• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

April 24, 2021 The first phase of the project to renovate the historical castle of Barkooh Village, Sarbisheh, South Khorasan Province, has been launched, said head 5 of the city’s Cultural Heritage Department Hadi Haqpanah, chtn.ir reported. greetingiran.com Hegmataneh Museum Iranica Desk he Hegmataneh Hill is one of the largest archeological mounds in Iran, located in Hamedan Province, western Iran. T Built in the 8th century BCE, Hegmataneh, also known as Ecbatana, which means ‘the place for conven- tion’, was designated the capital of the Median Empire, IRIB News reported. The construction of Hegmataneh is attributed to Deioces, the founder and the first king of the Median Dynasty. Various structures were built in the city during the Achaemenid Empire as the city was also picked as the summer capital of the Persian Empire. Parts of the city, which is stretched over some 40 hectares, have been unearthed through multiple excavation seasons. Different parts of the surrounding wall and a number of houses have been exposed throughout the years. Only five percent of the city has been uncovered through 22 seasons of archeological excavation in the area. The height of the remaining parts of the wall, which is nine meters in width, varies from eight to 12 meters in different areas. Huge towers were built along the wall all around the city. Some 300 pieces discovered in the ancient hill are kept in the Hegmataneh Museum, east of the mound. Pedestals belonging to the columns of the Achaemenid palaces, namely the plinths dating back to the era of Artaxerxes II, the 10th king of the Achaemenid Dynasty, are on display. Two stone and glass stumps from the pre-Islam era, as well as a bull’s head pottery are among the objects in the museum. On average, 10,000 tourists per year visited the museum before the coronavirus pandemic. iranwatching.com Hegmataneh Hill Badgir, an ancient Iranian engineering feat Knife-making most famous handicraft that harnessed the wind of Zanajn Province Iran has a rich and varied architectural history dating back to Since much of Iran is desert, Iranian cities and towns were con- over 3,000 years, and the remains of Iranian architectural monu- fronted with the challenge of dealing with water shortages, high ments can be found from Syria to India and China. levels of heat, and at times strong winds. Iranian architecture makes use of a great variety of techniques Given the limited resources available to builders in these and ornamental elements. towns, building materials consisted mainly of mud and its deriva- As in any architecture, geographical, religious, political, tech- tives. nological, and natural factors determine the quality and quantity of architecture, surfiran.com reported. Many of the diverse architectural de- signs and structures in Iranian lands re- sulted from the availability of suitable nat- ural resources and consideration of factors such as climate. The landscape itself is a source of both constraint and freedom. The Iranian kavir (desert) imposed enormous limitations on the structural designs and the kind of buildings Iranian architects could pro- duce. However, the challenge of working itto.org with the vast tracts of desert land has of- fered Iranian architects the chance to be Knife-making is one of the old- knives is iron. The handle was The knife makers of Zanjan creative with both their designs and re- est and most famous handicrafts made from materials such as elk Province usually carve their name sponses to societal needs. of Zanajn Province, northwestern horns, sea shells, wood, fiber or into the blade. Gems, jewelry, fil- Another important variable shaping ar- Iran. ivory. In the past inlay was applied igree, pieces of sea shells and ivo- chitectural characteristics is the technologi- Today, we know very little of its to the handle too, but today this is ry are some of the ornaments they cal knowledge and skills available in the re- history. However, according to the done using simpler techniques. add to their creations. From small gion. Some good examples of responses to surfiran.com historical documents and travel The most important tools used decorative knives that are used as these technological and environmental chal- The photo shows Borujerdi House in Kashan, Isfahan Province, with two tall windcatchers notes we can conclude that from by the cutlers are hammers, sledge- key chains to large swords, a wide lenges are the Iranian badgirs (windcatcher which cool the andaruni (courtyard) of the house. the 17th century, Zanjan was a city hammers, scissors and kilns. To range of products are made in the where knives, swords and daggers make a knife, first the master heats workshops. Mud and mortar excavated from construction sites are often were produced immensely and a lot the iron in the kiln. After it reaches The handle provides a chance used for buildings, thus creating a modicum of self-sufficiency. of knife-making workshops were the proper degree, it is forged into for the artistry of their makers Baked or unbaked bricks and mud effectively resist the incessant established, visitiran.ir reported. knife, sword, and dagger blades by who try to add to their beauty rays of the sun in the hot summer months. and uniqueness as much as pos- During the cold season, little heat is used for warming the inte- sible. Characteristics such as high riors because hardened, unbaked brick walls act as good insula- sharpness of blade and very good tion. Buildings are often constructed with tall walls, arched roofs, grip are some of the traits of Zan- water reservoirs with arched domes, and air traps or wind catch- jan knives. ers. Residential structures often are positioned at a specific angle Based on appearance and num- to collect maximum heat and allow for winds to bring cooler air ber of pieces, these knives can be into the structure. divided into two groups of simple The badgir was an architectural innovation to capture cool air and complex. The simple knives in a desert environment. These towers were set at a specific height themselves are subdivided into: on the roof of a building to capture a breeze and transfer it under- 1. Knives with handle from ground within the structure in order to bring cool air into large goat or cow horn that have a sin- rooms and halls in the hot days of the season. gle blade that is attached to the Badgirs served as ventilators using wind energy to operate. handle by two nails, and have no They were placed on a part of the structure where they could col- spring lect maximum air flow. Ducts were located at the four corners to 2. Switchblades that have many capture the wind from any direction. kinds When capturing wind from one direction, ducts in the other 3. Knives for cutting fruit, three directions would be closed. Some badgirs had an arched itto.org which have a single blade, a roof that absorbed heat from the strong sunshine during the day handle and a spring, which are and radiated it back more quickly at night. In this way, badgirs But due to their design, cut, the impact of the hammer. Then he produced in many sizes. There surfiran.com worked as simple air conditioners in arid and dry regions. diversity and durability, Zanjan skillfully creates the handle using are also small pocket knives and A badgir or windcatcher used in traditional architecture in Iran In some houses, a water reservoir was built underground, and knives have been the most suc- materials like horns or ivory and ‘ghalamtarash’, a special kind of the air from the badgir was routed to it to cool the water in the cessful of these crafts. The most attaches it to the blade. Finally the knife that is used to cut calligra- towers), qanats (underground water channels), and ab-anbars (water reservoir. The impact from the airflow would also stir the water important material for Zanjan blade is grinded and chrome plated. phy pens. reservoirs). and prevent stagnation..

Load more

  1

Copy Link