Unknown and mysterious Dashkasan Dragon Temple

Dashkasan Temple in Zanjan Province, Iran. Dashkasan or the Dragon Temple is located 10 kilometers southeast of Soltanieh near Veir Village. The temple is carved out of rock and overlooks the vast plains. It has a rectangular shape with an area of five thousand square meters. Archaeologists believe that this temple was originally used as a religious place for ceremonies and customs to worship Mithra in Sassanid period (224-651 AD). Later it was used as a temple by the Ilkhanids before they converted to Islam. Dashkasan consists of three deep, manmade caves that have exquisite stone carvings. One of these carvings is the image of two dragons facing each other. The dragons are surrounded by more traditional Islamic designs such as flowers. A mihrab, a niche in the wall that marks the direction of Mecca, is also within the temple. According to the theory, the dragon carvings are the work of Chinese artists commissioned by Mongol khan Öljaitü (1280 – 1316 AD).