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Where to find the ice in summer
Ice dump in Kerman is a conical structure made out of straw and clay which covers a big hemisphere reservoir dug in the ground.
It was a place for preserving the ice.
Where to find the ice in summer?
Ice house is a conical structure made out of straw and clay which covers a big hemisphere reservoir dug in the ground. we find it usually in iran in desert cities as well as Kerman and Yazd. It was a place for preserving the ice. There are some big shallow ponds and high walls near the ice dump to make the ice on winter nights. Every night water was poured into the pond and at night it turned into ice. The ice was taken into the reservoir and a stash of straw was placed between the layers to isolate it. The reason that they made the structure like a cone is because of preventing the heat from entering the ice dump. After filling up the Ice dump, they keep it close until summer and after that, they brought the ice to the city to sell it; in the ceremonies, they use the ice for making the syrup and cold water for the guests, a real refreshing beverage.
Pigeon tower, a source of fertilizer
Pigeon tower was used as a safe house and shelter for the pigeons but this wasn’t the only function.
They were built around the farms to collect their droppings as fertilizer!
Pigeon tower, a source of fertilizer
Pigeon tower was used as a safe house and shelter for the pigeons but this wasn’t the only function. They were built around the farms to collect their droppings as fertilizer! Every 6 month the farmers collected the dropping and used them in their farms or even they sold it. Today we know that these droppings are rich in Nitrogen, a critical element for cucurbits such as melons. No surprise that melons of Isfahan have had a reputation since 1000 years ago.
The structure includes a central cylinder which is surrounded by several smaller cylinders; all are made of brick and plaster. There are thousands of nests on the internal surface of the cylinders.
The only entrance to the tower was a set of holes on the top, just as big as a pigeon, to prevent the birds of prey from entering the tower. There is also a white stripe around the external surface of the tower which is slippery for snakes.
Pigeon towers are only found in Isfahan province and some of these organic fertilizer factories are reconstructed for the people and tourists to visit.
Water pipe, the pleasure of inhaling
Qelyan, Chicha, Hookah, Narguilé, Water pipe, this is what is called this traditional tobacco smoking apparatus found in West Asia and North Africa.
It comes in various shapes and materials, but it works almost everywhere the same: tobacco is placed on hot charcoal, …
Water pipe, the pleasure of inhaling
Qelyan, Chicha, Hookah, Narguilé, Water pipe, this is what is called this traditional tobacco smoking apparatus found in West Asia and North Africa. It comes in various shapes and materials, but it works almost everywhere the same: tobacco is placed on hot charcoal, either directly or through aluminum foil, and the smoke is drawn in through a removable pipe connected to the device.
This smoke produced during aspiration passes through the bottle containing water which acts as a cooler and filter. The peculiar and funny noise of Qelyan is due to the boiling of the liquid, caused when the smoker is smokes.
There are two types of tobacco: one is traditional with natural dried leaves from plantations, the other is more popular among young people who consume it flavored with various flavors such as apple, mint, peach, lemon and still full. other tastes.
You can have fun smoking a hookah by mixing different tastes in tea houses on a much needed break.
“Who is knogckin at the door?”
Knockers are not only decorative accessories hung on heavy wooden doors, they have a special cultural connotation.
Women inside houses had to wear the hijab in the presence of people outside the close family members knocking on the door.
“Who is knocking at the door?”
Knockers are not only decorative accessories hung on heavy wooden doors, they have a special cultural connotation. Women inside houses had to wear the hijab in the presence of people outside the close family members knocking on the door. There are two hammers on each door leaf, each having a different shape and a different tone. The circular one has a lower sound, indicates that a woman is standing in front of the door. The heavier, larger handle has a higher sound and tells us it is a man visiting the household.
The Royal treasury of Tehran
The Royal treasury, probably an unparalleled collection in the world is currently housed in the basement of the Iran Melli Bank.
The accumulation of this treasure dates back to the Safavid era in the 17th century. After the conquest of India by Nader Shah, …
The Royal treasury of Iran
The Royal treasury, probably an unparalleled collection in the world is currently housed in the basement of the Iran Melli Bank in Tehran. The accumulation of this treasure dates back to the Safavid era in the 17th century. After the conquest of India by Nader Shah, he brought back a great deal of precious stones including the two largest pink diamond in the world, sea of light and mount of light. The latter later possessed by british army and is now on the crown of the queen.
In the Qajar era, once again, Fath Ali shah took possession of it and the personal interest of the Qajar kings added quite a few new gems to it, which were partly bought and some counted among the diplomatic gifts.
In 1937 a law required that the treasury be transferred to the Melli (national) bank as the financial endowment of national currency.
The treasury has been prepared and opened to the public with very restricted visiting times.
Among the unique jewels, we can name
The crown of the Pahlavi Dynasty of 2080 grams, used by Reza and Mohammadreza Shah in their coronation ceremony. The famous diamond Daraye-Noor (sea of light) of 182 carats in pink color.
