Ali Ettehad
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Fading Mithr

Fading Mithr
(Confidence #2)
An environmental work/ Duration of documentary film 1 min. and 38 sec./ 2008

Mithr or Mehr as the most essential concept of Mithraistic mysticism is prosperous of such a sacred position that even after expansion in Europe and encountering Greek myths not only stays alive but takes the shape of a Concrete Goddess. But this terminology, whether in ancient Persian dialect or new Farsi is replaced by a metaphor that used to be attributed to: the sun which is the most promising thing in the world. The surprising conclusion of this abstract concept is that its name is obliterated in this land but its signs remained in Iranian mysticism (after Islam) and even in Islamic architecture.
The word Mihrabeh (is made of the words Mehr and Aab which means promise and water which is the symbol of purity) means Mithraistic temple; and it has been Arabized into Mihrab (Altar) [In Arabic Mihrab also means battle field]. But there still are some signs of Mihrabeh: Shamseh (sun) at the forked arch is at the top, and abstract blue tiles that are replaced for Aab (water) are at the bottom. Mithraistic "Khoarabeh" [temple] got an Arabic suffix after Islamic literature and transformed into "Kharabat" –which in Arabic also means Ruin]. There are so many other examples as well.

Fading Mithr
(Confidence #2)
An environmental work/ Duration of documentary film 1 min. and 38 sec./ 2008

Mithr or Mehr as the most essential concept of Mithraistic mysticism is prosperous of such a sacred position that even after expansion in Europe and encountering Greek myths not only stays alive but takes the shape of a Concrete Goddess. But this terminology, whether in ancient Persian dialect or new Farsi is replaced by a metaphor that used to be attributed to: the sun which is the most promising thing in the world. The surprising conclusion of this abstract concept is that its name is obliterated in this land but its signs remained in Iranian mysticism (after Islam) and even in Islamic architecture.
The word Mihrabeh (is made of the words Mehr and Aab which means promise and water which is the symbol of purity) means Mithraistic temple; and it has been Arabized into Mihrab (Altar) [In Arabic Mihrab also means battle field]. But there still are some signs of Mihrabeh: Shamseh (sun) at the forked arch is at the top, and abstract blue tiles that are replaced for Aab (water) are at the bottom. Mithraistic "Khoarabeh" [temple] got an Arabic suffix after Islamic literature and transformed into "Kharabat" –which in Arabic also means Ruin]. There are so many other examples as well.