Isfahan

[RedWine]

Isfahan or Eşfahān (historically also rendered as Ispahan, Old Persian Aspadana, Middle Persian Spahān, Persian: اصفهان‎ ​), located about 340 km south of Tehran, is the capital of Isfahan Province and Iran (Persia)'s third largest city (after Tehran and Mashhad). Its population in 2000 was 2,040,000.

Isfahan has been designated by UNESCO as a world heritage city. It contains a wide variety of Islamic architectural sites ranging from the 11th century to the 19th.

The fame of Isfahan was such that the jazz musician Duke Ellington wrote a song with this name.

The city is geographically located at 32°38′N 51°29′E, in the lush Zayandeh Rud plain, at the foothills of the Zagros mountain range. The city enjoys a temperate climate and regular seasons. No obstacle exists as far as 90 km north of Isfahan and cool northern winds blow from this direction. Isfahan is located on the main north-south and east-west routes crossing Iran. It is situated at 1590 meters above sea level. It receives an average of 355 mm of rain per year, making it similar to Denver, Colorado in terms of altitude and precipitation. The temperature ranges between 2 and 28 degrees Celsius. The record high temperature was 42 degrees Celsius and the record low was −19 degrees Celsius.

The southern and western approaches of Isfahan are mountainous and it is bordered northward and eastward by fertile plains. Thus, Isfahan's climate is varied and occasionally rainy, with a precipitation average varying between 100 and 150 mm.

Isfahan was once one of the largest cities in the world. It flourished from 1050 to 1722, particularly in the 16th century under the Safavid dynasty, when it was the capital of Persia. Even today, the city retains much of its past glory. It is famous for its Islamic architecture, with many beautiful boulevards, covered bridges, palaces, mosques, and minarets. This led to the proverb Esfahān nesf-e jahān ast: "Esfahan is half of the world".

Of all Iranian cities, Isfahan is perhaps the most popular for tourists.

[RedWine]

History of Isfahan can be traced back to the Palaeolithic period. In recent Archaeological discoveries, archaeologist have found artifacts, dated back to Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, bronze and Iron ages.

Ancient Isfahan was part of the Elamite empire. Under the name of Aspandana it became one of the principal towns of the Median dynasty, when Iranian Medes settled there. Subsequently the province became part of the Achaemenid Empire and after the liberation of Iran from Macedonian occupation by the Arsacids, it became part of Parthian Empire. Isfahan was the centre and capital city of a large province, which was administered by Arsacid governors. In the Sassanid era, Isfahan was governed by "Espoohrans" or the members of seven noble Iranian families who had important royal positions, and served as the residence of these noble families as well. Moreover, in this period Isfahan was a military centre with strong fortifications. This city was occupied by Arabs after the final defeat of Iranians.

Isfahan, like other cities of Iran, fell under the rule of Arabs until the Abbasid era, only being attended to by Al-Mansur. In the 10th century, under the Buwayhid Dynasty, Isfahan regained its importance. In the reign of Malik Shah I of the Seljuk dyansty, Isfahan was again selected as capital and commenced another golden age. In this period, Isfahan was one of the most thriving and important cities of the world. The famous Persian philosopher Avicenna lived and taught there in the 11th century.

This city was raided and massacred by The Mongols in the 13th century, followed by Timur in 1387. However, as the result of its suitable geographic situation, Isfahan flourished again especially in Safavid dynasty, which developed considerably.

The Golden Age of Isfahan arrived in the 16th century under Shah Abbas the Great (1587-1629), who made it the new capital of the Safavid dynasty. During the reign of Shah Abbas I, who unified Persia, Isfahan reached its pinnacle of briskness. Isfahan had parks, libraries and mosques that amazed Europeans, who had not seen anything like this at home. The Persians called it Nesf-e-Jahan, half the world; meaning that to see it was to see half the world. In its heyday it was also one of the largest with a population of one million; 163 mosques, 48 religious schools, 1801 shops and 263 public baths.

