TEHRAN--Anahita Temple of Bishapour in Fars province has minimal decorations, but the type of architecture used for the place of worship and water transfer is amazing.

According to Mehr news agency, the Anahita Temple was built by order of Sassanid King Shapur I. The building, which was registered as a national monument in 1931, was also included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2018.

This temple was built for easier transfer of water to the central courtyard of the temple , the water circulation system, and the place of prayer.

Anahita Temple is a symbol of a water temple. That is, the only element of the four elements that is attributed to the goddess Venus. The animal symbol of this goddess is in the form of a cow, which is located around the temple, symmetrically. This temple is unique not only in terms of architecture, but also in terms of observing the water regulation, distribution and control systems.

Anahita is the goddess of water. Iranians highly respected the four elements of water, wind, earth and fire, and water was one of those elements. In order to build this temple, they came six meters below the ground level, close to the mother well and the river level, so that the water could be transported through the river.

This temple was underground until the third level of the building, which was brought out by the team of the late archaeologist Ali-Akbar Sarafraz. Many architectural wonders can be seen in this historical monument, including the type of arrangement of stones on top of each other, the water transfer system, and the creation of a temple six meters below the ground level. Also, all the principles of four-aisle and two-aisle mosques can be inspired from here, which have worked in a cross and symmetrical manner.

In fact, Anahita Temple is the most important monument of Bishapour complex. It is also the most intact Sassanid temple that has remained intact in all of Iran. But some people think that we had a temple that was also in Kangavar, while this is not the case and the temple of Bishapour is one of the most important temples.

KD