Qyzqapan
The rock tombs of Qyzqapan[1] or Qizqapan (Kurdish: ئهشكهوتي قزقاپان, romanized: Ashkawt-i Qizqapan), is a rock-cut tomb lying near the Palaeolithic cave of Zarzi in Iraqi Kurdistan.[2]
Story[edit]
Ashkawt (also spelled Ishkewrt ئه شكوت) means cave in Sorani. Qizqapan means "rapist" or "ravisher" in Turkish. The cave is also known as the cave of the abducted girl (Kurdish: ئه شكوتي كچه دزراوه كه).[2]
History[edit]
The rock-cut tomb has three burial chambers, each with a hewn grave in the left corner, all accessible from the central chamber.[3][2] The entrance into the tomb lies approximately 8 meters above the ground level.
Different dates from the Medes, Achaemenid, Seleucid, and Parthian periods have been proposed for the construction of the tomb.[4][5] The general belief of scientists is that the tomb was built by the Medes people [6] [7]
The symbols of the tomb refers to Mithraism,[8] with Mithra being the supreme deity of Medes.[2] Some scholars such as Igor Diakonov believe that the tomb was built for the Median ruler Huvaxshatra or Cyaxares.[9] if the Qyzqapan tomb is a royal one (which is very likely) the warrior is none other than Cyaxares.[10]
References[edit]
- ^ Gershevitch, Ilya (1985). The Cambridge History of Iran - Vol2 - The Median and Achaemenian Periods. Cambridge University Press.
- ^ a b c d Shukir, Osama (2018). "The Rock-Cut Tombs of Qizqapan, Iraqi Kurdistan".
- ^ "Qyzqapan Tomb".
- ^ "QIZQAPAN: A ROCK-CUT TOMB FROM THE MEDIAN, ACHAEMENID, SELEUCID OR PARTHIAN PERIOD?".
- ^ name=":0">Shukir, Osama (2018). "The Rock-Cut Tombs of Qizqapan, Iraqi Kurdistan".
- ^ Gershevitch, Ilya (1985). The Cambridge History of Iran - Vol2 - The Median and Achaemenian Periods. Cambridge University Press.
- ^ Diakonoff, Igor. "Media".
- ^ "Qizqapan".
- ^ Diakonoff, Igor. "Media".
- ^ Gershevitch, Ilya (1985). The Cambridge History of Iran - Vol2 - The Median and Achaemenian Periods. Cambridge University Press.