In 1722, it was raided by the Afghans after a long siege, which left much of the city in ruins. Although the Afghans were a primary cause of Isfahan's decline, this can also be attributed to the development of maritime commerce by European merchants from such countries such as the Netherlands. Isfahan's wealth originated in its role as a chief waystation along the trans-Asia trade route, but trade dwindled as the cheaper sea routes increased in popularity for transporting commodities between Asia and Europe.

[RedWine]

The architecture of Isfahan is made up of eight traditional forms which taken together form the foundation in the same way that music was once based on a finite number of notes. These are modulated by the use of colors and textures to leaven the surfaces and are held together in an overall construction akin to that of a sonata in which connection leads to culmination through a transition space. To appreciate the skill of the architects and designers fully, it is necessary to have an appreciation of these fundamental concepts i.e. garden, platform, porch, gateway, dome, arched chamber, and minaret, although in the geometry and architecture of the buildings they are woven together to present a seamless whole. A full discussion of the underlying principles can be found in the paper entitled "The Alchemy of the Mosque", given to a joint meeting of the School of Architecture and the Islamic Society of the University of Manchester in 1997.

Squares and Streets
Naqsh-e Jahan Square also known as "Shah Square" or "Imam Square" - 1602.
Meydan Kohne (Old Square)
Shahshahan Square
Chaharbagh Boulevard - 1596.
Chaharbagh-e-khajou Boulevard
Palaces
Ali Qapu (The Royal Palace) - Early 17th Century.
Talar Ashraf (The Palace of Ashraf) - 1650.
Hasht-Behesht (The Palace of Eight Paradises) - 1669.
Chehel Sotoun (The Palace of Forty Columns) - 1647.
Madressa (religious schools)
Madreseye Sadr.
Madreseye Shah ("Imam Jafar Sadegh" after revolution).
Madreseye Khajoo.
Mosques
Shah Mosque (it is called "Imam Mosque" after Iran's Revolution)
Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque
Jame Mosque
Caravanserais
Shah Carvanserai
Bridges
Pol-e Shahrestan (The Shahrestan Bridge) - 11th Century.
Pol-e Khaju (Khaju Bridge) - 1650.
Si-o-Seh Pol (The Bridge of 33 Arches) - 1602.
Pol-e-Joui or Choobi (Joui bridge).
Churches and Cathedrals
Vank Cathedral - 17th century.
Kelisaye Maryam (Maryam Church).
Other sites
Atashgah - a Zoroastrian fire temple.
Buqe'h-ye Ibn-Sina (Avicenna's Dome) - 12th Century.
The Tombs of Nizam al-Mulk & Malek Shah - 12th & 18th Century.
Jolfa (The Armenian Quarter).
The Bathhouse of Sheikh Bahai.
Pigeon Towers - 17th Century.

[RedWine]

Rugs of Isfahan

Isfahan has long been one of the centers for production of the famous Persian Rug. Weaving in Isfahan flourished in the Safavid era. But when the Afghans invaded Iran, ending the Safavid dynasty, the craft also became stagnant.

Not until 1920s, between two world wars, was weaving again taken seriously by the people of Isfahan. They started to weave Safavid designs and once again became one of the most important nexus of the Iranian rug weaving industry. Isfahani carpets today are among the most wanted in world markets, having many customers in western countries.

Isfahani rugs and carpets usually have ivory backgrounds with blue, rose, and indigo motifs. Isfahani rugs and carpets often have very symmetrical and balanced designs. They usually have a single medallion that is surrounded with vines and palmettos. These rugs and carpets usually have excellent quality.

[RedWine]

