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Qyzqapan

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Tomb relief
Tomb relief

The rock tombs of Qyzqapan[1] or Qizqapan (Kurdish: ئه‌شكه‌وتی قزقاپان, romanizedAshkawt-i Qizqapan), is a rock-cut tomb lying near the Palaeolithic cave of Zarzi in Iraqi Kurdistan.[2]

Story

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Ashkawt (also spelled Ishkewrt ئەشكەوت) means cave in Sorani Kurdish. Qizqapan means "rapist" or "ravisher" in Turkish. The cave is also known as the cave of the abducted girl (Kurdish: ئەشكەوتی كچه دزراوەكه).[2]

History

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The rock-cut tomb has three burial chambers, each with a hewn grave in the left corner, all accessible from the central chamber.[3][2] The entrance into the tomb lies approximately 8 meters above the ground level.

Different dates from the Medes, Achaemenid, Seleucid, and Parthian periods have been proposed for the construction of the tomb.[4][5] The general belief of scientists is that the tomb was built by the Medes people [6] [7]

Two Columns on top of the gate to the tomb

The symbols of the tomb refers to Mithraism,[8] with Mithra being the supreme deity of Medes.[2] Some scholars such as Igor Diakonov believe that the tomb was built for the Median ruler Huvaxshatra or Cyaxares.[9] if the Qyzqapan tomb is a royal one (which is very likely) the warrior is none other than Cyaxares.[10]


Sun/Divine emblem on top of the gate to the Tomb

References

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  1. ^ Gershevitch, Ilya (1985). The Cambridge History of Iran - Vol2 - The Median and Achaemenian Periods. Cambridge University Press.
  2. ^ a b c d Shukir, Osama (2018). "The Rock-Cut Tombs of Qizqapan, Iraqi Kurdistan".
  3. ^ "Qyzqapan Tomb".
  4. ^ "QIZQAPAN: A ROCK-CUT TOMB FROM THE MEDIAN, ACHAEMENID, SELEUCID OR PARTHIAN PERIOD?".
  5. ^ name=":0">Shukir, Osama (2018). "The Rock-Cut Tombs of Qizqapan, Iraqi Kurdistan".
  6. ^ Gershevitch, Ilya (1985). The Cambridge History of Iran - Vol2 - The Median and Achaemenian Periods. Cambridge University Press.
  7. ^ Diakonoff, Igor. "Media".
  8. ^ "Qizqapan".
  9. ^ Diakonoff, Igor. "Media".
  10. ^ Gershevitch, Ilya (1985). The Cambridge History of Iran - Vol2 - The Median and Achaemenian Periods. Cambridge University Press.