1 day, Zoorkhaneh Rituals

Zurkhaneh means "House of Strength" in Persian and was for many centuries the center for a traditional system of athletics originally used to train warriors in Iran and neighboring states. Traditional Iranian wrestling (koshti) dates back to ancient Persia and Parthia and was alleged to have been practiced by Rostam (the mythological hero of the Shahnameh epic). When the Arabs invaded Persia, the zourkhanehs served as a private meeting place where knights would take aim and keep alive a feeling of solidarity and nationalism. Invaders repeatedly targeted the houses of strength to discourage rebels, but young ones would always be devised in a different position. Tracing the spread of Shia Islam, and especially after the growth of Sufism in the 8th century, varzesh-e pahlavi absorbed philosophical and spiritual components from it. Religious hymns were incorporated into training, and the first Shi'ite Imam Ali was adopted as the zourkhaneh patron. This wonderful experience starts at 5 PM, and you'll have the chance to witness one of the most authentic cultural activities in Iran.