Fakhrigah Rock Tomb

The rock tomb of Fakhrigah ((دخمه سنگی فقرگاه or Faghragha is located along the Mahabad−Miandoab Road south of the village of Inderghash, 15 kilometers to the northeast of Mahabad, in West Azerbaijan Province. It is believed to date back to the time of the Medes.

The tomb structure is approximately 10 meters from the ground. It includes a porch, behind which is a room containing the graves. The tomb is the only one of all the rock tombs identified in Iran with a facade, and an interior which has columns and lacks any walls. The facade of the tomb has been built on a completely smooth rock wall, with an average height of 4.70 meters and is of the same width as the facade.

The columned porch is surrounded by an engraved frame, the band of which is 22 centimeters wide, and which ends on two sides with the two stepped platforms of the front porch. This frames the entrance and is shaped on either side in pillars, and above and below is shaped as a flat portal and a threshold respectively. The two facade columns of the tomb which form the appearance of the tomb in width and depth axis are almost of the same shape and both become narrower as you approach their top. The capitals appear to be composed of simple square or rectangular shapes. The conic pedestals of the two front columns are of the same level as the threshold of the front porch but are on a different floor level from the main porch.

Behind the front row of columns, there is a porch which is almost rectangular in shape and is accessed via two steps. It has a width of 6.25 meters in the center and a depth of 2.82 meters. It is assumed that the front section of the rock tomb was utilized for burial ceremonies. Inside the cave are more columns which are narrower than the ones up front. The have square pedestals and capitals. Within the cave there are three graves with one of them most probably belonging to Phraortes, father of Deioces (the first Median King) though locals believe that this crypt was for some time the dwelling place for Farhad (from the love story of Shirin and Farhad). The three graves are rectangular in shape with one of them larger than the other two. The larger grave is parallel to the porch and measures 140 by 265 centimeters while the smaller ones are perpendicular to it and are 90 by 140 centimeters. The graves, all carved within the existing rock, are approximately 50 centimeters deep.

In 1937, Fakhrigah Rock Tomb was registered by the Iranian Cultural Heritage Organization.