فارسی
Year of photography: 2007
Ancient Jewish Presence in Iran
Evidence from ancient Jewish texts and oral traditions indicate that Jews have a past in Iran that goes beyond 2,700 years. These historical evidence include ancient and cultural sites, particularly the presence of prophet tombs throughout Iran, such as the tomb of Daniel in Shush, Esther and Mordechai in Hamadan, Serah Bat Asher in Isfahan, and Habakkuk in Tuyserkan.
The first Jewish settlement in Iran
Following the destruction of the First Temple (Beit Hamikdash) by Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king, Jews were exiled to areas under his control in southern Iraq and present-day Iran.
Following Cyrus’ victory and the liberation of the exiles, Jews were allowed to either return to their homeland (Jerusalem), remain where they were, or migrate to any other place they wished. Some tribes chose to return and rebuild the Second Temple (Beit Hamikdash), which was now under Achaemenid rule. Other tribes remained, and some others moved to Pars (Persia), present-day Iran.
The Settlement of Jews in Giliard
According to available evidence and historical research, the history of the first Jewish settlement in Giliard of Damavand dates back to the period of their forced exile (Galut) in 3368 Hebrew Calendar.
The Giliard Cemetery, also known as Gilard or Jilard, is located on a hill overlooking the Gilavand road leading to Damavand, northwest of the village of Gilavard. It covers an area of 137,500 square meters and lies at 52 degrees longitude, 35 degrees latitude, and an elevation of 1,982 meters above sea level.
Historically, Jews have referred to this town as Gil’ad. Gil’ad is the name of a city in northern Israel (Gilead). According to one account, the first Jewish immigrants to this region (i.e. Damavand) were from Gil’ad (Israel).
The Original City of Gil’ad in Israel
In Hebrew culture, the word “Gil’ad” is considered to mean “eternal pillar” or “monument”. It is also the name of a land, part of which is nowadays in eastern Israel and another part in Jordan. The city is located east of the Jordan River and extends from the Sea of Galilee in the north to the Dead Sea in the center, forming part of the suburbs of Irbid, Jordan’s second-largest city, after Amman, the capital. It is also an entirely agricultural region.
Gilead is located on the southern slopes of the Gilead Mountains, and Arabs use the word “Jil’ad,” which is considered to mean “hard and strong rock”, which could certainly indicate the mountainous nature of the region.
The Torah also mentions a person named Gil’ad (third generation of Prophet Joseph) and the tribe of Gil’ad in several verses.
- Numbers, Parashat Mas’ei, Chapter 33
The paternal leaders of Gil’ad’s children – who was the son of Makir son of Manasseh from the tribe of Joesheph’s children – went to the presence of Moses and spoke with him.
- Numbers Parashat Pinchas Chapter 26
The descendants of Manasseh: the family of the Machirites from Machir and Machir’s son was Gilead; the family of the Gileadites from Gilead.
The Giliard Cemetery
The Giliard Cemetery consists of two parts – an old and a relatively new one. The old section is located in the southeast, and the new section is located to the north, extending from the old section.
Tombstones
The oldest tombstone in the new section dates back to 1925. All graves are oriented east-west and the stones used for each grave typically exhibit monolithic geometric shapes like cubes and cuboids. Some have weathered, losing their original shape and taking on a new semi-cylindrical form due to erosion. The tombstones are primarily constructed from graphite, mostly consisting of a single horizontal slab, although some others feature two perpendicular slabs.
Most tombstones feature a Hebrew inscription at the top margin, often accompanied by images of the seven branches of the menorah or the Star of David below the inscription. Engraved in both Hebrew and Persian script are the name, father’s name, surname, and date of death of the deceased. Some stones are decorated with flower carvings on the side, while others maintain a simpler, unadorned appearance. The dimensions of the stones vary from a maximum length of 2 meters to 75 centimeters.
The large number of graves in the Giliard Cemetery is a clear indication that Jewish citizens have lived in this area for centuries and have even formed a large and significant population.
The disappointing situation of Giliard Cemetery
Undoubtedly, with their deep-rooted cultural and historical ties, the Jewish community has played a significant role in the development of a flourishing civilization in this region. Nevertheless, today, very few Jews reside or visit Damavand. Until recently, occasionally, upon the request of the deceased, their bodies were transferred from Tehran to Giliard and buried in this cemetery. But nowadays, what is clear is that the Giliard Cemetery is currently in an unsuitable condition.
