Chartaqi of Niasar: Home Page / Calendric Structure of Niasar / Power Point Version: 1.3 MB / PDF Version: 980 KB
By: Reza Moradi Ghiasabadi
Name: Čārtāqi Niāsar (Squared-Base Arcs).
Location: Niasar, West of Kashan, Isfahan Province, Iran (250 km from south of Tehran).
Age: ~2000 years.
Latitude: 33˚ ۵۸٫۲۸′ N (±۰٫۰۱′).
Longitude: 51˚ ۰۸٫۵۳′ E (±۰٫۰۱′).
Altitude: 1,760 meters.
Altitude of the surrounding plain: 380 meters.
Orientation of its plan: 11˚ from true north (±۰٫۵˚), eastward.
Floor area measure: 142 m2.
Height: 10.50 m.
Length and Width: 11.90 m (±۲ cm).
Chartaqi of Niasar located near the city of Kashan (Fig. 1.1) and was constructed during the late Parthian or early Sassanid Dynasties′ eras. Its plan is square in shap.
Fig. 1.1
Map of Falling rain
This Chartaqi is one of the greatest and the oldest ones in Iran, which remained intact for over 2000 years.
It is like a quadrangle with sides that are 11.9 m (Fig. 1.2; Plan 1).
Fig. 1.2
Chartaqi of Niasar
For the construction of this monument, ancient Persian (Iranian) architects used residual rocks, which contain holes, and as the result are light and resilient to weathering and especially earthquake, which is why this monument is still standing in this earthquake prone region of Iran after 2000 years.
Plat 1
All sides of this Chartaqi like the other existing Chartaqis are open with no door or window (Fig. 1.3).
Fig. 1.3
Chartaqi of Niasar
Chartaqi of Niasar is unique from architectural aspect, in that its’ quadrangle plan matches with circle cupola place in the centre very accurately.
In the year 2000, the author proposed a theory about the function of Chartaqi of Niasar, as a calendar monument that works with sunlight. In summer and winter solstice the sunrays enter the monument from different angles, which determines the time of the year.
Observe:
Plat 2
There are, however, some theories that state that in ancient times Zorvanists used this place for their religious practices. Near this Chartaqi, there is a shrine and holy tree (plantain) and also a fountain that makes it some what a holy place. Also near Chartaqi, there is a modern observatory. Today Niasar is place for people who like astronomy in Iran.
Every year Chartaqi of Niasar hosts a large number of Iranians that gather to cherish their ancestral way of life and to mark the observance of sunrise in summer and winter solstice (Fig. 3.1, 3.2).
Plat 3
Two lines for summer solstice at sunrise
Fig. 2.1
Astronomical alignment SS 1
Photography time: Five minutes after sunrise
Fig. 2.2
Astronomical alignment SS 2
Photography time: Five minutes after sunrise
Plat 4
Fig. 2.3
Astronomical alignment WS
Mountain height on the horizon: 2˚
Photography time: Two minutes after sunrise
Fig. 2.4
Astronomical alignment WS
Mountain height on the horizon: 2˚
Photography time: Two minutes after sunrise
Plat 5
Fig. 2.5
Astronomical alignment ST
Mountain height on the horizon: 9˚
Photography time: Ten minutes before sunset
Plat 6
Two lines for winter solstice at sunset
Fig. 2.6
Astronomical alignment WT
Mountain height on the horizon: 7˚
Photography time: Two minutes before sunset
Fig. 3.1
Fig. 3.2
Fig. 3.3For further details, refer to Čārtāqihā-ye Iran (Persain Squared-Base Arcs), Tehran, 2010, (Published in Persian), by the author of this article.
_____The Circle of Ancient Iranian Studies
صفحه اصلی و راهنمای مطالب موجود در باره چارتاقی نیاسرЧартаки из Ниясар: Календарь структура Ниясар / ППС версия: ۱٫۳ МБ / ПДФ версия: ۴٫۳ МБ / Главная страница
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