Síyáh-Chál
Encyclopedia
Síyáh-Chál is the common word in Persian language for "dungeon
".
Historically, siyah-chals were used as a harsher form of incarceration. Typically, such dungeons had no windows or outlets, other than the entrance, consisting of a short stairway into the ground.
In Bahá'í history
the "Síyáh-Chál" refers to the dungeon south east of the palace of the Sháh
and near the Sabzih-Maydán in Tehran
where Bahá'u'lláh
, founder of the Bahá'í Faith
, was in captivity in 1852, together with about 30 other Bábí's
. He claimed that here he had a vision of a Maid of Heaven
, through whom he received his mission as a Messenger of God and as the One whose coming the Báb
had prophesied. He described his experiences in his Epistle to the Son of the Wolf
and Súriy-i-Haykal. It was also the place where he composed his first known tablet
, the Rashh-i-'Amá
.
In 1868 the dungeon was filled-in and the Tikyíh Dowlat, a royal mourning center for Imam Husayn, was built over the site. The site was Bahá'í property from 1954 until the Islamic Revolution of 1979. It has been described by Shoghi Effendi
as the second holiest Bahá'í site in Iran.
Dungeon
A dungeon is a room or cell in which prisoners are held, especially underground. Dungeons are generally associated with medieval castles, though their association with torture probably belongs more to the Renaissance period...
".
Historically, siyah-chals were used as a harsher form of incarceration. Typically, such dungeons had no windows or outlets, other than the entrance, consisting of a short stairway into the ground.
In Bahá'í history
Bahá'í history
Bahá'í history is often traced through a sequence of leaders, beginning with the Báb's May 23, 1844 declaration in Shiraz, and ultimately resting on an administrative order established by the central figures of the religion. The religion had its background in two earlier movements in the...
the "Síyáh-Chál" refers to the dungeon south east of the palace of the Sháh
Golestan Palace
Golestān Palace pronounced "Kakheh Golestān" is the former royal Qajar complex in Iran's capital city.The oldest of the historic monuments in Tehran, the Golestan Palace belongs to a group of royal buildings that were once enclosed within the mud-thatched walls of Tehran’s Historic Arg...
and near the Sabzih-Maydán in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
where Bahá'u'lláh
Bahá'u'lláh
Bahá'u'lláh , born ' , was the founder of the Bahá'í Faith. He claimed to be the prophetic fulfilment of Bábism, a 19th-century outgrowth of Shí‘ism, but in a broader sense claimed to be a messenger from God referring to the fulfilment of the eschatological expectations of Islam, Christianity, and...
, founder of the Bahá'í Faith
Bahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
, was in captivity in 1852, together with about 30 other Bábí's
Bábism
The Babi Faith is a religious movement that flourished in Persia from 1844 to 1852, then lingered on in exile in the Ottoman Empire as well as underground. Its founder was Siyyid `Alí Muhammad Shirazi, who took the title Báb—meaning "Gate"—from a Shi'a theological term...
. He claimed that here he had a vision of a Maid of Heaven
Maid of Heaven
Maid of Heaven refers to a vision that Bahá’u’lláh, founder of the Bahá'í Faith had of a maiden from God, through whom he received his mission as a Messenger of God.In his Súriy-i-Haykal Bahá’u’lláh describes his vision as follows:...
, through whom he received his mission as a Messenger of God and as the One whose coming the Báb
Báb
Siyyid `Alí Muḥammad Shírází was the founder of Bábism, and one of three central figures of the Bahá'í Faith. He was a merchant from Shíráz, Persia, who at the age of twenty-four claimed to be the promised Qá'im . After his declaration he took the title of Báb meaning "Gate"...
had prophesied. He described his experiences in his Epistle to the Son of the Wolf
Epistle to the Son of the Wolf
The Epistle to the Son of the Wolf is the last major work of Bahá'u'lláh, founder of the Bahá'í Faith, before his death in 1892. It is a letter written to a Muslim cleric, a violent opponent of the Bahá'ís who, along with his father , also a Muslim cleric, had put to death a number of Bahá'ís...
and Súriy-i-Haykal. It was also the place where he composed his first known tablet
Tablet (religious)
A tablet, in the religious context, is a term traditionally used for religious texts.Jews and Christians believe that Moses brought the Ten Commandments from Mount Sinai in the form of two stone tablets. According to the Book of Exodus, God delivered the tablets twice, the first set having been...
, the Rashh-i-'Amá
Rashh-i-'Amá
Rashh-i-'Amá is the first known tablet written by Bahá’u’lláh, founder of the Bahá'í Faith in 1852. It is also the only known tablet of Bahá’u’lláh written in Persia...
.
In 1868 the dungeon was filled-in and the Tikyíh Dowlat, a royal mourning center for Imam Husayn, was built over the site. The site was Bahá'í property from 1954 until the Islamic Revolution of 1979. It has been described by Shoghi Effendi
Shoghi Effendi
Shoghí Effendí Rabbání , better known as Shoghi Effendi, was the Guardian and appointed head of the Bahá'í Faith from 1921 until his death in 1957...
as the second holiest Bahá'í site in Iran.