Anahita Temple

Anahita Temple, the second glorious stone building after Persepolis in Iran, has been constructed on a natural hill by using the platform method. Anahita in ancient Persian rituals was the Goddess of Water, guardian angel of fountains and rain and also a symbol of fertility, love and friendship.

The construction of the temple has been attributed to three Achaemenid, Parthian and Sassanid era. Some theories linked the structure to an unfinished palace of Khosrow II in the late Sassanid era.

The plan of this building is foursquare, and each side is like a platform which, constructed in dry stone method (construction materials arranged over on or next to each other in the regular basis without the use of mortar) by use of rubble masonry and plaster and the exterior facade decorated with carved stones.

The entrances of building are embedded in two-way stairways in the southern part and also a one-way stairway which give access to the building in the northeastern part.

Series of parallel columns form an area around the temple and inside the temple. The great outdoor area, as well, is enclosed by stone columns.

The ratio of the height of columns to their diameter is three to one which differentiates Anahita temple from all the temples across the world.

Stone ditches have adjusted the river water and conducted it magnificently to the center pond of the temple. Also, this type of water stream in the temple is one of the engineering wonders of that era.