The Kiani crown, belonged to Fath Ali shah and other Qajar kings, set with a 120 carat garnet.
The jeweled globe, made in 1869 by the order of Nasserdin-shah was made basically with 3656 grams of gold with 51366 precious stones mounted on it.
The peacock throne (in Persian named Tawouss, beloved of Fath Ali Shah) dating from the beginning of the 19th century.
Note the visiting hours are from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Open Saturday through Tuesday under strict control.
National Museum of Iran
Iran-e-Bastan, Archaeological Museum,
The most important archaeological museum in Iran,
built in the 1930s under the supervision of André Godar, the French architect, …
Iran-e-Bastan, National Museum
The most important archaeological museum in Iran, built in the 1930s under the supervision of André Godar, the French architect, to welcome and house the findings from archaeological missions throughout Iran. The entrance was inspired by the magnificent arch of ctisphon palace.
The building has two floors. The first floor reserved for the Paleolithic & prehistoric periods and the ground floor, intended for
the historical periods. Totally the museum covers almost 400000 years time span.
pottery is most abundant item in the museum which also serves as an index in the archeological chronology.
Among the most remarkable showcases we can indicate the one which shows a collection of stamp seals (stamp, signifying the signatures in Antiquity)
and cylindrical seals (mainly used in commerce) and tokens, functioned as delivery note in ancient time
A display case features artifacts from Shahr-e-Soukhteh (the burnt city) that is a site in the southeastern region of Iran in the 3rd millennium B.C. One of the most exciting object is a goblet showing the oldest animated painting in the human history.
A very rich collection of bronze objects from louristan, shows objects of high artistic refinement such as horse bit, pins and funerary artifacts.
A large bas-relief brought from Persepolis showing Xerexes and other courtiers.
A headless statue of Darius from Susa and mosaics from Bishapour (Sassanid period) are other significant objects in the museum.
The location of the museum is in the vicinity of some other museums including Islamic period museum and glassware museum.
Zourkhaneh, traditional sport in iran
Zurkhane is an Iranian traditional sport which philosophy consists in mental and physical improvement.
The athletes not only build their body muscles, but also improve their morality and behaviour by performing ancestral movements.
Zourkhaneh, traditional sport in iran
Zourkhaneh is an Iranian traditional sport which philosophy consists in mental and physical improvement.
The athletes not only build their body muscles, but also improve their morality and behavior by performing ancestral movements.
The gentlemen gather in a small arena that is built slightly below street level to provide constant temperature. In the middle of the arena there is a round or octogonal sunken area named “Gowd”. The exercise starts with a warm up following the rythm of the Morshed, the master of ceremony who plays tombak and manage the training, singing traditional songs (mostly from Shanameh of Ferdowsi that is the epic of Iranian heroes and athletics). Then they start to play with some special instruments like wooden maces, shields, bows, which have been inspired from the antique weapons.
Some movements remind us the whirling Sufi dance.
The tradition dictates that the older athletes and If one is descendant of the Prophet of Islam (Seyed), have to be more respected, whatever their skills, experience or body condition. the ovation would turn to a salavat, the formula of praise and salutation to prophet Mohammad and his family.
It is said that the origin of this art goes back to the time that Iran was under Mongol domination, the persian warriors secretly trained to organize the insurrection against the invaders.
The entrance of the ceremonies are absolutely free for the spectators, but they can give money, collected in a vase for charities.
Vank Cathedral in Isfahan
Vank Cathedral,(congregational) the first and the main Armenian church in Isfahan was built in the middle of 17th century
and the differences of its plan to the classic ones has raised some legends and rumors, …
Vank Cathedral in Isfahan
Vank Cathedral,(congregational) the first and the main Armenian church in Isfahan was built in the middle of 17th century after the Armenian immigration forced by shah Abass who wanted to promote prosperity in his new capital, Isfahan.
Brick dome of church and some tiles working seem to be a derivation of Muslim mosques. The paintings are the combination of Byzantine style and Iranian miniature. This church is not in service any more and it is just used as a museum and for administrative matters. An ethnography museum near by shows the history of the Armenians since their arrival.
Wind Tower
Badgir or wind tower is a kind of tower constructed on top of the roof of the houses in Yazd and other cities in the desert to capture wind flow and to lead it to the room under for ventilation.
Do not worry about hot wind because a cool water basin under the tower would add some moisture to it and make it cooler.
wind tower
wind tower or Badgir is a kind of tower constructed on top of the roof of the houses in Yazd and other cities in the desert to capture wind flow and to lead it to the room under for ventilation.
Do not worry about hot wind because a cool water basin under the tower would add some moisture to it and make it cooler.
How does it work when the wind stops? very ingenious, Some cool weather of the last night is enough to make an
airflow at the day when it begins to get hot in the rooms.
