Firdous e Bareen () refers to the legendary ancient Persian garden located within the confines of the Alamut Fortress in the

Elburz mountains The Alborz ( ) range, also spelled as Alburz, Elburz or Elborz, is a mountain range in northern Iran that stretches from the border of Azerbaijan along the western and entire southern coast of the Caspian Sea and finally runs northeast and merge ...

of Northern

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

. This site gained prominence as the supposed sanctuary of Hassan-i-Sabah on the stories about him and his band of Nizari Ismaili Shiite Hashshashin during the 11th and 12th centuries.

History

The Alamut Fortress, strategically positioned in the mountainous terrain, became the headquarters for the Nizari Ismaili Shiite community during the

medieval period In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with the fall of the West ...

. Established by Hassan-i-Sabah, a charismatic leader, the fortress housed a secretive community known for its unorthodox methods of warfare. A book about the Paradise of the Assassins was published in 2005.

Firdous e Bareen - The Paradise of Alamut

The term "Firdous e Bareen" is associated with the idea of a paradisiacal garden within the Alamut Fortress. It is believed to have served as both a secure refuge and a strategic base for the

Hashshashin The Order of Assassins (; ) were a Nizari Isma'ili order that existed between 1090 and 1275 AD, founded by Hasan al-Sabbah. During that time, they lived in the mountains of Persia and the Levant, and held a strict subterfuge policy througho ...

. The fortress provided a haven for its inhabitants, reflecting the tranquility and beauty often associated with Persian gardens.

Legacy

Alamut and Firdous e Bareen gained widespread notoriety during the medieval period. Legends and stories about the Hashshashin's activities and their alleged training in the idyllic garden circulated throughout the Islamic world. The fortress eventually fell to the Mongol invasion led by Hulagu Khan in 1256.

Controversies and Legends

The historical accounts of Firdous e Bareen remain surrounded by mystery and mythology, as the legends surrounding Alamut and the Hashshashin have been subject to embellishment over time. Nonetheless, the concept of this legendary garden within the Alamut fortress continues to capture the imagination, representing an intriguing chapter in Persian history and the medieval Islamic world.

References

Firdous e Bareen is also a song on the album In the Absence of Truth by the American post-metal band

Isis Isis was a major goddess in ancient Egyptian religion whose worship spread throughout the Greco-Roman world. Isis was first mentioned in the Old Kingdom () as one of the main characters of the Osiris myth, in which she resurrects her sla ...

. {{garden-stub Persian gardens in Iran Paradise gardens in Iran