STUDYING THE ARCHITECTURE OF KERMAN'S ZOROASTRIAN CRYPTS WITH A LOOK AT THE BURIAL RITUAL

Lohari, Soodeh; Mehrafarin, Reza; Fathi, Hanie

doi:10.22034/jsbs.2024.421772.1052

STUDYING THE ARCHITECTURE OF KERMAN'S ZOROASTRIAN CRYPTS WITH A LOOK AT THE BURIAL RITUAL

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

Soodeh Lohari ¹

Reza Mehrafarin ²

Hanie Fathi ¹

¹ Department of Archaeology, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.

² Professor, Department of Archaeology, University of Mazanderan, Babolsar, Iran.

10.22034/jsbs.2024.421772.1052

Abstract

According to the teachings of Zoroastrianism, to prevent contamination of the four sacred elements, the dead should be placed in the open air or under sunlight. This was Zoroastrians' most common ritual method related to the deceased during the Islamic era. The deceased was placed in an open circular space on the mountaintop for the birds to eat them. This research aims to identify, introduce, and examine such buildings' uses and architectural structures. These buildings have been described and analyzed using field surveys, documentary studies, plans, maps, and images. The results show that the Zoroastrian crypts of Kerman have special features compared to other crypts in different parts of Iran. The ancient beliefs of the people of the south of Iran were also used in the construction of these crypts. According to these beliefs, the Khorfastaran, or demonic animals come from the north (Apakhtar). For this reason, the doors of the crypts were opened towards the midday (south) or the morning (west). Here, the location of two crypts with two architectural styles, Indian and Iranian, next to each other is interesting. The path to the crypt from inside the Gabr district of Kerman (the oldest Zoroastrian settlement in the city) is still visible and its stations are available. In addition, in Kerman, crypts are located both in the highlands and in the plains. The use of crypts existed among the Zoroastrians of Kerman until ninety years ago, when, with the efforts of Lord Kaykhosrow Shahrokh, crypt burial was transformed into burial.

Keywords

Crypt

Death

Kerman

Architecture

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