Vigol and Harāskān Fire Temple: Archaeological Evidence About the Veneration of Fire in the Center of the Iranian Plateau During the Sasanian Period

Abstract

The historical site of Vigol and Harāskān is located in Isfahan province (Iran). Archaeological studies showed that this site was inhabited at least from the Sasanian period to the Islamic middle ages. Archaeological excavations in 2010 resulted in the discovery of a fire temple belonging to the Sasanian period. Previous studies have shown that this fire temple, in comparison to others such as Niasar and Khoramdasht Fire Temples in Kashan plain, Natanz Fire Temple, Atashkouh of Delijan, Nevis and Chāhak of Qom, and Separoo of Nain, could be considered as the most important fire temple in terms of structure and archaeological evidence in the centre of Iran during the Sasanian period. This fire temple consists of a chāhār tāqi building with religious elements surrounded by a circumambulatory corridor. The fire temple of Vigol and Harāskān is considered as one of the prominent examples of local fire temples in the Sasanian period. The present study indicated that this fire temple was built in the Sasanian period and used for religious purposes until the beginning of the Islamic era. However, this fire temple lost its religious nature and was totally abandoned with the gradual decline of the Zoroastrian religion in the region.