Share:
Roses, almond blossoms and mulberries - Persian gardens
contents
- The paradise garden
- Earth, water, wind and fire
- A place of security
- Tulips, roses and almond blossoms
- A diverse nature
- The flora of Iran
- Tamarisk and silk trees
- lovage
- Water - the source of the garden
- Fountains and channels
- Roses, pomegranates and badgirs
- Asia and Europe, Zoroaster and Islam
- Inside and outside
- Relaxation and religion
- The royal garden
- The sky in the heat
- Isfahan - the jewel of the Orient
- Almonds, cherries and cypresses
- A forest garden
- The prince garden
- desert gardens
- Apricots, figs and pomegranates
The paradise garden
Gardens express the connection between nature and culture. In the Greek text of the Bible, the Garden of Eden is called Paradeisos. In Persian literature, garden means "pardis". "Paridaiza" means a fragrant and luminous place populated by angelic creatures. Presumably, "paradise" in ancient Iran did not mean real gardens, but this spiritual "garden of angels".
In the ancient Persian Empire, gardens were the epitome of life and survival. The early gardens offered oases in the desert, as shade and water were otherwise scarce. (Image: efesenko / fotolia.com) When Muslims overran Persia in the 7th century, they also introduced their interpretation of paradise in Iran. The Koran states: "There are streams of water that do not perish, and streams of milk whose taste does not change, and streams of wine, delicious for the drinking; and streams of clarified honey; and in them all sorts of fruit and pardon for the Lord. "The Islamic paradise, too, was like an ideal garden, and the Muslims saw in the gardens of Persia a symbol of the rivers of paradise.
Earth, water, wind and fire
Ancient Persian rituals honored the plants of nature - these rituals were also an early form of science. The elements of the Persian garden have deep roots, and each of them is found in the structure of the garden: earth, water, wind and fire.
Ancient Persian philosophy was not hostile to nature, but honoring nature meant cultivating it - gardens are such cultivated nature and have played an important role in Iranian life. The ancient Persians believed that the "wild nature" required a higher order, as shown, among other things, in the rectangular pools of the gardens.
A place of security
The old descriptions tell of fragrant flowers, singing birds and lush greenery. For desert and steppe inhabitants, therefore, the gardens offered a place of security, security and peace.
Tulips, roses and almond blossoms
The Iranians were very successful in cultivating plants: tulips and roses as cultivated forms, for example, come from Persia. Almond and fig trees, olives, pistachios and pines, cedars, walnuts and laurel trees not only provided food, but also shade and "spiritual food". To touch almond blossom through Persian gardens is a sensual experience that is second to none.
A diverse nature
Today's Iran and historic Persia encompass diverse floristic regions from the Zagros and Elburs Mountains to the humid Caspian Sea, hot deserts in central Iran, and subtropical riverine forests in the southwest and southeast.
The flora of Iran
More than 8,000 plant species grow in Iran, and every fifth of them is endemic. The north was once dominated by mighty mountains, primeval forests and lakes, the south is dry and extremely hot - the Persian Gulf is on the same latitude as the Sahara.
Some plants of the north are known to us from Europe, albeit in other species or subspecies. These include gentians and snowdrops, firs and spruces. The strip of land on the Caspian Sea is only a maximum of 60 kilometers wide and has four times as much rainfall as Central Europe. The rain masses can not cross the mountains, and therefore the interior of the country is very low precipitation. Lush bush forests grow on the Caspian Sea. The Iranians refer to them as Jangal, from which the words jungle and jungle derive. Wild figs, ferns and vines grow here as well. Pistachios and mountain almonds are widespread in the Iranian mountains below the tree line.
Today, forests only cover ten percent of the country and only one percent of them are intact. In the mountains like the Zagros, the Elburs and the Caucasus grow oaks, maples and hornbeams as well as tamarisk trees. Elms, beech trees, poplars, willows, ironwood and chestnut-leaved oak thrive in the very few wetland and river forests. In some locations also grow cypress. Not only the climate, but also culture, politics and security played into the appearance of Persian gardens. With a philosophy of life, the garden architects created places that harnessed the power of nature locally.