Famous people from Isfahan
Artist
Mohammad-Ali Shirdarreh, famous photographer and artist
Politician or government related
Mohsen Nourbakhsh
Seyyed Yahya Rahim-Safavi
Ali-Akbar Ejei
Mohammad-Javad Ejei
Mahdi Ejei
Sepahbod Ahmad Amir-Ahmadi
Dr. Hossein Fatemi
Religious
Allameh Majlesi
Ayatollah Yusof Sanei
Ayatollah Sayyed Jalal-aldin Taheri
Ayatollah Akhond Kashi
Ayatollah Seyyes Abolhassan Isfahani
Ayatollah Rahim Arbab
Ayatollah Shamsabadi
Ayatollah Mohammad Beheshti
Sportsmen
Rahman Rezaei, famous soccer player in Messina, Italy
Saeb Tabrizi
Seyyed Mohamad Ali Jamalzadeh
Ahmad Miralaayee
Houshang Golshiri
Hatef Isfahani
Mirza Abbas Khan Sheida
Other
Jahangir Khan Ghashghaei
Ostad Jalaldin Homaei
Also, Isfahan is where Arthur Pope, famous American archaeologist and historian of Persian art and his wife Phyllis Ackerman are buried. Their tomb is near Khaju Bridge.

[RedWine]

Isfahan today

Uranium Conversion Facility (UCF), Isfahan. Here, uranium oxides, uranium hexafluoride, and other uranium compounds are produced. This fuel fabrication assembly is a vital part of Iran's nuclear fuel cycle.Today Isfahan, the third largest city in Iran, produces fine carpets, textiles, steel, and handicrafts. Isfahan also has nuclear experimental reactors as well as facilities for producing nuclear fuel (UCF). Isfahan has one of the largest steel producing facilities in the entire region, as well as facilities for producing special alloys.

At Isfahan uranium is converted into Uranium hexafluoride UF6, which in its gaseous form is spun at high speed in the centrifuges to extract the fissile isotope. Isfahan is Iran's only domestic source of UF6. According to IAEA Iran is building hardened bunkers under Isfahan to protect UF6 production. (telegraph.co.uk January 25, 2006 1145)

The cities of Najaf-abad, Khaneh Isfahan, Khomeini-shahr, Shahin-shahr, Zarrin-shahr, and Fulad-e Mobarakeh all constitute the metropolitan city of Isfahan. The city has an international airport and is in the final stages of constructing its first Metro line.

Over 2000 companies are working in the area using Isfahan's economic, cultural, and social potentials. Isfahan contains a major oil refinery and a large airforce base. HESA, Iran's most advanced aircraft manufacturing plant (where the AN-140 aircraft is made), is located nearby.

[RedWine]

Colleges and universities
Aside from the seminaries and religious schools, the major universities of the Isfahan metropolitan area are:

Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
Isfahan university of technology, Isfahan University of Technology ranks among the top 5 universities of Iran.
University of Isfahan
Isfahan University of Art
Isfahan University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences
Islamic Azad University of Isfahan
Islamic Azad University of Khomeinishahr
Islamic Azad University of Khorasegan
Islamic Azad University of Mobarakeh
Islamic Azad University of Najaf Abad
Ashrafi Isfahani Academic Institute
Malek Ashtar University of Technology
University of Defence Sciences and Technologies
There are also more than 50 Technical and Vocational Training Centers under administration of Isfahan TVTO which provide non-formal training programs freely over the province:

[donsaeid]

Esfahan is one of the oldest cities of Iran with the 1,001,000 population located 414 km south of Tehran and 481 km north of Shiraz. This 2500 years old city served as Persia's capital from 1598 to 1722.

Esfahan was a crossroad of international trade and diplomacy, and therefore was a kaleidoscope of resident languages, religions, and customs. The city is known for its silver filigree and metal work.

This city is renowned not only for the abundance of great historical monuments, but also for its Life-Giving River, The Zayandeh-Rood, which has given the city an original beauty and a fertile land. Esfahan is filled with old gardens and some of the best sights in Iran.

In the Arsacides (Parthians) era, Esfahan was the center and capital city of a wide province, which was administered by Arsacide governors.

In Sassanids time, Esfahan was governed by "Espoohrans" or the members of seven noble Iranian families who had important royal positions, it played a residencial role for these noble families as well. Moreover, in this period Esfahan was a military center with strong fortifications. This city was occupied by Arabs after final defeat of Iranians.

After Islam, Esfahan was under domination of Arabs, like other cities of Iran, till the early 10th century A.D., and it was paid attention only by Caliph Mansour. In the reign of Malekshah Saljooghi, Esfahan was again selected as capital and began another golden age. In this period, Esfahan was one of the most thriving and important cities of the world.

