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The Functions of Gypsum Bases in Sasanid Fire Temples: a Different Proposal

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The Functions of Gypsum Bases in Sasanid Fire Temples: a Different Proposal IranicaAntiqua, vol. LIII, 2018 doi: 10.2143/IA.53.0.3285484 THE FUNCTIONS OF GYPSUM BASES IN SASANID FIRE TEMPLES: A DIFFERENT PROPOSAL BY Shokouh KHOSRAVI1, Sajjad ALIBAIGI1 and Mehdi RAHBAR2 (1 Department of Archaeology, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran; 2 ICHHTO, Tehran, Iran) Abstract: The valuable information obtained during the last decades and through excavations in three fire temples and Čāhār Taq in Shiyan, Mil-e Milegeh and Palang Gerd (Islam Abad region, W-Iran) can clarify several points regarding the ritual architecture of the Sasanid period in western Iran. A number of decorated plaster bases have been found during the excavations in the above-mentioned fire temples, as well as in other cases such as Cham-e Nemesht in Dareh Shahr (Ilam), which were situated on a T-shape platform and between two of the four piers of fire temples. Despite a few proposed interpretations regarding the possible func- tion of these piers, a new prospect can be considered by means of historical texts and archeological evidence. AbuReyhanAl-Birouni, in his book “AtārAl-baqiyah anAl-qurunAl-Xāliyah”, referred to an anecdote about Peroz I and mentioned an element known as “Donbeka” in the shape of a seat (throne) outside the Gonbad Khaneh (the space under the dome). The remains of this element are still recog- nizable in some Sasanid fire temples such as Palang Gerd, Shiyan and Mil-e Milegeh Čāhār Taq in Western Iran as multiple gypsum bases, as brick platforms in Mele Hairam (Turkmenistan) and Bandiyan (Khorassan) fire temples and as plaster platforms overlooking the central hearth fire of the monument in Tureng Tapeh (Gurgan) and Vigol (Isphahan) fire temples. Moreover, the motifs on silver plates from the Sasanid era depict a king sitting on a throne with bases similar to the discovered gypsum bases. Therefore, it is possible that a throne or a seat had been put on the T-shape platform and that the discovered bases are its remains; furthermore, the stone bases and the slab on top of the T-shape platform in Tomb-e Bot (Fars) strengthen these evidences and foster this proposition. Keywords: Fire Temple, Sasanid Period, Gypsum Bases, Throne, Sasanid metal vessels, Donbeka(Donbekahw). Introduction The results of the excavations in Shiyan, Mil-e Milegeh and Palang Gerd, three Sasanid fire temples and Čāhār Taqs, in western Iran (Map 1) 268 S. KHOSRAVI — S. ALIBAIGI — M. RAHBAR Map 1. The Location of the Fire Temples Pointed in the text (Courtesy of Francois Desset). have provided us with new insights and considerable evidence regarding Sasanid ritual architecture. The excavations in the mentioned sites located in Islam Abad County in Kermanshah province, led to the discovery of remains such as the base of a plaster hearth and Yazišen-gāh which con- firm the function of the structures as fire temples. All these three fire temples have a rectangular-shaped depression or a raised space in the central part, precisely under the dome, that is attached to a T-shaped plaster platform on one side. The remnants of these plaster bases are more visible in the Shiyan fire temple. There are three or four rows of plaster bases with leaf shaped decorations and a square cavity at the center, right at the top of the T-shape platform and perpendicular to the central square (based on the discoveries THE FUNCTIONS OF GYPSUM BASES IN SASANID FIRE TEMPLES 269 in Bandiyan, Mele Hairam, Vigol, Takht-e Sulaiman and Kuh-e Khajeh). The small square deepening at the center might have been the place to fix the main hearth of the fire temple. The function of these bases is not clear and has not yet been the subject of any precise interpretation but a few ideas were proposed; therefore, more studies and investigations in this regard are necessary in order to come up with a definite interpretation to recognize the functions of the unknown components of the fire temples and gradually move toward the analysis of the ritual ceremonies. The purpose of the present study is to suggest possible functions of these bases according to their lo cation, the motifs on a number of silver plates dating to the late Sasanid period and a few historical texts. Our main focus will be on the plaster bases in Shiyan and Palang Gerd fire temples and Mil-e Milegeh Čāhār Taq, while some evidence from other sites such as Bandiyan in Darreh Gaz, Meleh Hairam, Turang Tepe,Vigol and Takht-e Sulaimān will be also considered. Shiyan fire temple During the rescue excavations in the Shiyan dam basin (Islam Abad-e Gharb County) in 2005 an important fire temple was discovered (Rezvani 2005; 2006; Moradi 2009). This fire temple consists of a Čāhār Taq and a