<< Our Photo Pages >> Anahita Temple - Ancient Temple in Iran
Submitted by DrewParsons on Sunday, 23 May 2010 Page Views: 7258
Multi-periodSite Name: Anahita TempleCountry: Iran
NOTE: This site is 26.107 km away from the location you searched for.
Type: Ancient Temple
Nearest Town: Kermanshah Nearest Village: Kangavar
Latitude: 34.501140N Longitude: 47.959000E
Condition:
5 | Perfect |
4 | Almost Perfect |
3 | Reasonable but with some damage |
2 | Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site |
1 | Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks |
0 | No data. |
-1 | Completely destroyed |
5 | Superb |
4 | Good |
3 | Ordinary |
2 | Not Good |
1 | Awful |
0 | No data. |
5 | Can be driven to, probably with disabled access |
4 | Short walk on a footpath |
3 | Requiring a bit more of a walk |
2 | A long walk |
1 | In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find |
0 | No data. |
5 | co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates |
4 | co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map |
3 | co-ordinates scaled from a bad map |
2 | co-ordinates of the nearest village |
1 | co-ordinates of the nearest town |
0 | no data |
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The proposed date for the construction of the Anahita Temple is circa 200 BCE, thus placing it as the oldest surviving stone structure from the Parthian dynasty (248BCE - 224CE) in Iran-proper.
The platform covers 4,600 sq.m, constructed over a mound 32-meters high, and is claimed to have been a temple dedicated to the Zoroastrian deity ‘Aredvi Sura Anahita’ (Arədvī Sūrā Anāhitā), venerated as the divinity of 'the Waters' (Aban), associated with fertility, healing, purity and wisdom.
The remains at Kangavar reveal an edifice that is Hellenistic in character and yet displays distinctly Iranian architectural traits. The platform’s enormous dimensions and its megalithic foundations, corroborated by the two lateral stairways that ascend the platform echo and recalling Achaemenid traditions, particularly mimicking that of the Apadana Palace at Persepolis.
Since its construction, the ancient structure underwent numerous major reconstruction periods continuing into 19th century, and until detailed further excavations are to be carried out, no definite judgments may be declared on its function. Recent (2010) construction work at the site further hinders this.
This is unfortunate since there are a variety of theories concerning the origins and purpose of this site. As well as the Partian attribution, a 1981 report has supporters who see the site not as a temple but as a late Sassanian palace placing it towards the end of the Sassanid era of 224 AD to 636 AD. A third viewpoint holds that it was constructed and added to at various times during the Achaemenid period placing it in the era of 550 BC to 331BC. There is another location credited as being the site of Anahita Temple and that is at Bishapur 150 kilometres west of Shiraz.
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