This city was conquered by Mongols in 13th century A.D. and they massacred the people. After the invasions of Mongols and Taymour, as the result of its suitable geographic situation, Esfahan flourished again especially in Safavid time, which developed considerably.

After selection of Esfahan as capital by Shah Abbas I (1587-1629) who unified Persia it reached to its pinnacle of briskness. Esfahan had parks, libraries and mosques that amazed Europeans, who had not seen anything like this at home. The Persians called it Nisf-e-Jahan, half the world; meaning that to see it was to see half the world.

Esfahan became one of the world's most elegant cities. In its heyday it was also one of the largest with a population of one million; 163 mosques, 48 religious schools, 1801 shops and 263 public baths.

Decline of Safavid dynasty by Mahmood Afghan and conquest of Esfahan a 6 month siege, caused a degeneration period for this city. In Afsharieh and Zandieh times it flourished again but during Qajars reign, due to choosing Tehran as capital, Esfahan began to decline once more.

Esfahan, regarding its historical and geographic conditions, was paid attention during Pahlavi time and some endeavors were made for repair and restoration of historical monuments. Moreover, Esfahan and the province redeveloped and industrialized rapidly. During last two decades, Esfahan developed with a very high rate of acceleration from urban development point of view, highly observing restoration of historical monuments.

Today, Esfahan is a major industrial center and also is one of the important tourism centers of Iran and the world.

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[donsaeid]

اين جا اصفهان است، پايتخت فرهنگي جهان اسلام ، اسطوره افسونگر شهرها ، چشم آبي دنيا.

وجود مساجد با عظمت، گنبدهاي فيروزه*اي،سلسله*اي از بزرگان فقه و عرفان با ايماني استوارتر از كوهها به*دين مبين اسلام اين شهر را شايسته آن كرده است تا در سال جاري ميلادي، "پايتخت فرهنگي جهان اسلام" باشد.

اما اصفهان ، پايتخت فرهنگي امسال جهان اسلام، قرنها مظهر همزيستي پيروان اديان الهي بوده است.

از قرنها پيش ، پيروان زرتشت ، موسي و عيسي در اين ديار در كنار مسلمين زيسته*اند و با آنكه آنان بخش كمي از مردم اين خطه را تشكيل مي*دهند،اما در سايه فرهنگ مهروزي اسلامي و ايراني، داراي هويتي مشخص درساختار زندگي شخصي و اجتماعي اين ديارند.

في*الواقع اصفهان، پايتخت فرهنگي جهان اسلام،" مامن اديان الهي است و اين امنيت و همزيستي باعث شده است با وجود هويت مشخص، مشتركات زيادي در علائق به مقدسات و سبك معماري عبادتگاه*هاي اين خطه به وجود آيد.

سبك معماري گلدسته مساجد، ناقوس كليساها، محراب كنيسه*ها و معبد زرتشتيان در اين ديار به گونه*اي است كه آنها را با هم خويشاوند كرده است.

اين نزديكي، تنها در سبك معماري و زندگي پيروان اديان الهي نيست بلكه در تعلق خاطر آنها به پيغمبران مدفون شده در اين شهر ، ائمه معصومين و تعصب به كشورشان نيز هويداست.

پيروان غيرمسلمان اديان الهي در اين ديار در ايام سوگواري "تاسوعا" و " عاشورا" در كنار مسلمانان در عزاي سالار شهيدان شركت مي*كنند و برخي به زيارت امام رضا(ع)مي*روند و در روز "قدس" و "‪ ۲۲‬بهمن"همدوش هموطنان مسلمان خود در آيين*هاي راهپيمايي شركت مي*كنند.

جمعيت ‪ ۱۰‬هزارو‪ ۱۲۰‬نفري اقليتهاي مذهبي استان*اصفهان اغلب در مناطق مركزي و مرفه*نشين*ترين شهر اصفهان و شهرستانهاي "فريدونشهر"،"گلپايگان"، "شاهين شهر" و "خوانسار" زندگي مي*كنند.

