A Study of the Ritualistic and Mythological Structure of Qadamgah in Jiroft

There are many qadamgahs (the place of holy people’s step) with different titles in the Islamic world, which have been always respected by the public. People usually go to these places for praying, asking their needs, or for the burial of the dead in these places. Qadamgahs hold a special status in the mythological beliefs of Jiroft inhabitants. The plan layout of qadamgahs is in the form of square or circle, and their roofs are dome shaped, also their entrance doors are short and placed in the direction of sunlight. The purpose of this study is to examine the process of qadamgah formation and to find the roots of mythological beliefs in Jiroft. The main question is that how is the mythological and ritualistic function of qadamgahs and the basis of their formation in the region of Jiroft civilization? The method of data collection is “documentary and field study” and the research method is "descriptive and analytical". This study shows that the ritualistic and mythological structure of these qadamgahs in this area is derived from worship beliefs and respect for natural elements, such as water, fire, soil, tree, rock, and so on.