Introduction to Ancient Bazaars of Iran
The bazaars (the public market) is a word from the old Persian (Pahlavi), meaning “the place of prices”. Historically speaking, the market refers to the place where buyers and sellers go to trade for goods or services.
The institution of the bazaar in Iran has been formed since the Sassanian period (3rd century) in prosperous trading cities. It has always been considered a socio-economic institution in large cities and towns.
Originally, the core of most bazaars formed around the main gate of each city, and gradually, it extended along the main street. The formation, level of development and the organization of the spaces of each bazaar depend on its functioning and its economic growth.
A good interaction and coordination between the architectural elements of the bazaar has always contributed to its dynamism. Elements such as the corridor, galleries, crossroads, the squares are considered the communication spaces of the bazaar.
Most of Iran’s bazaars are linear, and the most important path of each bazaar with its neighboring shops, is considered the main passage of the bazaar, around which are placed, valid trades and professions.
Being the most important architectural element of the bazaar, the caravanserai had the same function as the modern commercial complexes. But, following the weakening of the role of caravans in the transport system of the bazaar, the word caravanserai changed its name to “Serai “or” urban caravanserai “.
The expansion and development of the bazaar have caused the creation of galleries. The number of galleries depends on the prosperity and economic activity of the urban agglomeration. Normally, each gallery was devoted to a particular profession.
In traditional bazaars, the hallway generally functions as a link between the bazaar galleries and its architectural space. The “Hojre” (shops), caravanserai, “Timche” (small caravanserai), “Gheysarie” (luxury goods market) are also architectural spaces in a bazaar.
The “Hojré” is one of the smallest architectural spaces and at the same time the most important one, in a bazaar. It is for this reason that each gallery in the bazaar identifies itself with its neighboring shops.
Accommodation in urban caravanserais is temporary, so most of them lack stalls for camels. Most urban caravanserais have a central courtyard, with rooms built on two floors on each side.
Basements are generally used as warehouses for goods, and the upper floors of the ground floor were used as commercial offices.
“Four Sides” or “Four Sugh” (markets) are the intersection of two galleries that are important from an economic and social point of view.
“Timché” meant small caravanserai, but nowadays it is considered a “Serai” small (market) which is comparable to modern trade passages. So, the cover of the “stamps” provides a good structure for selling valuable goods such as carpets and clothes.
In terms of architectural design, there are various arrangements of Timiches and caravanserai of which that of “Bakhshi” in Kashan is a beautiful and successful example. The complex is unique in terms of space and organization.
“Gheysarie” in Arabic means the king’s market, but in Iran it is a structure having architectural and physical characteristics of Timche, and its function is to provide luxury goods such as textiles.