گويش قومي آنها به لهجه اصفهاني آميخته و ازنظر هرم سني جمعيتي جوان و تحصيلكرده هستند و اغلب در رشته*هاي فني و مهندسي، زبان*هاي خارجه، پزشكي و رشته*هاي وابسته و مشاغل آزاد مشغول به كارند.

حضور پر رنگ آنان در رشته*هاي ورزشي باشگاهي و ملي*مانند فوتبال، هندبال، بسكتبال و شنا نيز مويد اين زندگي دوستانه و تعصب در كسب افتخارو سربلندي براي اين شهر و ميهن است.

اقليتهاي مذهبي دراصفهان همچنين از امكان چاپ و انتشار روزنامه مخصوص به خود برخوردارند و اخبار قومي و استاني را به زبان خود مي*نگارند و در اختيار هم كيشانشان قرار مي*دهند.

"ارامنه مسيحي"با هشت هزار نفر و به عنوان بيشترين جمعيت اقليت مذهبي در اصفهان در" فريدونشهر"،"شاهين شهر" و محله جلفا كه در زمان صفويه به شهر اصفهان اضافه شد، زندگي مي*كنند.

كوچ سه*هزار نفري ارامنه به*محله جلفا در سال‪ ۱۰۱۳‬هجري قمري برابر با ‪۱۶۰۵‬ ميلادي رخ داد و تا سالها پيش فقط ارامنه در اين محل زندگي مي*كردند.

اكنون در جلفا كه در كناره جنوبي زاينده*رود قرار دارد، افراد ديگري با اديان مختلف يهودي ، زردتشتي و مسلمان بسر مي*برند.

اغلب ارامنه در آن روزگار كه جلفا ساخته شده بود،به تجارت اشتغال داشتند و دراين نوع امور از ديگر مردمان فعال و ماهرتر بودند به همين دليل افراد ثروتمندي در ميان آنان يافت مي*شدند كه توانستند بر وسعت جلفا بيفزايند و بناهاي گرانبها و ماندني بسازند.

"روبرت بگلريان" نماينده ارامنه حوزه جنوب كشور و اصفهان در دوره هفتم مجلس شوراي*اسلامي گفت: ماندگاري چند صدساله ارامنه در كنار هموطنان ايراني و همشهريان اصفهاني خبر از زندگي دوستانه و مسالمت*آميز آنها مي*دهد.

وي وضعيت شهروندي هم*كيشان خود رااز خوب توصيف كرد و گفت:در ايران،پيروان تمام اديان از حقوق سياسي، اجتماعي و تكريم برخوردارند و اين در حالي است كه در كشورهايي كه دم ازحقوق بشر مي*زنند، براي پيروان همه اديان اين حقوق وجود ندارد.

وي بااشاره به حقوقي كه در قانون اساسي جمهوري اسلامي براي پيروان اديان الهي در نظرگرفته شده است،گفت:اقليت*هاي ديني بر اساس قانون براي آيين*هاي مذهبي خود تعطيلات جداگانه دارند.

وي اضافه*كرد:همكاري مسوولان استان،داشتن موقعيت توريستي و وجود ورزشكاران ارمني عضو تيم*هاي باشگاهي و ملي باعث شده است كه هر ساله ميزبان مسابقات قهرماني در كشور و تورنمنت*هاي بين*المللي ارامنه باشيم.

وي گفت: اكثر مسيحيان ارمني داراي تحصيلات دانشگاهي*اند و در مشاغل فني و مهندسي ، پزشكي و آموزشي در مدارس مشغول به كار مي*باشند.

وي گفت: در زمينه رشته زبان ارامنه در دانشگاه اصفهان، دانشكده ارامنه شناسي با تمام امكانات مانند كتابخانه و تجهيزات سمعي و بصري وجود دارد.

اسقف اعظم ارامنه اصفهان و حوزه جنوب كشور نيز گفت: اقليتهاي مذهبي در ايران بخصوص اصفهان داراي هويت ديني، سياسي، اجتماعي، حقوقي، شهروندي و تاريخي مي*باشند.

