Iwan

The Ivan (also Aiwan or Liwan ) is a particular building type Persian and Central Asian buildings.

He is a three-sided closed hall, which is left completely open at the front. Neither unique exterior yet interior, it is a main feature of the Central Asian and Persian architecture, which BC in the Syrian- Mesopotamian region first appeared in the 9th century at Tell Halaf and can be detected even in Hellenistic Bactria. In the Parthian architecture, it is found from the 1st century AD, where it occurs as an independent space and not, as later from the Sassanian period, as pre-zone to a domed hall.

Examples of the Parthians found in the Parthian palace in Assyria from the 1st century BC, the west facade are partly reconstructed in Vorderasiatischem Museum in Berlin. Good condition are the Ivane of the Parthian palace at Hatra. Here are two large Ivane, each accompanied by two small, the left and right, and a smaller group lined up on the same facade. The design of the facade reminiscent of Roman triumphal arches. In the left -conditioning, an opening leads into the rear wall of the great Ivan to a fire temple behind it. Although the fire temple seems only joined the Ivan, the installation to the later type of input Ivan here.

Near Firuzabad in Persia was Ardashir I (ruler: 224-239/40 ) to build a palace. A monumental series of Ivan - Ivan - domed hall there is access to the inner courtyard, there is a large Ivan is at the opposite end with the tailgate closed.

The largest surviving Ivan was built by the Sassanids in Ctesiphon. The probably of Khosrau I ( king 531-579 ) built today Taq -e Kisra called, palace lies on the east bank of the Tigris. Its main Iwan is about 30 meters high and 43 meters deep.

In most cases, the Ivan opens to a courtyard, which is designed landscaped and has a central water basin. Such a courtyard can also have multiple Ivane.

Are cross-shaped four Ivane arranged around a rectangular courtyard that two faced, then one speaks of a four - Ivan - conditioning. The Shah Mosque in Isfahan has such a plan. Numerous mosques, madrassas and caravanserais in Central Asia are constructed in such a way.

In residential Ivan is often oriented to the north. Traditionally, it is the shady place of stay for the summer. Its formation has to do with the wood poverty of Iran. For this reason, Iranian desert homes have no peristyle or portico, which forms a shaded occupied zone as in Greece.

A history of architecture precursor alongside other like the bit Hilani be ( Assyrian for " Hittite House "), a transverse entrance hall with lateral front rooms. Already in Petra ( Al- BITRA ', Jordan ) - the capital after the collapse of the successor kingdoms become wealthy of Nabatäerreiches - there was banquet halls, dining sofas ( klinai ) on the side walls, which were called sofa ( = Liwan / Ivan ) and on the room name went over. The term referred to, inter alia, in the Ottoman Empire the State Council, therefore, a Greek Andron similar gathering of dignitaries.