Rock Cut Sanctuaries (Caves)
Introduction Rock-cut architecture for the first time appeared in Persia where the earliest known rock-cut architecture includes the tombs at Beni Hasan, which dates to a period between c.2000 to 1900 BCE, The tombs are cut into rock cliffs and provided with sheltering porticoes, These tombs were constructed for minor nobles and court officials, who evidently enjoyed considerable influence and wealth, reflecting the political importance of their builders (Moffett et al, 2003: 135), The said architecture is the practice of creating structures such as temples (India), tombs (Petra, Jordan), dwellings (Cappuccino, Turkey) (Rapp, 2009:251), Mosques (Fars, Iran) (Ball, 1986: 103) and Churches (Italy) (Frothing ham, 1989: 320) by carving the rock formation in situ. Rock-cut architecture goes back at least to the temple of Rameses at Abu Simbel. The Etruscans created rock-cut tombs: the Nabataea's at Petra carved massive temples and tombs in sandstone cliffs from 100 BCE to |50 CE. Buddh
