Amidst the rugged terrain of modern Iraqi Kurdistan lies the enigmatic mountain settlement of Rabana-Merquly, a site steeped in both military fortitude and spiritual intrigue. Recent excavations led by Dr. Michael Brown from Heidelberg University suggest that beyond its strategic military significance, Rabana-Merquly may have served as a sacred sanctuary devoted to the revered Persian water goddess, Anahita.
Perched on the southwest slopes of Mt. Piramagrun in the Zagros Mountains, Rabana-Merquly stands as a testament to the legacy of the Parthian Empire, which once held sway over vast swathes of Iran and Mesopotamia some 2,000 years ago. Its imposing fortifications, stretching nearly four kilometers, bear witness to its strategic importance as a regional center.
A collaborative effort spanning years of meticulous excavation revealed tantalizing clues hinting at Rabana-Merquly's dual identity. Among the discoveries are architectural marvels nestled alongside a natural waterfall, hinting at a site of worship dedicated to Anahita, the ancient Persian water deity. Dr. Brown and his team uncovered remnants of a possible fire altar nearby, further underscoring the site's religious significance.
Anahita, celebrated as the celestial embodiment of Earth's waters, holds a prominent place in Zoroastrian lore, where she is revered as a divine figure capable of assuming various forms, including that of a cascading stream. The cult of Anahita flourished during the Seleucid and Parthian periods, particularly in the western regions of Iraq.
The hypothesis of an Anahita shrine at Rabana-Merquly draws strength from the architectural extensions surrounding the seasonal waterfall, evoking the symbiotic relationship between fire and water integral to pre-Islamic Persian beliefs. The discovery of an altar-like sculpture nearby, possibly used for ritualistic offerings or burning oil, further bolsters this interpretation.
Excavations unearthed burial vessels dating back to the second to first century BC, providing compelling evidence of the shrine's antiquity and its contemporaneous existence with the fortified settlements of Rabana and Merquly. Dr. Brown suggests the possibility of a pre-existing shrine assimilated into the Anahita cult during the Parthian era, underscoring the intricate interplay between religion and geopolitics.
In the Parthian realm, religious sites often doubled as dynastic cult centers, venerating the king and his lineage. Worshipers ascending to the sanctuary would have passed beneath the gaze of a rock relief depicting a local Parthian ruler, emblematic of the close ties between royalty, spirituality, and place.
While definitive attribution to Anahita remains elusive due to the scarcity of comparable archaeological evidence, the Rabana sanctuary offers a compelling glimpse into the intricate tapestry of regional religious and political dynamics during the Parthian epoch, a testament to the enduring allure of ancient mysteries.
The paper is published in the journal Iraq.
Source: Heidelberg University