Video: What Prehistoric Refrigerators Look Like: Iran's Unique Ice Houses
2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55
Is it possible to imagine life without such a necessary thing as a refrigerator? For us, this convenience has become so commonplace that we do not even think about the fact that refrigerators did not always exist. However, ancient people knew how to somehow preserve the freshness of foods such as meat. And they even pampered themselves with such delicacies as ice cream and drank drinks with ice. How did they manage it without modern technologies to which we are so accustomed?
Before the invention of the refrigerator, which is a relatively modern invention, ice was a very valuable commodity. It was very difficult to obtain and equally difficult to deliver and store. This was especially difficult in the summer. To preserve meat and other foodstuffs, people brought huge chunks of ice from Scandinavia, the Arctic Circle, or mountain peaks. To prevent the ice from melting before reaching its destination, it was carefully insulated with straw.
Ice was brought to the United States, Great Britain and other European countries from Norway. Russians collected ice along the Neva, and Indians used ice from the Himalayan peaks. Ice was stored in specially constructed buildings called ice houses, and it was stored for a year. underground caves, usually artificial, that humans have built near natural sources of ice. They were usually dug up near freshwater lakes and rivers. In winter, ice and snow were collected and stored in an ice house. Then the building was very carefully insulated with clay, sawdust or straw.
This method helped to preserve ice and snow for many months. Usually until next winter. In the summer, people used their ice reserves to enjoy a cold drink during the heat of the summer. Also, in order to be able to prepare some delicious cold dessert - ice cream or sorbet. Even in the 17th century BC, similar ice houses were built in Iran. Moreover, the Iranians used them until recently. These houses were built in the shape of an egg, from clay bricks. Iranian ice houses are gigantic compared to similar houses found by historians in the west. In addition, these houses are inherently simply unique due to the way the ice is made.
Iran is mostly a desert, where fresh water sources are extremely rare. Even in winter, when temperatures drop to below zero at night, the sun is very hot in the middle of the day. It would take a colossal amount of ice to fill these huge domed wells. Delivering ice is very problematic. And the Iranians have invented their own ingenious way of making ice.
Behind each such ice house there are many long, shallow channels, through which water flows in winter. During the day, these channels are protected from the heat by specially built thick walls. At night, a thick layer of ice forms on the surface. This ice needs to be broken up and collected before sunrise. The collected ice is stored in an ice house. By doing this every night, the Iranians are gathering quite impressive supplies.
The architecture of the ice house itself is very reasonable and thoughtful. It consists of walls that provide deep shadow, deep wells and a cleverly designed dome. All this does not give the heat a single chance to get inside. A little more than a hundred ice houses have survived on the territory of Iran to date. Very few of these buildings have retained their original appearance. It is sad that these unique architectural monuments are being destroyed. Some of them were simply turned into garbage dumps by local residents. If every effort is not made to restore and restore these unusual structures, then most likely, there will not be even a trace of them in the near future. If you are interested in the topic of the history of the Ancient East, read our article about Persian poets who are ashamed not to know. Based on materials
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