Photos

To end this serie of ceramic panels from the Tekkieh of Mo'aven ol-Molk on a lighter note, here is a surprising representation of Ahuramazda, the main iranian god from pre-islamic times. It belongs to a group of three panels showing scenes from well-known Achemenid and Sassanid low-reliefs, and fantasy animals. I guess it's an hommage to the glory of these two ancient empires: the Qajar dynasty, under which this Tekkieh was built in the 18th century, was eager to emphasize their ancient heritage.

Religions in ancient Iran are a complex matter, since they are not much documented. Ahuramazda was the main god when iranian religions were polytheist, and became the only god after the reform by Zororaster/Zarathustra, which gave birth to one of the first monotheist religion. Zoroastrianism was the state religion when the Arabs conquered Iran and brought Islam. It is still one of the four religions officially recognized by the islamic republic; most zoroastrians live in the Yazd area.

(Once again, I'd be interested to know what is written next to Ahuramazda)