When There Was No Owner For The Bell

When There Was No Owner For The Bell

Bell making is a legend specific of the brave and the world champion of Iran.

The culture of championship can be analyzed from three aspects:

1-traditional, 2-historical and 3-ritual

and the bell exist in all the three aspects

1-the victory bell, 2-the championship bell and 3-the bell charm.

The victory bell

The victory bell was sounded when two champions wrestled and one overcame the other. This was in the form of three rings.

The historical bell

The historical bell was sounded when one reached the position of world champion and it consisted of a single ring.

The ritual bell

The ritual bell was sounded when the Holly names of the Prophet of the Imams were uttered. There was also a small bell attached to the biceps of the world champion and it was heard wherever he passed whether on foot or on horseback. There was another small bell which had ritual purpose. The Zoroastrian mages would tie them on their belts during they rites.

Bells were also found in the temples of Mitra. It seems it was sounded at the time of the showing the image of Mitra at the beginning or the end of ceremonies.  In fact the use of bells in the ancient culture of Iran and among the champions had a special status. Apparently in the past wearing a bell was a sign of power and respect.

In the Zoorkhaneh (Iranian gymnasium) the bell was hung on a chain in front of the master ,who would ring it according to the rank of the entrants. The bell would ring once for the leader, twice for the elders and thrice for the senior rider.

Ringing the bell was the highest respect paid to anyone entering the zoorkhaneh and was only done for champions and leaders who had a long record of championship and bravery. 

Not everyone would hear a bell or become an owner.

For this reason the silent contemporary bells retreat in seclusion for the want of champion, expand and break to forget being bells.

This forced silence in the drought of champions, underlines a futile existence and takes them to annihilation to forget the lost era of champions.