Persian gardens. Yes, you read right. What are they and where to find them.

Think of one thing that perfectly defines the notion of paradise. To many of us, one of those thoughts evokes the idea of a tranquil, well kept garden. It might be new for you to hear that the reason you see paradise through the prism of a garden could be because of the Persians.

Although Babylonian mythologies are full of allusions to a garden, the Persians took this idea to a whole new level given that their legacy endures to this day in popular imagination one way or another. Persian gardens (in Persian باغ های ایرانی) refer to a tradition and style of garden design that has its origins in Persia (currently Iran). Indeed, Greek historian Herodotus noted that; the Persian kings liked gardening.

What makes a Persian garden a Persian garden?

High walls, trees for shade, streams and fountains set apart Persian gardens from the rest.
It is important to reiterate this point that Persian gardens are walled in which is a huge departure from Chinese, French, Zen or English gardens. The Iranian plateau being an arid region, Persian gardens offered respite from the hot climate by creating shady areas within the gardens.
Although all these gardens may share formal landscaping features, there are a three divergent criteria that makes Persian gardens unique. These are;
  • The need to hear and see water flowing which explains the use of fountains and canals. For most gardens, water fountains are mainly employed for their visual appeal. But the creators of Persian garden wanted to go further than that, they wanted to replicate both the dropping and trickling sound of water in a stream.
  • The gardens are normally divided into four large squares by means of causeways and water channels.
  • Finally, is the clever integration of the indoor and outdoor elements with the use of high walled enclosures. As a matter of fact, when you are in a Persian garden for the first time, it is very hard to isolate these two elements.
The Persian word for this “enclosed space” was referred to as “pairidaēza” which was transmitted and adopted by the Judeo-Christian mythology, when the Jews were under Persian exile.

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