Niasar Cave

TNMM 537

The villagers call the cave as Talar cave or Surakh Reis. In one of the gardens of the upper parts of Niasar, the main openings of the cave lead to inside the rocks.

The Niasar cave is thoroughly man-made (except for one or two natural chambers near the entrance openings). No doubt that the cave had been a Mitra temple. Its first cut possibly dates back to the Partian era. Most Mitra temples like the Niasar cave have been built in full darkness. This cave has other entrance openings, some of which are located inside a rock which separates the upper parts of Niasar from the lower neighborhoods. These openings which face the north along with the Niasar water fall make a beautiful scene visible from the village.

The signs of water erosion on the rocks bears testimony to the fact that the cave had been a scenic area in the times immemorial. The Niasar water fall is another proof that the cave had been a temple belonging to the followers of Mithraism. Down the water fall, there are two millstones and surprisingly one or two similar millstones can be seen deep inside the cave.

No doubt that the existence of these stones inside a dark and thrilling cave had not been for milling wheat but had rather been used for turning wheels during sacrifice ceremonies according to Mithraism rites.

According to Mr. Sheikhli, who has visited many caves throughout Iran, these stones were used as a cap to close the entrances to the small chambers of the cave. Current of air circulates throughout the cave well. One of the deepest wells inside the cave is 10 meters deep. In order to walk in most passages, corridors and even in small chambers of the cave, one has to creep and crawl. Even in some parts, the path is so narrow that it is not possible for one to pass through without stooping.

The cave had a big entrance opening which was destroyed in the 1980 earthquake. Parts of the cave were also collapsed onto the gardens located below it in the quake. Most earthenware objects inside the cave date back to the Sassanid era and some belong to the Partian period. However, some Islamic era pottery works can be seen around the openings of the cave.

On the rooftop of the cave, there are remnants of a building belonging to the Qajar period. Many fabulous stories are told by local people including one about how the stoneworker who made the cave has been spellbound and that the sound of his ax pounding the stone can be heard from inside the cave.