"بابكن چاريان" افزود: اين در حالي است كه در بسياري از كشورهاي اروپايي و آمريكايي، ارامنه از حداقل حقوق به عنوان يك اقليت برخوردار نيستند.

وي كه مدت شش سال پيشواي مذهبي ارامنه در ايالت"سانفرانسيسكو"و مدتي در ايالت "كاليفرنياي"آمريكا بوده است، گفت:در آمريكا،اقليت*هاي ديني به حساب نمي*آيند و ارامنه بايد سعي زيادي بكنند تا بتوانند موجوديت خود را اعلام و بعد خواسته*هايشان را به دولت و يا مسوولان بيان كنند.

وي اضافه كرد: اين مشكلات براي ارامنه در حالي است كه اين كشور با سوء تبليغات،ايران را به نقض حقوق و آزاد نبودن اقليتهاي ديني متهم كرده است.

وي بااشاره به آزادبودن ارامنه ايران براي برگزاري مراسم مذهبي، قومي و داشتن امتيازات سياسي و حقوقي گفت: بهترين دليل اين مدعا اين است كه آنها ‪ ۴۰۰‬سال است در اين كشور با همان قوميت ، هويت و تاريخ ارمني خود زندگي مي*كنند و از هر نوع امتياز شهروندي بهره*مندند.

اسقف اعظم ارامنه اصفهان و حوزه جنوب كشور كه*سابقه حضور دركشورهاي آلمان ،تركيه و امارات متحده عربي را نيز دارد، افزود:" جاثليق آرام اول" رهبر ارامنه جهان كه چندي پيش به ايران و اصفهان سفر كرد، در مجامع بين*المللي دنيا بارها تاكيد كرده است كه " ارامنه در كشورهاي اسلامي بخصوص ايران از احترام و شرايط اجتماعي و سياسي خوبي برخوردارند".

"ورژ درما ماديروسيان" كارشناس در امور ارامنه اصفهان نيز گفت:شاه عباس صفوي ارامنه را به دليل داشتن استعداد و توانايي در صنعت ، هنر و ثروت به اصفهان كوچاند و در محله"جلفاي نو"كه بر گرفته ازنام جلفاي ارمنستان است، ساكن كرد.

وي كليساهايي كه در منطقه جلفا ساخته شده را از جمله*آثار مذهبي با ارزش تاريخي دانست و گفت: در اصفهان ‪ ۱۳‬كليسا وجود دارد كه قديمي*ترين آنها كليساي "هاكوپ "يا"يعقوب مقدس" است كه بنا به مندرجات كتيبه*اي برسر در آن ، اين مكان در سال ‪ ۱۶۰۶ ۷‬ميلادي ساخته شده است.

اين كارشناس افزود:كليساي "گيورگ " كه به كليساي" غريب" نيز شهرت دارد به*دليل داشتن سنگهاي باستاني گرانقيمت و كاشيكاريهاي بالاي سردر كليسا كه گوشه*اي از زندگي حضرت مسيح(ع) را به تصوير كشيده است ، از شهرت برخوردار است.

وي گفت: ديگر كليساي مقدس و ويژه اين شهر كليساي "بيت*الهم "است كه نامش از كليساي بيت الهم اورشليم (فلسطين) اخذ شده است.

وي توضيح داد : در اين كليسا تصويرهاي زيبايي از حضرت عيسي( ع) ، مريم و حواريون با تزيينات طلا كاري ديده مي*شود.

وي از كليساي " وانك" به*عنوان زيباترين و معروفترين كليسا در سطح كشور و حتي خاورميانه نام برد و درباره تاريخچه و وجهه تسميه*آن گفت : نام اين كليسا در زبان ارمني" آمنا پركيچ " به معني" منجي يا نجات*دهنده " خوانده مي*شود و به نام "سن سور" نيز شهرت دارد.

ماديروسيان افزود: معماري كليساي وانك تا حدي به معماري ايراني نزديك است و مانند مساجدايراني داراي گنبد است كه*البته درون آن به سبك كليساهاي فرنگي تزئين شده است و همانند ديگر كليساها، محرابي به طرف شرق به نيابت تولد و ظهور حضرت عيسي(ع) دارد.

