The ancient city of Harireh

The ancient city of Harireh, with an age of 800 years and an area of ​​120 hectares, has become a reality on the northern coast of Kish Island. The golden age of this city was from 367 to 912 AH.

The ancient city of Harireh was recognized as one of the national monuments of Iran in 1376.

The ancient city of Harireh
History of the city:
In the middle of the 4th century AH, the commercial-economic port of Siraf was destroyed. Siraf merchants were looking for another place to live on Kish Island and founded the city of Harireh.
Choosing this area to create a new city was the most reasonable choice for various reasons. Including:
The presence of three bays and a cape – playing the role of a natural harbor for the residents
Rocky coast – 10 meters higher than sea level
The relatively calm sea of ​​this area compared to other coasts
The objects found in this place indicate the cultural richness of this city in the past.
This city was one of the most prominent points of interest in the Persian Gulf region and the center of communication between India and China with Iran and Europe at the time.
According to reports, this city was destroyed by an earthquake and its people were forced to migrate.
Overview of the different parts of the city:
The different parts of the city of Harireh are:

The noble house of the city
The noble house is a unique example of communal life on the shores of the Persian Gulf.
This house emerged from archaeological excavations on one of the hills of the city of Harireh.
During the archaeological excavations of this house, a number of pottery objects and wall decorations such as stucco and tiles were found.
These star-shaped tiles are very similar to the tiles used in Takht-e-Solomon and Soltanieh of Zanjan, which date back to the Ilkhanid periods.
The appearance of these tiles means that they were imported to the island, which indicates the wealth of the owner of this house.
Most of the buildings in the city are made of stone, mortar and plaster.
That is why the architecture of this house is close to the style of houses in Yazd, Kashan and Isfahan.
Bathhouse
The ancient city of Harireh, Kish, includes a bathhouse, the remains of which are located a short distance from the noble house.
This building, with its numerous courtyards and fence, has an area of ​​500 square meters.
It includes various sections, including Sarbineh, Garmkhaneh and Tun in the southern section, and two treasury rooms in the last section of the building.
According to archaeologists, this bathhouse may be one of the oldest baths in Iran of its kind.
Considering the limited capacity of the bathhouse and the wall that extends to the noble house, it is believed that this bathhouse was private and belonged to the owner of the noble house.
The mosque
Among other monuments found in this city is a mosque belonging to the Seljuk period.
This mosque was found on an irregular plot of land with an area of ​​2000 square meters.
The size of the mosque’s area indicates its restoration and expansion in different periods.
This mosque has no roof and only one minaret and four altars have been identified in it.
This tall and magnificent minaret is designed with a circular plan and an internal staircase.
The numerous columns and bases of the mosque indicate its importance and prestige in the past.
Grooved-floor rooms and other parts around the city
The grooved-floor rooms are among the interesting spaces of this complex.
The strange floor of these rooms slopes gently from north to south.
Then it is formed into a cushion with a mortar made of coral, lime, and mortar.
Such a feature has not been discovered in any of the historical archaeological excavations in Iran.
Due to the location of the ancient city of Harireh by the sea, this place has many unknown spaces.
Horizontal underground channels and numerous wells are visible in the corners of the city, the function of which is still unclear.
Also, in the northern part, a short distance from the sea, there are remains of walls, channels, and water wells.
Initially, it was thought that these works were unrelated.
It can now be assumed that they were somehow related to maritime activities and were for easy access to the sea.
At the mouth of the bay located to the east of the building, masses of fish and shellfish are seen.
They indicate fishing activities, especially pearl fishing in ancient times.

The ancient city of Harireh is one of the unique attractions of Kish Island that few tourists miss. Even the famous poet Saadi visited this ancient city and mentioned its glory and splendor in his poems. Click here for more information

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