Kangavar Anahita Temple
The famous structure, that is located in the center of Kangavar City in Kermanshah Province on the way from Hamedan to Kermanshah is called the Kangavar Anahita Temple. This monument is built on a natural hill with a maximum height of 32 meters from the surrounding lands. This monument was recorded among the national monuments in 1310 with the number 31.
Description
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 Kangavar Anahita Temple. 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. This temple in Kangavar is the most famous temple assigned to Anahita in Iran.</div
Architecture
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. This temple is the second stone building in Iran after Persepolis. The architectural style of this monument is of Arsacid style.