Tees village

This article is dedicated to introducing a 2500-year-old Iranian village called Tees. Tees village is in the vicinity of the Gulf of Oman and the existence of many historic monuments in it is the evidence to its importance in the previous eras.

This village is referred to as Teez in the books related to the conquests of Alexander the Great. In addition to this name, the village has been called Tezia or Tesi in the books by historians and geographers of the Islamic period such as Moghaddasi, the historian of the fourth century lunar Hijri. Anyway, Tees has been on the sea routes of southern Iranian waters and used to be the center for trading of sugar and wheat from Makran and Sistan respectively. During the Sassanid period, this village was taken as the western port of the then province of Makran and was on the sea route of the Silk Road. In late 10th century and early 11th century lunar Hijri, when the Portuguese entered the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, Mir Joneyd, who was one of the heads of the region, confronted them several times and made them leave Tees port and its waters. However, the Portuguese built a military citadel in Tees whose ruins are still there.

Let's now shift to the life style of the locals of Tees village. Most of these people do farming, animal husbandry, and fishing but some make handicrafts. Besides fine dairy products, barley, vegetables, and fruits are also produced in Tees as the main agricultural products. Due to the fact that this village is located near the Gulf of Oman, fishing is considered as one of the most profitable jobs. It is noteworthy that women and girls of the families of Tees village, with making handicrafts in general, and needlework in particular, play a direct role in the income of the family. Needlework of the village is among the best in Baluchestan. Wickerwork, pearly ornaments, taxidermal fish and other sea animals are also taken as the handicrafts made in this village. Such handicrafts are exported from the Iranian village of Tees to some other countries as well.

The village of Tees is on the foot of a mountain and has a dense residential area. Houses are built around the Jaame' Mosque of the village, and agricultural fields and tall trees have surround them all. They are often constructed in one floor, with flat roofs, and thin thatch walls. Older houses are made of stone, chalk, mud, brick, and adobe, while in the construction of new ones cement, iron, and brick are used.

Being located in a mountainous area with a beautiful view, has added to the attractiveness of Tees village. The Gulf of Oman, its sea shores, huge waves, and birds flying over it are among the unique attractions of Tees village.

Its architecture resembles that of Bisotun's Shah Abbasi inn, particularly in the rooms and porches. Brick, stone, and chalk are the material used in construction of this castle.

There are rooms in three sides of the yard, and remnants of two big towers and a minaret can be seen in the sides of the building. The 6.5-meter-high minaret was used for scouting purposes and had a command over the Tees gulf. The architectural style and the covering of the minaret is the same as those in the Seljuquid era. There can also be seen remnants of some cisterns made up of stone, chalk, and concrete. In building the ceilings and roofs of the citadel, some pieces of wood are used that are brought from other parts.

Each of these monuments are tourist attraction sites. About the caves in this village we can point that on the skirt of Shahbaz-band mount, one natural and two man-made caves are beside each other. The natural one is in the form of a semi-circle that has been expanded by carving the mountain in its walls and entrance. There is a small tomb inside the cave with white chalky sides. One of the man-made caves is located on the right of this natural cave. It is clearly apparent that this cave has been made by carving. Its conical entrance is 80 centimeters high and its ceiling is very low. And the third cave is 50 meters away from the natural one; there used to be some stairs from the level of the ground to its entrance.

Local people of Tees village like those of other Iranian villages, have festivities for national and religious occasions. For instance, in two occasions of Eid-e Ghorban and Eid-e Fetr these people wear new clothes, make special food, visit their relatives and friends, hold the special prayers for the Eid, and give votive offerings such as food. Feasts are also held in the Jaame' Mosque of the village on the birthday anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him and His Progeny) and songs are sung as eulogies to the Prophet of Islam. Traditional wedding ceremonies are also among the attractive customs and traditions of the people of Tees. Special music style of the village is named Liko, and Naznik. Reading out poems of Khayyam, Hafez, and Sa'adi with local accents are also among melodic activities in their traditions.

Two sports of Camel-riding and swimming are the most prominent among the people of Tees village. The clothing of the residents is local Baluchi clothing; men wear long shirts with splits on the two sides, loose pants, jackets, and shawls worn around the head and also the waist. Women wear dresses, special kinds of snood, chador, and other common types of clothing for women. Their clothes are usually decorated with needlework.

Travelers who visit Tees village in different seasons of the year take its special products as souvenirs to their hometown; these include: local condiments, other local types of food, wickerwork, and ornaments made of sea shells. And finally, Tees village is accessible from Nik-shahr and Chabahr-Kenarak Road, via an asphalt road.

Source: irib.ir