Qyzqapan
Ancient rock-cut tomb in Iraqi Kurdistan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The rock-cut tombs of Qyzqapan[1] or Qizqapan (Kurdish: ئهشكهوتی قزقاپان, romanized: Ashkawt-i Qizqapan), is a rock-cut tomb lying near the Palaeolithic cave of Zarzi in Iraqi Kurdistan.[2]
Story
Ashkawt means cave in Sorani Kurdish. The cave is also known as the cave of the abducted girl (Kurdish: ئەشكەوتی كچه دزراوەكه).[2]
History
The rock-cut tomb has three burial chambers, each with a hewn grave in the left corner, all accessible from the central chamber.[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.[3][2] The general belief of scientists is that the tomb was built by the Medes people.[1][4]
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The symbols of the tomb refers to Mithraism,[citation needed] 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.[4] if the Qyzqapan tomb is a royal one (which is very likely) the warrior is none other than Cyaxares.[1]