او گفت:در اين كليسا آنچه كه بسيارمورد توجه بازديدكنندگان قرار مي*گيرد تصويرهاي مربوط به آفرينش حضرت آدم ، ظهور و رسالت ديگر پيغمبران از جمله حضرت ابراهيم،تصويرهايي از حضرت موسي(ع)،شكنجه حضرت عيسي(ع)و حضرت جرجيس، كه*ارامنه ارمنستان از طريق اين پيغمبر به دين مسيحيت گرويدند، است.

وي در عين حال همكاري اداره فرهنگ و ارشاد اسلامي و ميراث فرهنگي استان اصفهان را در شناساندن اماكن تاريخي جلفا و تسهيل در چاپ كتاب به زبان ارمني بسيار خوب عنوان كرد.

[donsaeid]

شمار كنوني زرتشتيان به عنوان ديگر اقليت مذهبي ساكن در اصفهان، برخلاف گذشته*هاي، دور اندك است.

بر اساس مستندات تاريخي،زماني كه زرتشت به عنوان دين رسمي كشور در دوران ساسانيان به شمار مي*رفت،شهر اصفهان (سپاهان، اسپهان و...)به مثابه يكي از شهرهاي راهبردي ساسانيان بويژه در بخش نظامي محسوب مي*شد.

زرتشتيان نيز در آنزمان به عنوان اكثريت جامعه در كنار اقليت كليميان به شمار مي*آمدند كه پس از ورود اسلام و پذيرش دين اسلام توسط مردم كشورمان،اين اكثريت به اقليت تبديل شد.

زرتشتيان اصفهان تا زمان "شاه*سلطان حسين صفوي" در بخش جنوبي پل "خواجوي" فعلي كه به محله "گبرآباد" معروف بود، سكونت داشتند.

آنان تا زمان آخرين پادشاه صفويه در منطقه خيابان " سجاد" فعلي و منطقه " كوله پارچه" ساكن بودند.

پس از آن دوران، تعداد زرتشتيان در دوره*هاي مختلف با نوسانات متعددي در شهر اصفهان روبه*رو شد به طوريكه هيچ زمان جمعيت آنها پس از دوران صفويه نتوانست به تعداد قبلي بازگردد.

عده*ي زرتشتيان اصفهان در دوران پس از صفويه تغيير خاصي نداشت و تنها در زمان احمد شاه قاجار و پهلوي اول نسبت به*امروز داراي جمعيت بيشتري بودند.

به*گفته رئيس انجمن زرتشتيان اصفهان، از مكانهاي اختصاصي زرتشتيان مي*توان به همايشگاه فرهنگي، ديني و ورزشي "خسروي"اشاره كرد كه در جوار"تخت فولاد" اصفهان قرار دارد و در آن آرامگاه ‪ ۲۸‬زرتشتي وجود دارد كه قديمي*ترين سنگ قبر مربوط به سال ‪ ۱۳۱۶‬شمسي است.

"كوروش آباداني" گفت: اين مكان اكنون به عنوان مكاني براي برگزاري مراسم مذهبي و همچنين محلي براي ورزش زرتشتيان اصفهان محسوب مي*شود.

از ديگر بناهاي مربوط به زرتشتيان اصفهان مي*توان به"خانه زرتشتيان" اشاره كرد كه در سال ‪ ۱۳۵۲‬ساختمان آن خريداري شده است.

از جمله آثار قابل توجه اين بنا يك آتشدان قديمي است كه دربناي جديد اين خانه هنوز بر جاي مانده است.

وي گفت: "خانه زرتشتيان اصفهان"ساختماني سه طبقه است كه داراي كتابخانه تخصصي ، محل برگزاري كلاس*هاي ديني و اجتماعات و مهمانسرا مي*باشد.

آتشكده زرتشتيان اصفهان به عنوان تنها پرستشگاه موجود در اين شهر است كه در سال ‪ ۵۷‬به همت خانواده "مهرباني زرتشتي" بنا شده است.

