Chartaq (), chahartaq (), chartaqi (), or chahartaqi (), literally meaning "having four arches", is an architectural unit consisted of four
barrel vaults and a
dome.
History
Chartaqi was a prominent element in
Iranian architecture
Iranian architecture or Persian architecture (, ''Me'māri e Irāni'') is the architecture of Iran and parts of the rest of West Asia, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Its history dates back to at least 5,000 BC with characteristic examples distr ...
, having various functions and used in both secular and religious contexts for 1,500 years, with the first instance apparently being developed in the
Sasanian city of
Gor (Firuzabad) in 210s AD by King
Ardashir I
Ardashir I (), also known as Ardashir the Unifier (180–242 AD), was the founder of the Sasanian Empire, the last empire of ancient Iran. He was also Ardashir V of the Kings of Persis, until he founded the new empire. After defeating the last Par ...
. The biggest instance of chahartaq is that of the so-called Palace of
Shapur I
Shapur I (also spelled Shabuhr I; ) was the second Sasanian Empire, Sasanian King of Kings of Iran. The precise dating of his reign is disputed, but it is generally agreed that he ruled from 240 to 270, with his father Ardashir I as co-regent u ...
at
Bishapur, also in Pars. Many pre-Islamic chahartaqs have survived, but they are usually just the sole surviving structure of a much bigger complex. The chahartaq structure was adopted in
Islamic architecture
Islamic architecture comprises the architectural styles of buildings associated with Islam. It encompasses both Secularity, secular and religious styles from the early history of Islam to the present day. The Muslim world, Islamic world encompasse ...
.
[Dietrich Huff]
"ČAHĀRṬĀQ"
'' Encyclopaedia Iranica'', December 15, 1990
A related concept is ''čahārqāpū'' ().
or early Sassanian era. It is one of the few intact chartaqis.
File:ChaharTaqi-KheirAbad Darafsh (4).jpg, Chahartaqi of Kheirabad, Sassanian period
File:Old exterior view Sassanid Chahartaghi Sarab.jpg, Chahartaq in Sarab, East Azerbaijan Province. Sassanian period
File:Ateshgah Fire Temple.jpg, Ateshgah of Baku. Many pre-Islamic chartaqis were part of a fire temple
File:Atashkadeh (fireplace).jpg, Fire Temple of Amol
File:Bahramfiretempleyo.jpg, Bahram fire temple
File:Chartaghi Karchan.jpg, Chartaqi of Karchan
File:Chartaqi of Konar Siyah چهارطاقی کنارسیاه - panoramio.jpg, Chahartaqi of Konarsiyah
File:Harpak Fire Temple in Abyaneh (reconstruction).PNG, Chartaq on top of the Harpak fire temple in Abyaneh
File:Mausoleum in the vicinity of Isfahan by Eugène Flandin.jpg, A chahartaq as a small mausoleum, with a grave inside, near Isfahan
Isfahan or Esfahan ( ) is a city in the Central District (Isfahan County), Central District of Isfahan County, Isfahan province, Iran. It is the capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is located south of Tehran. The city ...
, 1840 drawing by Eugène Flandin
File:Samanid Mausoleum.jpg, Samanid Mausoleum
File:Sultan Sanjar mausoleum.jpg, Tomb of Ahmed Sanjar
File:Fountain Ibn Tulun Mosque.jpg, Sabil ablution fountain at Mosque of Ibn Tulun, Cairo, Egypt
File:Barid Shahi tombs.jpg, Tomb of Ali Barid Ali barid Shah, Bidar, India
File:Sultanhani-jries.jpg, "Kiosk-mosque" at Sultan Han caravanserai, Turkey (Seljuq period) ''(see also Tetrapylon)''
File:Yerevan, Yerevan Cathedral, Chahartaq, Armenia.jpg, Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral, Yerevan, Armenia
Contemporary architecture
The main plan of the post-modern
Azadi Tower in Tehran is said to be influenced by the architecture of chartaqis.
Sabzevar
Sabzevar (; ) is a city in northeastern Iran. It is located in the Central District (Sabzevar County), Central District of Sabzevar County, Razavi Khorasan province, Razavi Khorasan province, serving as the capital of both the county and the ...
, built in 1974.
The post-modern design has incorporated the concepts
of chahartaqi and iwans.
File:Persian Scholar pavilion in Viena UN (Rhazes&Khayyam).jpg, Scholars Pavilion (the Scholars Chartagi) in Vienna, a
chahartaqi with elements from the architecture of Persepolis
File:مسجد سالن اجلاس بین المللی اصفهان.jpg, A sample of modern Islamic architecture - The mosque of international conferences center - Isfahan
See also
*
Chartaque
*
Chhatri
*
Fire temple
*
Iwan
*
Pavilion
*
Kiosk
Historically, a kiosk () was a small garden pavilion open on some or all sides common in Iran, Persia, the Indian subcontinent, and in the Ottoman Empire from the 13th century onward. Today, several examples of this type of kiosk still exist ...
*
Tetrapylon
*
Triumphal arch
A triumphal arch is a free-standing monumental structure in the shape of an archway with one or more arched passageways, often designed to span a road, and usually standing alone, unconnected to other buildings. In its simplest form, a triumphal ...
*
Ka'be-ye Zartosht
References
{{Islamic architecture
Domes
Iranian architectural elements
Sasanian architecture
Islamic architectural elements
Arches and vaults
Iranian inventions