level of water for other purposes like irrigation.

In some cases, even before Sassanians, Persians had redirected part of the water in large rivers to transfer it to agricultural fields by making some water channels. In Shushtar, where you can see several such water management examples, Nahr-e-Dariun is a witness to such skillful  planning.

Water Mills to Harness the Power of Water

Water Mills at Shushtar built in Sassanian period for producing flour

Water Mills at Shushtar built in Sassanian period for producing flour

 

 

Shushtar and Dezful are two great examples of how proficiently people had brought the flowing water under control to use them for operating the mills either in the course of water inside rivers or inside the chambers dug into rocks. Such forceful streams of water could operate the mills for grinding wheat or other grains farmers produced.

In Shushtar, a water dam had been built to redirect the course of water from Karun river into a huge lime rock. Several tunnels had been carved into this rock to lead the water coming from a man-made river into them to turn the turbines and operate the mills.

Are these methods useless today? Are these structures obsolete? Are we so advanced in 21st century to say good-bye to them? You can visit Iran and go to these sites to explore the realities on the ground and learn about the fascinating passion for life in this country.

 

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3000-Year-Old Glazed Bricks Discovered in Iran’s Sardasht
Archaeological excavations in the Rabat hill of the northwestern city of Sardasht of Iran led to the discovery of glazed bricks from the time of the Mannaean, 8th century BC.

Here is the translation of a report from the Department of Public Relations of the Research Institute of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Crafts and Tourism Organization (ICHO):

Reza Heidari, the head of the fifth season of archaeological excavations in Rabat hill, said that his team has excavated old pottery, architectural remnants and glazed bricks in the site.

Heidari added that the bricks are decorated with geometric, mythological, and human motifs that represent a relationship between neo-Assyrian empire and art and religion.

“Among the ancient objects found on the site are the glazed bricks, the names of the pagan gods of Bel and Nebo and Mannaean kings are inscribed in Assyrian cuneiform,” said Heidari, noting that the excavations in Sardasht Rabat hill started in 2005.

The Mannaeans were ancient people who lived in today’s northwestern Iran, south of the lake Urmia, around the 10th to 7th century BC. Lived. At that time they were neighbors of the empires of Assyria and Urartu, as well as other small buffer states between the two, such as Musasir and Zikirti.

In the Bible (Jeremiah 51:27) the Mannians are called Minni. In the Jewish Encyclopedia (1906), Minni is identified with Armenia.

 

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Mesmerizing Mosque Ceilings That Highlight The Wonders Of Islamic Architecture

Architectural history in Iran, back to more than 7500 years ago.In Iranian building the ceiling has an important role specially the Islamic monuments which has religious function.
In mosques , the ceiling is a corridor to closing the sky,thus it has been an important part of mosques and was always regarded br architects.

Mosques in Iran are known for some of the most exquisite architectural designs found around the world.

Since it packs so many incredible eye candies in any place of worship, we have decided to devote a place completely to mosque ceilings. Here are pictures of some of the most incredible mosques found in Iran, and elsewhere around the world. Prepare yourself!