به گفته موبد زرتشتيان اصفهان ، آتشكده يا محل پرستش اهورامزدا در نزد زرتشتيان به نام " درب مهر " خوانده مي*شود.

درب مهر اصفهان در مساحت يكهزار مترمربع با معماري بر گرفته از درب مهر بمبئي هندوستان (منطقه پارسيان هند)و همچنين نمايه*هاي ديني اين كيش ساخته شده است.

"موبد بهزاد نيكدين" گفت:آتش آتشدان "درب مهر" از آتشي گرفته شده است كه توسط زرتشتيان زمان ساساني به*هند منتقل و در سالهاي بعد توسط پارسيان هند به يزد منتقل گرديد.

"دكتر حسين يقيني"از محققين فرهنگي معتقد است: كوه آتشگاه را مي*توان از آثار بر جا مانده از دوران ساسانيان برشمرد كه روزگاري به عنوان پرستشگاه زرتشتيان به شمار مي*آمد.

به گفته وي، در قله اين كوه آتشكده*اي ساخته شده است كه تاريخ ساخت بناي اوليه آن دقيقا مشخص نيست.

وي تصريح كرد: ساختمان آتشدان اين كوه بنا به قول " حمزه اصفهاني " از مورخين،مربوط به دوران"كي اردشير"است كه در يك روز سه آتشكده"شهر اردشير" در جانب قلعه ماربين (كوه آتشگاه)،آتشكده"ذروان اردشير"در"دارك "و آتشكده " مهر اردشير" در" اردستان" بنا مي*شود.

يقيني اضافه*كرد:دراطراف پل "شهرستان"تعدادي آتشكده وجود داشته كه*به مرور زمان تخريب شده و آثار آنها هنوز در منطقه " جرقويه " واقع در شرق اصفهان بر جاي مانده است.

موبد زرتشتيان اصفهان درباره آيين*هاي اين دين گفت:زرتشتيان سه آيين جشن دارند و جشن*هاي ملي و مهم آنان شامل نوروز ، مهرگان و سده است و جشن*هاي ماهيانه كه مصادف با تلاقي نام روز با نام ماه است شامل :" فروردينگان ، ارديبهشتگان، خوردادگان ، تيرگان (آبريزگان) ، امردادگان" و... است و نيز " گاهانبارهايي" كه طي شش نوبت در سال برگزار مي*شود.

رئيس انجمن زرتشتيان اصفهان، سال ‪ ۱۳۴۲‬را سال تاسيس انجمن زرتشتيان اين شهر ذكر كرد و گفت: اين انجمن با بيش از يكصد نفر عضو زرتشتي تاسيس شد.

هم*اكنون تعداد زرتشتيان در شهر اصفهان به ‪ ۱۲۰‬نفر مي*رسد.

[RedWine]

The Chinese daily Global Times in a report on Saturday said that Minar Jonban (shaking minaret) in the historical city of Isfahan in central Iran is one of the most appealing tourist attractions of the city.

The article, which was written by the daily's reporter who recently visited Isfahan, was printed in the column where the world historical heritage is introduced to readers along with a photo of the monument.

Turning to Minar Jonban as a puzzle to which no solution has yet been found, it added that the monument is dazzling and interesting to every tourist.

Quoting the officials and guards in charge of Minar Jonban, he said, "Until a few years ago, visitors were allowed to enter the minaret and shake it. But given the monument is hundreds of years old, it is not safe any more.

"Nowadays, a certain person enters the monument daily and shakes it at a certain time, which is quite surprising to the visiting tourists," said the daily.

Lauding the creativity of Iranian architects in old times, it added that in ancient Iran, skilled architects usually kept their expertise as a secret.

"That may be the cause for the mystery behind this shaking historical monument, which has not yet been clarified," added the paper.

Global Times said that several attempts to construct similar minarets have so far been made but to no avail.

"The last time that people tried to build similar minarets near Minar Jonban was a century ago. However, unlike the ancient one they cannot be shaken," said the daily.

The Chinese periodical wrote that Iran's government is determined to repair this ancient monument, adding that it may be closed as of the coming year.

[RedWine]

Dibai House turned into a hotel .



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