Volume-2, Issue-4, April 2026

Abstract

This study investigates the distribution and characteristics of Orchin domes, also known as pineapple domes, in southern Iran. These domes represent a distinctive regional variation within Islamic-Iranian architecture, characterized by their stepped, conical form. Using a descriptive-analytical approach drawing on both library sources and extensive field studies, this research documents over 40 Orchin dome sites across seven Iranian provinces—Lorestan, Ilam, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Khuzestan, Bushehr, Fars, and Hormozgan—with additional examples identified in Iraq. The findings reveal that the highest concentration occurs in Khuzestan and Bushehr provinces, areas historically connected to Persian Gulf trade networks. Analysis suggests that the proliferation of these domes resulted from multiple converging factors: climatic adaptation to the hot and humid conditions of southern Iran, inspiration from natural forms such as palm trunks and pineapple fruits, continuity of ancient symbolic traditions emphasizing ascension, and cultural-commercial interactions with East Asian countries, particularly India. The similarity between Orchin domes and Indian temple architecture reflects the role of maritime trade routes in facilitating architectural exchange. These domes, often serving as tombs, represent the distinct cultural and historical identity of their regions while demonstrating how architecture mediates between cultural influence, environmental context, and symbolic expression.

Keywords: Iranian architecture, Orchin domes, Persian Gulf, cultural influences, natural elements, architectural geography.

References

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Keywords: Iranian architecture, Orchin domes, Persian Gulf, cultural influences, natural elements, architectural geography.

Abstract

The transition from agrarian to industrial modes of life constitutes one of the most significant developments in human civilisation, producing ruptures across multiple levels of existence with profound ecological and ethical implications. While this progress has been defined by unprecedented knowledge acquisition and increased human control over environmental resources, it has simultaneously resulted in the depletion of the planet's wealth and growing apprehension that modern developmental trajectories may prove detrimental to human survival. This paper examines the historical origins of the ecological crisis, tracing its roots to European Enlightenment rationality and the birth of modern science. It argues that the modern conception of human freedom and rationality, while emancipatory in certain respects, has paradoxically legitimised the exploitation of other species and natural systems. Drawing on ecological economics (Nordhaus), historical analysis (Grayling, Habermas), and philosophical critique (Rousseau, Wittgenstein, Agamben), the paper proposes that redefining man not primarily as a rational or moral being but as a living being among other living beings may offer a more viable foundation for environmental ethics. The paper concludes by reflecting on the degeneration of critical reading culture in the digital age as a contributing factor to climate scepticism and intellectual paralysis.

Keywords: Ecology, Existence, Modernity, Enlightenment, Environmental Ethics, Climate Crisis.

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Keywords: Ecology, Existence, Modernity, Enlightenment, Environmental Ethics, Climate Crisis.