چهارقاپي، آتشكده اي در كوست خوربران

Chahār Qāpi, a Fire Temple in Khurbarān Kust

چهارتاقي قصرشيرين معروف به چهارقاپي با اضلاع 25 متر يكي از بزرگترين آتشكده هاي ايران در دوره ساساني به شمار ميرود كه با استناد به منابع تاريخي و شواهد باستانشناختي احتمالاً در اواخر اين سلسله ساخته شده است. بناي مذكور كه در مجاورت كاخ خسرو قرار داشت، معبدي براي ساكنان كاخ به شمار ميرفت تا تشريفات ديني خود را در آن به جاي آورند. مجاورت اين بنا با كاخ نشانگر وابستگي دين و دولت در حكومت ساساني به يكديگر است. چهارقاپي با وجود اينكه توسط روميان تخريب و بعدها با تغيير حكومت و مذهب در ايران به حال خود رها شد، با گذشت زمان طولاني از ساخت آن، داراي پي و گوشوارهاي بسيار مستحكم و جالب توجه است كه عظمت آن را در زمان آباداني آشكار ميسازد. چهارقاپي با چهار درگاه ورودي در زمره آتشكدههايي قرار دارد كه علاوهبر دارا بودن دالان طواف، از تزيينات معماري داخلي فوقالعاده زيبايي نيز برخوردار بوده است. پيرامون اين سازه مذهبي مجموعهاي از اتاق و تاسيساتي قرار داشته كه در سالهاي اخير بخشهايي از آنها در نتيجه كاوشهاي باستانشناسي كشف و تا حدودي مرمت شده است. سبك معماري اين بنا كاملاً ساساني و با استفاده از مصالح بومآورد از قبيل لاشه سنگ و ملاط گچ ساخته شده و بر فراز آن گنبدي رفيع قرار داشته است. اين مقاله كوشيده است تا با استفاده از منابع مورخين و جغرافيانگاران دوره اسلامي (رهيافت تاريخي) و نيز پژوهشهاي باستانشناسي سيماي روشني از چهارقاپي ارايه و عملكرد آن را به عنوان يكي از مراكز ديني ساسانيان در اواخر اين سلسله در كوست خوربران آشكار سازد.

The four arched of Qasr-e Shirin which is known as Chah?r Q?pi with sides of 25 meters is considered as one of the biggest fire temples of Sassanid era in Iran which was probably made above 14 centuries ago according to historical sources and archaeological artifacts. It is likely that Chah?r Q?pi was made by the order of king as regards its dimensions, stability and beauty as well as supplied accessories. A further glory for this structure comes from the fact that it was located in the vicinity of Khosrow palace – what has already raised speculations that the temple was built so that the members of the king’s court would perform their rituals in a way befitting the royal dignity. This could be particularly true when considering that the Sassanid rule was deeply rooted in religion and the kings of this dynasty considered themselves as the guardians of Zoroastrianism. Therefore, making water and fire temples was extremely important in the Sassanid dynasty. Chah?r Q?pi has a strong and remarkable foundation and jamb, even though it was destroyed by the Romans and later abandoned when new rulers with new religions came to power in Iran. These elements are undoubtedly signs of its greatness in its days of architectural glory. Chah?r Q?pi which has four thresholds is among fire temples that have vendor corridor as well as very beautiful interior decorations. This structure was surrounded by a collection of rooms and facilities parts of which were discovered by archaeologists in recent years and then restored by them. The architecture style of this temple is completely Sassanid. Common materials of the era like rubble stones and gypsum mortar were used in its construction. There was also a lofty dome at its top. This article has tried to offer a clear picture of sites used to perform rituals of Zoroastrianism during the Sassanid era. The sites are commonly known as Chah?r T?qi each with the form, construction materials and decorations particular to a specific section of the Sassanid society. The Chah?r T?qis built for the royals were much stronger and bigger and had more decorations and corridors. The information presented in this article has been collected from observations of Muslim historians and geographers as well as the findings of archaeologists in order to provide a clear image of Chah?r Q?pi. According to information obtained as the result of this research, the fire temple of Chah?r Q?pi was simultaneously constructed with the palace of Sassanid king Khosrow Parviz. The cruciform plan of this monument that comprises of two perpendicular axes recalls the style of some Sassanid palaces, especially in the beginning of this dynasty.