When Arabs Invaded Iran and reached the central lands, a group of people escaped and took refuge in the valley of a mountain, today known as Karkas. The seclusion provided by the mountains enabled them to remain in relative detachment from the rest of Iran that was under the attack of Arab army. They followed their Zoroastrian Sassanid ancestors and made houses and fire temples in that tradition. However, slowly, the story of an infidel group living in the depth of mountains reached the Islamic rulers and attempts to turn the villagers in Abyaneh to Islam began; although the new religion wasn’t accepted at first, people began to turn to Islam that soon became the main religion of the villagers. While their religion changed, many of their Sassanid traditions remained.
In Iranian Mythology, there is prince called Siavash. With a conspiracy led by King’s brother, Siavash was captured and murdered. His death was so tragic that when the news of his death scattered in the country the whole nation began mourning. From then, people started a mourning ritual on the day of his death. Abyaneh was among few places that mourned Siavash’s death each year. Even after converting to Islam, the ritual of Siavashan (mourning for Siavash’s death) was held.
The popularity of Islam and especially Shiite Islam shifted the focus from Siavash to Imam Hossein who was also brutally martyred. The ancient tradition of Siavashan that dates back to early Zoroastrian time and the language that dates back to Sassanid time shows how much the villagers have maintained their Iranian origin.
Abyaneh is famous for its architecture; the stepped village is like a red pearl in the Valley of Karkas Mountain. The whole village is covered with red soil and the wooden doors, windows and terraces create beautiful harmony.
Today Abyaneh is famous for its architecture; the stepped village is like a red pearl in the Valley of Karkas Mountain. The whole village is covered with red soil and the wooden doors, windows and terraces create beautiful harmony. The houses are small but built in two or more floors. The four mosque of the village, the pulpit that dates back to 11th century, the wooden altar that belongs to 14th century, and the Harpark arched vault are the main tourist attractions of the place. The villagers still wear traditional attires that adds to the charms of the village. Visiting Abyaneh is a fascinating travel through time to the end of Sassanid and the beginning of Islam.
