Anahita Temple – Kermanshah

The famous structure known as the Temple of Anahita is located in the center of Kangavar City in Kermanshah Province on the way from Hamedan to Kermanshah. This monument is built on a natural hill with a maximum height of thirty two meters from the surrounding lands. Some historians consider this structure a temple for goddess Anahita. Anahita meaning clean and free from contamination has been the goddess of water, the guardian of the springs and rain and a symbol offirtility, love and friendship in ancient Iranian belief. This belief existed since the period before Zoroaster in Iran and has been the center of attention in the next periods. Numerous temples and statues have been built in Iran before Islam in respect for this Iranian goddess. In addition, Pol-e Dokhtar and Qal’eh Dokhtars that have been built throughout Iran have taken the name “Dokhtar ” in memorandum of this goddess. Different monuments of Anahita (including temples and inscriptions) are remaining in Hamedan, Shush, Kazerun, Azerbayjan, Kermanshah and Kangavar. The Temple of Anahita in Kangavar is the most famous temple assigned to Anahita in Iran. The ratio of the height of its columns to their diagonals is three to one and this has made it unique and inimitable among all the temples in the world. The Temple of Anahita is the second stone building in Iran after Persepolis. The architectural style of this monument is of Arsacid style. This monument was recorded among the national monuments in 1310 with the number 31.