Owing to a prohibition for the cemetery’s use, neglect, insufficient maintenance, and the rise of irregularities, the cemetery has transformed into a neglected and aged burial ground. Tombstones lay shattered and strewn about, while the southeastern and eastern corners of Giliard Cemetery have devolved into dumping sites for trash, soil, debris, and construction materials. Furthermore, the adjacent agricultural lands are steadily being acquired, hinting an imminent integration into the urban landscape with the forthcoming construction of buildings. To safeguard this historical legacy, there are plans underway to erect a protective wall around the cemetery.
In the center of this cemetery, the remains of four columns of a roofed tomb still stand, forming a cradle-like shape. However, the name and identity of the person buried under the roof of this tomb are unknown.
According to the dates on the tombstones, the last Jew was buried in this cemetery in 1999.
Satellite image of Gilliard Cemetery
In the center of this cemetery, the remains of four columns of a roofed tomb still stand, forming a cradle-like shape. However, the name and identity of the person buried under the roof of this tomb are unknown.
According to the dates on the tombstones, the last Jew was buried in this cemetery in 1999.
The Historical Presence of Jews in Giliard
The earliest historical account of Jewish presence in the geographical area of Iran dates back to 741-749 or 732 BC. According to one account, around 60,000 Israelites who were taken captive following the Assyrian king’s attack were exiled to Gil’ad (Jil’ad) in Damavand.
The archaeological evidence found in Giliard Damavand and its ancient cemetery further confirms the history of the Jewish presence in Iran before the formation of the first global empire, the Achaemenid Empire.
Many of the tombstones in this cemetery have been broken or displaced, and some have undoubtedly been plundered and smuggled abroad to be sold as historical artifacts to profit-driven individuals.
The Ancient Connection of Iranian Jews with Iran
According to the book “Origin and Religions of Ancient Iranians”, approximately two hundred years after the captivity of the Jews by the Assyrian and Babylonian kings, Cyrus the Great issued a decree of freedom for the Jews, providing them with all kinds of political and financial support and sending them to the Holy Land to rebuild Jerusalem and Bait al-Maqdis. However, some Iranian Jews were unaware of this decree, and others, who were aware, chose not to leave Iran due to their deep roots in the land and their ownership of property and livestock. Over time, they gradually dispersed to other parts of Iran and settled in those cities instead. Today, there is a large village near Damavand called Giliard, and its hills are home to a 2,500-year-old Jewish cemetery.
The Enduring Connection of Iranian Jews to the Cemetery
Even today, Tehran’s Jewish community desires to have their graves preserved and untouched after death. They often make a will requesting that their bodies be transported to the Giliard hills and buried there, hoping to remain safe from the changes of time.
A Thriving Jewish Community in Giliard
Apparently, as recently as eighty years ago, at least 500 Jewish citizens lived in the Giliard region. They had four synagogues and a dedicated public bathhouse. Additionally, until the revolution, the Giliard Gardens in Damavand served as a summer retreat and recreational area for many Tehranian Jews.
The Tombstones
Most of the tombstones are cube or rectangular in shape. Some of the stones have worn down over time, and their edges have become curved. Most of the tombstones, including some dating back 800 years, bear inscriptions in Hebrew and carvings such as the seven-branched Jewish menorah or the Star of David. Some of the carvings on the tombstones depict tools that represent the deceased’s profession during their lifetime, such as scissors, a cleaver, a butcher’s knife, and so on
Year of photography: 2007
Year of photography: 2007
Year of photography: 2007
Year of photography: 2007
Year of photography: 2007
Year of photography: 2007
Gilliard Damavand shrine in 2014
Gilliard Shrine Spring 2017
Through the dedicated efforts of Mr. Harun Yeshayaei, the cooperation of the Tehran Jewish Committee (the Property Division), and the relevant government agencies in the Islamic Republic – particularly the Vice President of the Cultural Heritage Organization, Mrs. Zahra Ahmadipour, Mr. Mohammad Talebian, and Dr. Nazari – the Giliard Damavand Historical Cemetery was registered as a national monument in the Cultural Heritage Organization.
The Giliard Shrine, Spring 2007
The Giliard Shrine, registered in the spring of 2017, stands as a testament to the rich history and cultural heritage of the Jewish community in Iran. The Cultural Heritage Organization of Iran, in its commitment to preserving national monuments, registered the Giliard-Damavand Historical Cemetery, one of the most valuable historical and cultural sites of Iranian Jews, on the National Monuments List with the registration number: 31691 on March 11, 2017.
Gilliard Shrine Spring 2017
Translation of the text of the letter of Iran’s Cultural Heritage Organization in line with the national registration of Gilliard Damavand Tomb
Gilliard Shrine
جهت مشاهده و جستجو قبوراها بر روی دکمه رو به رو کلیک کنید.