Mesmerizing Mosque Ceilings That Highlight The Wonders Of Islamic Architecture Fatima Masumeh Shrine Qom Iran.jpg
Mesmerizing Mosque Ceilings That Highlight The Wonders Of Islamic Architecture  Fatima Masumeh Shrine Qom
Mesmerizing Mosque Ceilings That Highlight The Wonders Of Islamic Architecture Alighapoo Palace
The most magnificent palaces of 17th century is located. The Ali Qapu palace is well-known palace all over Iran. The first part of palace was built in 1597. It was used as a residential palace. Shah Abbas the great, ordered to construct the palace on the site of palace and garden from the Timurid time.
Mesmerizing Mosque Ceilings That Highlight The Wonders Of Islamic Architecture Amin ol Doleh Timche Kashan.jpg
The Bazaar of Kashan is an old bazaar in the center of the city of Kashan, Iran. It is thought to have been built in the Seljuk era with renovations during the Safavid period.The bazaar has a famous architecture, especially at its Timche-ye Amin od-Dowleh section, where a grand light well was built in the 19th century.
Mesmerizing Mosque Ceilings That Highlight The Wonders Of Islamic Architecture Chehel sotoon Palace
The palace of Chehel Sotun (palace of 40 pillars) is located in a vast beautiful garden. The original garden was larger than now. The present garden is 60000 square meters.The first part of palace was built during Shah Abbas the great period. The beautiful frontal porch and the mirror ornamented Eivan were built during Shah Abbas the second era.
Mesmerizing Mosque Ceilings That Highlight The Wonders Of Islamic Architecture Dowlat Abad Garden
The Dowlatabad Garden located in Yazd, central Iran, is a Persian architecture jewels.The Garden is an authentic Iranian garden that annually attracts thousands of domestic and foreign tourists.This is a complex built according to the original Iranian architectural style and consists of a large garden and some buildings.
Mesmerizing Mosque Ceilings That Highlight The Wonders Of Islamic Architecture Golestan Palace Tehran
Golestan Palace is the oldest of the historic monuments in Tehran, a world heritage,the Golestan Palace (also Gulistan Palace) (The Rose Garden Palace) belongs to a group of royal buildings that were once enclosed within the mud-thatched walls of Tehran’s Historic Arg (citadel).
Mesmerizing Mosque Ceilings That Highlight The Wonders Of Islamic Architecture Imam mosque Isfahan.
Imam Mosque built during the Safavids period, it is an excellent example of Islamic architecture of Iran, and regarded as the masterpiece of Persian Architecture. The Imam Mosque of Esfahan is one of the everlasting masterpieces of architecture in Iran and all over the world. It is registered along with the Naghsh-i Jahan Square as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Mesmerizing Mosque Ceilings That Highlight The Wonders Of Islamic Architecture Nsir ol molk mosque
This mosque is situated at the end of the Lotfali Khan-e-Zand Street. Nasirol Molk who was one of the elite of Shiraz, is the founder of this mosque. This mosque is unique for its tile work and architecture. The construction work of mosque began in 1293 AH. and was finally terminated in 1305 AH., by Mohammad Hassan Me’mar and Mohammad Reza Kashi Paz Shirazi .
Mesmerizing Mosque Ceilings That Highlight The Wonders Of Islamic Architecture Sheikh Lotfolah mosque
Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque is one of the architectural masterpieces of Safavid Iranian architecture, standing on the eastern side of Naghsh-i Jahan Square, Isfahan, Iran.Construction of the mosque started in 1615 and was finished in 1618. It was built by Shah Abbas I of the Safavid dynasty. The builing functioned as a prayer hall and lecture hall.
Mesmerizing Mosque Ceilings That Highlight The Wonders Of Islamic Architecture Tabatabai House Kashan
Tabatabai House,This house was constructed in 1881. It originally comprised two separate buildings, elaborately integrated into a single structure. The most important sections of the house are located along its southern wing. This side is marked by a graceful veranda.
Mesmerizing Mosque Ceilings That Highlight The Wonders Of Islamic Architecture Vank Church
Holy Savior Cathedral also known as Vank Cathedral and The Church of the Saintly Sisters, is the most visited cathedral in Isfahan, Iran. Vank means “cathedral” in the Armenian language. Among the churches built in the Jolfa District of Isfahan, the magnificent and architecturally significant “Vank” Cathedral is the most famous.
Mesmerizing Mosque Ceilings That Highlight The Wonders Of Islamic Architecture seyed Mosque Isfahan
Seyyed mosque is the biggest and the most famous mosque from the Qajar era in Isfahan. It was founded by Seyyed Mohammad Bagher Shafti, one of the most famous clergymen in Isfahan. It was founded in the middle of the 19th century, but its tiling lasted until the end of the century.

 

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