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Detailed map of the city of Kashan – Jewish quarter (please click to enlarge) year 1921
Geography:
Location
Kashan is a city in Isfahan province, located at the northern side of the province. The city comprises three districts and 67 villages, which hold a strategic position since they are located en route to the main roads that lead the central provinces and cities to the southern and southeastern regions of the country.
Weather
Bounded by the central mountain range of Iran to the south and west, Kashan experiences a diverse climate. Villages nestled in the slopes of these mountains enjoy a mild, temperate climate, gradually transitioning to dry and hot conditions owing to proximity to the Central Iranian desert in the northeast. The plain area of Kashan, likewise, experiences hot and arid weather. Consequently, Kashan tends to be relatively cold in winter and extremely hot and dry in summer.
Water sources
Kashan is home to over 130 qanats (i.e. cisterns), with 40 to 50 still in operation, and more than 8 springs, notably the Sulaimaniyah and Fin springs. These water sources play a crucial role in the region’s agriculture and daily life.
Kashan’s beauty and bounty
Kashan is mostly renowned for its rose water, hand-woven carpets, ancient landmarks, and abundant tourist attractions. The city is also known as “Dar al-Mu’minin” (i.e. City of the Faithful), the City of Scorpions, and the Gateway to the Desert. Its agricultural output includes various cereals and seasonal fruits.
The city has numerous historical and tourist sites, including the Fin Garden, Agha Bozorg Mosque and School, Ameri House, Abbasi House, Tabatabaei House, Boroujerdi House, the Sultan Bathhouse, and the tomb of Shah Abbas Safavi.
Historical roots:
Kashan’s 7,000 year roots
Research conducted by a French team under Professor Roman Ghirshman between 1932 and 1934 revealed a rich historical root for the Kashan region, tracing back to a highly ancient civilization. Studies indicate settlement by the oldest tribes of the central plateau of Iran, known as Sialk, over 7,000 years ago, about two kilometers southwest of present-day Kashan. The city’s modern identity is rooted in this ancient civilization.
Kashan, the oldest cradle of civilization
Archaeological excavations have revealed that the oldest known human civilization and the first human settlement in this region was Sialk, Kashan. The people of Sialk built their houses using mudbrick and mud mortar, and they established their first urban civilization. Additionally, the discovery of silver coins from the Achaemenes and Parthian periods indicates the influence of these civilizations. Evidence such as a treasure trove dating back to the late first millennium BC in the village of Margh underscores the continuity of civilization in the Kashan region until the late Achaemenes era.
While no records or artifacts from the Parthian era have been found, historical evidence suggests Kashan’s prosperity during the Sassanid period. The presence of fire temples in Niasar, Khorramdasht, Natanz, and other ancient sites provide information about a Sassanid city named Sarouyeh in the Kashan region. Historians believe traces of this city remained even into the early Islamic period. Further solidifying this claim is the discovery of artifacts from various Islamic eras, including the Seljuk, Safavid, and Qajar dynasties, found throughout the Kashan regio
Fin Kashan bath