Tamarisk and silk trees
Tamarisks are well adapted to the dry climate and thrive even on the edge of the desert Dasht-e Kavir. They defy sandstorms with their long roots and tap the groundwater, even growing on salt soils.
The silk tree is also called sleep tree, because it works in dryness its leaves together. He carries a wide-spreading treetop, its fruits are yellow-brown and up to twelve centimeters long with up to twelve seeds. It is widespread from Iran to China and has long since become an ornament in parks in Europe and the USA.
Tamarisks are well adapted to the dry climate and thrive even on the edge of the desert Dasht-e Kavir. They defy sandstorms with their long roots and tap the groundwater, even growing on salt soils. (Image: gagarych / fotolia.com) lovage
Lovage, also called Maggie herb, is also growing in Iran. It smells of celery and is used in Persian medicine to stimulate the flow of urine and to relieve cramps, and to relieve constipation and flatulence.
Water - the source of the garden
Four elements - land, water, plants and space - belong to an Iranian garden. Water is most important and became a central element of the garden concept. A tree by the river is the most popular topic of art in this arid land. There is no Iranian garden architecture without water - because a landscape without water is not a garden in cultural understanding. When Iranians go "into nature", they would never think of naming the desert, but beautiful nature is green and water.
Fountains and channels
Water is used differently in Persian gardens, for example in the form of fountains, waterfalls, canals or basins. The sound of the water should attract the attention of the visitors and calm the soul. The gardens have a direct impact on the human psyche, and that was very much appreciated by the historic architects. Especially in the deserts, which cover huge parts of Iran, green gardens with artificial waterfalls, almond trees or pavilions protect against the dangerous sun - practically and symbolically. Material life and spiritual imagination can not be separated in Persian garden culture. In addition to the underground canals, the Iranians use a simple trick to water the trees in the rain-free climate. They plant the trees in water-filled trenches, which protect against evaporation and water the roots.
Roses, pomegranates and badgirs
Persian gardens are subdivided by water channels and arranged by avenues and rows of trees such as cypress, almond, pomegranate, orange, lemon, pistachio or laurel. Grape vines and roses are also common. As a rule, gardens are hidden behind the outer walls. Pavilions create shade, under their roofs Iranians can eat, gather and enjoy the wind while sheltered from the sun.
Some historic gardens contain various pavilions, a cool one for the summer and one that opens to the south to stay warm in the winter. Iranians use gardens as their summer residence, so they have houses in them, and paths are often decorated with stucco. An Iranian specialty is the badgirs or wind towers. These catch the wind, divert it and cool the houses. Especially in gardens in extremely hot areas such as Yazd and Shiraz these "ecological air conditioning systems" are standard.
An Iranian specialty is the badgirs or wind towers. These catch the wind, divert it and cool the houses. These can often be seen in extremely hot areas like Yazd and Shiraz. (Image: Alexandre Rotenberg / fotolia.com) Asia and Europe, Zoroaster and Islam
Picking plants for Persian gardens is based on sensual stimulation: in the background is the foliage of trees and bushes, while aromatic plants stimulate the sense of smell. Wide areas of green grass and mature trees that cast deep shadows define boundaries and inspire relaxation, self-awareness and relief from stress.
The principles of the ancient Zoroastrian gardens have survived to this day in Iranian garden constructions, but over the centuries other elements have been added: Islamic art changed the shape of the gardens in the Tabriz to the Middle Ages, for example, and European styles influenced the design in modernity, which particularly attracted visitors in the parks of the Pahlavi dynasty in northern Tehran.
Inside and outside
In Iran, arches often separate the inner courtyard gardens from the outer gardens. The inner gardens stand for the domestic, the outer for the outside world. Often the outer gardens are freely accessible, the inner ones are not, and the arches can be closed with gates. These gardens are primarily for rest and relaxation, the outer gardens and the maintenance of social relationships: What the British pub and Germans is the pub, the Iranians are the public garden.