corridor on one side, a square, plaster deepening at the center and attached to a T-shape plaster platform in its northern side (Pl. 1). The remains of three gypsum bases, attached to each other, were discovered on top of this T-shaped platform as well as outside the Čāhār Taq, between the two northern piers and corridor; their surfaces are covered by simple carved leaf shaped decorations (Pl. 2 & 3). The bases are 60 cm wide and 180 cm long. Rezvani (2005: 29- 46) believes that they are fire holder bases. Palang Gerd fire temple The fire temple is located 30 km to the East of Islam Abad and was excavated by Shokouh Khosravi and Asghar Rashno in 2012 (Khosravi & Rashno 2012; 2014, Khosravi 2016). The building is relatively large, con- structed from irregular various-sized stones and gypsum mortar and plas- tered by the latter as well. It has a square plan, 17×17 m in size (Pl. 4 a & b) and consisted of four large piers holding the Čāhār Taq and encompassed by a corridor and two doorways in southern and eastern areas (Khosravi & 270 S. KHOSRAVI — S. ALIBAIGI — M. RAHBAR Rashno 2014). Two fire holder bases were discovered in the central part of the eastern portico, right in front of the eastern doorway, in the other in the southern part in the middle of the south portico. A sunken rectangular- shaped structure was also recovered in the center which is attached to a T-shaped platform with three bases on its northern side (Khosravi & Rashno 2014). The three bases are aligned with the exterior side of the Čāhār Taq under the dome, all three measuring 186×60 cm (Pl. 5 & 6) (Khosravi and Rashno 2012). Further excavations in the southern corridor of Palang Gerd fire temple led to the discovery of a single gypsum base which seems to have been relocated from its primary context as well as pieces of plaster plate which were probably the upper parts of the bases (Pl. 7). The authors suggest that the material, color, dimensions, decorations and a cavity at the center of this separated upper part are all indicating that this isolated piece must have been fixed on top of the base (Pl. 8). Although this piece is the only discovered sample of its kind, there must have been three hourglass shaped bases inside the building, if we consider this hypothesis. Mil-e Milegeh Čāhār Taq This monument is located in the southern highlands of western Islam Abad and was surveyed by Yousef Moradi in 2006 and excavated in 2010 (for more information see: Moradi 2009; personal correspondence with Yousef Moradi 2012). The structure seems like an isolated Čāhār Taq, con- structed with material common for building a Sasanid fire temple in western Iran. According to Moradi, Mil-e Milegeh had a central deepening in between the four piers with a T-shape platform alongside it (see Pl. 9). The remains of a gypsum base were found on top of the T-shaped platform with some broken fragments scattered all over the interior space (Moradi 2009). The bases, with a central cavity, are decorated with simple, leaf shaped decora- tions and similar to the Shiyan fire temple (Pl. 10). In fact, the row of plaster bases is both inside and outside the Čāhār Taq in all of the three cases. Proposed interpretations about the discovered plaster bases in fire temples As we have never discovered a complete piece on its original place so no one can offer a clear interpretation about their function. Rudolf Naumann has not discussed the function of the gypsum bases at Takht-e Sulaimān THE FUNCTIONS OF GYPSUM BASES IN SASANID FIRE TEMPLES 271 (Pl. 11 & 12) and only named them the “small plaster cones” with unknown functions (Naumann 1977: 66); but according to Huff, these cones, fixed on a plaster platform, “because of their similarity with the representations on the reverse of Sassanian coins, may be interpreted as fire altars” (Huff 2008: 4, fig. 5). Nosratollah Mo’tamedi believes that the plaster bases in the fire temple known as Qaleh Kohzād Vezenhānr1 (Seymareh Valley, Kouhdasht County- Luristan) are the pedestals which were constructed on the corners of the building (Mo’tamedi 1992: 11-13), while according to Rezvani, these plaster bases in the Shiyan fire temple are hearth’s bases (Rezvani 2005: 29, 49). However, Yousef Moradi has cautiously proposed three functions for these bases in the Shiyan fire temple and the Mil-e Milegeh Čāhār Taq and states that “despite the unclear shape of these bases, we can propose three different functions for them. First, another base was directly placed upside down on the underneath base and probably a metal vessel was fixed on top of them as a place for preserving the sacred fire. If this hypothesis holds true, similar to the discovered gypsum fire holder in Bandiyan fire temple and the plaster base found in Tapeh-B in the eastern cemetery of Kaka village in Gonbad-e Kawoos, these bases were function- ing as fire holder’s base (Adusht).
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