An Ontological Interpretation of Cypress and Water in the Public-Ritual Architecture of Yazd (Case Study: Cham Fire Temple, Mehrpadin Mosque, Vaqt-o-sā’at Square)

Sabokro, Delaram; Rajab Bojani, Negin; Parsafar, Fateme

doi:10.22034/toc.2025.497806.1178

An Ontological Interpretation of Cypress and Water in the Public-Ritual Architecture of Yazd (Case Study: Cham Fire Temple, Mehrpadin Mosque, Vaqt-o-sā’at Square)

https://doi.org/10.22034/toc.2025.497806.1178

Volume 6, Issue 21
Summer 2025

Pages 18-23

Document Type : Original Research Article

Authors

Delaram Sabokro

Negin Rajab Bojani

Fateme Parsafar

Department of Landscape Architecture, School of Architecture, College of Fine Arts, University of Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

Yazd, a city with rich historical and cultural heritage, developed within a harsh desert climate and faces shortages of natural resources, particularly water and vegetation. This environment has elevated certain natural elements such as water and cypress beyond their biological roles, granting them a significant meaning in shaping public-ritual spaces. This study aims to investigate the ontological significance of water and cypress in forming Yazd’s public-ritual spaces through an examination of three key sites: Cham Fire Temple, Mehrpadin Grand Mosque, and Vaqt-o-sā’at Square. This study employed a qualitative approach based on ontological analysis and used document analysis and field observation methods. Findings show that water and cypress serve more than just biological or aesthetic purposes; as essential elements, they hold meaningful roles in the spatial structure, collective memory, and lived experience of Yazd’s residents. Water, symbolizing purity and life-giving qualities, alongside cypress, representing immortality and connection to the spiritual realm, contribute to the creation of places with existential depth. These elements act as conduits for sacred meaning, elevating spaces from mere functionality to existential and cultural significance. The research also indicates that fully understanding these ontological connections is essential to grasping the complete meaning of Yazd’s public-ritual spaces.

Keywords

Yazd

Public-Ritual Spaces

Ontology

Water

Cypress

Alehashemi, A. (2009). معبد آب؛ معبد آناهیتا، پیدایش فضای معماری در روند تکامل مفهوم آب [The temple of water; Anahita temple, the emergence of architectural space in the evolution of the concept of water]. MANZAR, the Scientific Journal of Landscape, 1(1), 58–61. [in Persian]
Bahar, M. (1996). ادیان آسیایی [Asian religions]. Cheshmeh Publishing. [in Persian]
Biabani, F., Safian, M. J., Toghyani, S., & Tabatabaei, M. S. (2021). An analysis of the ontological foundations of the opposition of place and space in modern architecture. Journal of Philosophical Investigations, 15(37), 418-449. https://doi.org/10.22034/jpiut.2021.44592.2763
Cheraghi, Z. (2009). تحلیل نقش قنات در حیات تاریخی یزد از دورۀ ایلخانان تا دوران پهلوی اول 674-1320 ش/ 1295-1941 م [Analysis of the role of Qanat in the historical life of Yazd from the Ilkhanid period to the first Pahlavi era (674-1320 SH / 1295-1941 AD)] [Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, University of Isfahan]. [in Persian]
Dehkhoda, A. A. (1998). Loghat -‭‭Nama (‎Dictionnaire encyclopedique‬)‭‎. Rozaneh.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
Eliade, M. (1959). The sacred and the profane. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Heidegger, M. (1971). Poetry language thought. Harper and Row.
Jahanpour, F. (2016). Sarve (Cedar) in Iranian Imagery. Pazand Quarterly, 12(44), 5-26.
Mansouri, S. A. (2011). Introduction/ Iranian landscape: the sacred above. MANZAR, the Scientific Journal of Landscape, 3(14), 5.
Mansouri, S. A. (2014). Persian landscape: the eternal cypress. MANZAR, the Scientific Journal of Landscape, 5(25), 4-5.
Mansouri, S. A. (2020a). The trilogy of Persian space. Manzar, 12(51). https://doi.org/10.22034/manzar.2020.108524
Mansouri, S. A. (2020b). The landscape capillaries. Manzar, 12(52), 3. https://doi.org/10.22034/manzar.2020.114371
Mohtasham, A., & Samanian, S. (2017). The functionality of Nakhl in Nakhl-gardani ritual (carrying symbolic coffin) in terms of protecting Iranian cultural treasures. Iranian Studies, 7(2), 103-121. https://doi.org/10.22059/jis.2018.68286
Norberg-Schulz, C. (1980). Genius loci: Towards a phenomenology of architecture. Rizzoli.
Razi, H. (2006). جشن‌های آب [Water festivals]. Bahjat Publishing. [in Persian]
Shahla, Sh. (2020). تأثیر و نقش آب در حادثۀ کربلا [The influence and role of water in the event of Karbala]. Research in Art and Humanities, 4(27), 57–63. [in Persian]

Soltanzadeh, H., & Soltanzadeh, A. (2017). Importance of water and water elements in Iranian gardens. MANZAR, the Scientific Journal of Landscape, 9(38), 6-19.
Tabarsi, A. (1971). تفسیر مجمع‌البیان [Tafsir Majma’ al-Bayan (S. E. Mirbagheri, Trans.)]. Farahani Publishing. [in Persian]
Yarahmadi, S., Ansari, M., & Mahdavinejad, M. (2022). The Role of the water systems in the eternity of the Persian gardens. MANZAR, the Scientific Journal of Landscape, 14(61), 6-15. https://doi.org/10.22034/MANZAR.2022.367987.2211
Zare Zadeh, F., & Purmand, H. A. (2009). Representation of Yazd people’s beliefs in the symbolic role of the cypress. Scientific-Research Journal of Visual and Applied Arts, 2(4), 83-97. https://www.magiran.com/p1161588

XML

PDF 1.28 M

Full Text in second language