Relaxation and religion
The ideal Paridaiza based on land, water, earth and wind has not only a symbolic meaning, but also a practical as a place to relax and to absorb new energy for daily life. It combines the beauty of flowers with food through all the fruits of the region, creating a "micro-ecosystem" independent of the uncontrolled nature. The Persian "Paradise" is the place where fruits and vegetables feed all year round, where trees provide shade in the hot summer and wind towers provide a mild climate within the garden walls.
The royal garden
The earliest surviving material manifestation of these ancient gardens in Iran is the garden of Cyrus the Great (558-530 BC) in Pasargad. It is based on the Zoroastrian division of the universe into four areas, four seasons and four elements: water, wind, earth and fire. Pasargadae was the first capital of the Achaemenid Empire. Garden historians are particularly interested in the rectangular patterns of the stone watercourses. This garden type was known by the Achaemenids as chaharbagh (Viergarten). In later time there is no proof for this designation.
Pasargadae, the best preserved vestige of an Achaemenid garden city, stretched over a wide area and was divided into four sections, divided by the two main streams. Pasargadae comprised a collection of palaces and gardens built on paved terraces and became a model for other garden towns in the ancient Persian Empire.
The British archaeologist David Stronach reconstructed in Pasargadae in the 1960s, a palace garden in the size of 145 meters by 112.5 meters, framed by two channels that led to the northern palace wall and a small pavilion in the south. He suspected that the throne of Cyrus II was on an axis of this garden. The Iranian Cultural Heritage Organization identified more channels. Only a few relics of the pavilion are still available .
Nothing is preserved today from the garden in Pasargadae, but visitors can still see the ruins of Kyro's reception palace, as well as the Torpalast, the Citadel and the Private Palace and imagine the extent of the 300-acre site of the royal city. The best way to get to Pasargadae is to hire a private driver from Shiraz and combine the visit with a day trip to nearby Persepolis and the tomb of Kyros II. The latter was also surrounded by a tree garden in antiquity.
From the garden in Pasargadae, only the ruins of Kyro's reception palace are visible. Visitors can imagine the extent of the 300 hectare area of the royal city. (Image: lkpro / fotolia.com) The sky in the heat
Pasargadae is located 130 kilometers from the city of Shiraz. While Pasargadae has been abandoned since antiquity, Shiraz has become the modern capital of the Iranian province of Fars. Fars was the core of ancient Persia - and the name Persia is derived from Fars. Temperatures are very high here in the summer, but the Kushk River brought civilizations to life for millennia. The rich cultural heritage includes a number of historic gardens, one of which is the Erampark. The Persian word "Eram" is found in the Arabic language as "Iram" in the Koran and means "heaven". The Sky Garden is located near the river bank of the Kushk, originally in the northwest of the city, but today in the midst of the sprawling city.
The exact date of foundation is unknown, but historical evidence shows that the garden was constructed during the Seljuk period (11th-14th centuries CE), under the reign of Ahmad Sanjar. In the Zand Dynasty (1750-1794) the kings renewed it. Later, a Qashqaei tribal leader, Mohammed Qoli Khan, planted numerous cypresses, pines, oranges and kakis. Mirza Hassan Ali Khan Nassir al-Molk bought the Bagh-e Eram from the Qashqaei and started to build the still existing pavilion.
The Iranian government donated the garden to the University of Shiraz in 1963 and turned it into a botanical garden with diverse plant species from around the world. The Garden of Eram has been registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011 - as a symbol of Persian gardens. Today it attracts visitors of all ages, not only for its historical identity, but also for its beauty and importance as a botanical research center. In the middle of Shiraz, it is easily accessible to visitors.
