Chahartaq (architecture)
{{Short description|Architectural structure with four arches and a dome}}
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Chartaq ({{langx|fa|چارطاق}}), chahartaq ({{lang|fa|چهارطاق}}), chartaqi ({{lang|fa|چارطاقی}}), or chahartaqi ({{lang|fa|چهارطاقی}}),Also transliterated with gh instead of q. 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, 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. The biggest instance of chahartaq is that of the so-called Palace of Shapur I 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.Dietrich Huff, [http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/cahartaq "ČAHĀRṬĀQ"], Encyclopaedia Iranica, December 15, 1990
A related concept is čahārqāpū ({{lang|fa|چهارقاپو}}).
File:Baze Hoor fire temple.jpg|Baze Hoor fire temple, Arsacid period
File:Zahak Fortress.jpg|Chahartaqi of the Zahhak Castle, Arsacid period
File:Niasar Fire Temple.jpg|Chartaqi of Neyasar at Neyasar, Kashan, Iran. Late Arsacid
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, 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.{{cite web|url=http://bonyadroudaki.com/PContent.aspx?id=22&&lang=fa-IR|title=بنیادفرهنگی هنری رودکی|website=Bonyadroudaki.com|access-date=20 April 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.chidaneh.com/ideabooks/life-style/travel-design/38834|title=Freedom Tower, the gateway to Iranian civilization and art|website=Chidaneh.com|access-date=28 January 2019}}
File:Azadi Square & Azadi Tower, aerial view 1971.jpg|Azadi Tower
File:Mausoleum of Kashefi 01.jpg|Monument of Molla Hossein Kashefi, Sabzevar, 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
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References
{{commons category|Chahartaqs}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Iranian architecture}}
{{Islamic architecture}}
Category:Iranian architectural elements
Category:Sasanian architecture