Chahartaq (architecture)
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Chartaq (Persian: چارطاق), chahartaq (چهارطاق), chartaqi (چارطاقی), or chahartaqi (چهارطاقی),[1] literally meaning "having four arches", is an architectural unit consisted of four barrel vaults and a dome.
History[]
Chartaqi was a prominent element in Iranian architecture, having various functions and used in both secular and religious contexts for 1,500 years, with the first instance apparently being developed in the Sasanian city of Gor (Firuzabad) in 210s AD by King Ardashir I. The biggest instance of chahartaq is that of the so-called Palace of Shapur I at Bishapur, also in Pars. Many pre-Islamic chahartaqs have survived, but they are usually just the sole surviving structure of a much bigger complex. The chahartaq structure was adopted in Islamic architecture.[2]
A related concept is čahārqāpū (چهارقاپو).[2]
, Arsacid period
Chahartaqi of the Zahhak Castle, Arsacid period
, Sassanian period
Chahartaq in Sarab, East Azerbaijan Province. Sassanian period
Ateshgah of Baku. Many pre-Islamic chartaqis were part of a fire temple
Bahram fire temple
Chartaqi of Karchan
Chahartaqi of Konarsiyah
Chartaq on top of the in Abyaneh
A chahartaq as a small mausoleum, with a grave inside, near Isfahan, 1840 drawing by Eugène Flandin
Tomb of Ahmed Sanjar
Sabil ablution fountain at Mosque of Ibn Tulun, Cairo, Egypt
One of the Barid Shahi tombs, India
"Kiosk-mosque" at Sultan Han caravanserai, Turkey (Seljuq period) (see also Tetrapylon)
Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, Yerevan, Armenia
Contemporary architecture[]
The main plan of the Azadi Tower in Tehran is said to be influences by the architecture of chartaqis.[3][4]
Azadi Tower
Scholars Pavilion (the Scholars Chartagi) in Vienna, a
chahartaqi with elements from the architecture of PersepolisA sample of modern Islamic architecture - The mosque of international conferences center - Isfahan
See also[]
References[]
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- ^ Also transliterated with gh instead of q.
- ^ a b Dietrich Huff, "ČAHĀRṬĀQ", Encyclopaedia Iranica, December 15, 1990
- ^ "بنیادفرهنگی هنری رودکی". Bonyadroudaki.com. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
- ^ "Freedom Tower, the gateway to Iranian civilization and art". Chidaneh.com. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
- Domes
- Architecture of Iran
- Sasanian architecture
- Islamic architectural elements
- Arches and vaults
- Iranian inventions