Isfahan - the jewel of the Orient
Isfahan, the city in cobalt blue, was famous in early modern times as the jewel among the metropolises of the Orient and it still is today. While Pasargadae was a residence of antiquity and the sky garden is from the Middle Ages, the pavilion garden Chetel Sutun in Isfahan leads back to the early modern period. The palace was completed in 1674 and new areas were created until the second half of the 20th century. It is a palace garden. The palace itself has many murals and painted ceramics, some of which depict historical scenes are exhibited in a museum on the west side of the park.
The garden from the Safavid period stretches over 60,000 square meters with main axes from west to east, lined with plane trees. Chetel Sutun means forty pillars, of which there are still twenty today that frame a pool of water.
The pavilion garden Chetel Sutun in Isfahan leads back to the early modern period. The palace was completed in 1674 and new areas were created until the second half of the 20th century. (Image: Fotokon / fotolia.com) Almonds, cherries and cypresses
The Safawidenschah Abbas I was in Kashan create the Fin garden. Under the rule of the Qajar Fat Ali Shah, the royal family expanded the park. Fin Garden is one of nine gardens in Iran with the status of World Heritage "Persian Garden". It covers only 2.3 hectares with a main courtyard, the four round towers limit. Within the walls are numerous fountains fed by a natural spring, the Soleimanieh spring. The technical sophistication of the pools and the constant supply of water make a pumping system superfluous.
The cypress trees in the garden are up to 500 years old, and the park is famous for the scent of the flowers of many orange trees. Other garden plants are rose bushes, lilies, jasmine, daffodils and tulips that draw the lines of the garden figure. There are also apples, almonds, cherries and plums.
A forest garden
This garden is located in the hills of the Albor Mountains in the southeast of Beshars in the middle of a forest and also has the title of a World Heritage. It is one of Iran's best-known gardens outside the desert and contains a lake, a water reservoir, a flower garden, a bath, a windmill and two brick towers. The lake alone is 10 acres
The prince garden
Shazdeh means prince, and this modern prince garden is located near Mahan in Kerman in southern Iran. He comes from the Qajar Dynasty (1799 to 1925). Unique in this desert region, it offers an oasis of extraordinary buildings, a garden and underground irrigation system. This garden is a fine example of a Persian garden adapted to the dry climate. It is rectangular, 5.5 acres and walled.
It houses a two-storey building whose second floor served as the residence of the Qajars. The garden houses include the main summer house. Hasan Qajar Sardari Iravani had the garden landscaped around 1850 and Abdolhamid Mirza Naserodollehand built it around 1870. The garden consists of a number of pines, cedars and fruit trees that benefit from the underground water channels.
desert gardens
Yazd, one of the oldest continuously populated cities in the world, is also one of the hottest and known in Iran as the "bride of the desert", an oasis in the middle of nowhere. The Dowlatabad Garden is another Persian garden on the list of World Heritage Sites. Mohammad Taghi Khan had him established in 1746. It includes countless pines, cypresses and fruit trees, roses and wine that spread their fragrance everywhere. The harem is built so that its architecture is reflected in the water. The octagonal Badgir in Dowlatabad is the largest fan in the world with a height of 33 m. Such wind towers originated from the knowledge of the desert inhabitants and spread from southern Iran in the Abbasid period to Egypt. Dowlatabad was a state garden and served for official ceremonies and urban politics.
In the province of Yazd there is another important garden, the Pahlavan Pour Park, also a World Heritage Site. He is famous for his huge trees, the historic summer house, the winter quarters, the public bath and the kitchen.
Apricots, figs and pomegranates
The garden in Birjand covers 45,069 square meters and was created between the outgoing Zand dynasty and the early Qajar period. A building by architect Shokat Al-Molk shines with wood decorations, colored glass, arabesques and geometric design. This garden has also been on the list of World Heritage Sites since 2011. The complex consists of two gardens, the north of which is larger, while the house of Shokat Al-Molk is located in the south. The larger garden is determined by a place with a pool of water. A road network with pines connects the two parts of the structure.