Fravahar afloat?

An artificial island admeasuring 6,200,000 sq m in the shape of Fravahar is being planned in the Persian Gulf, reports Behrooz Khalili on www.beresad.com The proposed site of this new venture is the southern part of Pars on the outskirts of the historical Siraf Harbor that until its destruction by a tsunami witnessed the movement of big liners sailing from the main Iranian and Middle East harbors. Now all that remains on the site is the Siraf Jame Mosque, the Nasuri Fort, a Zoroastrian dakhma and a market, adds Khalili. Siraf was one of the oldest cities in the Bushehr province.
The upcoming Fravahar Island will have boarding and lodging facilities including hotels, a university, an international cultural center, a playground and a solar energy plant. On the managerial team is Dr Esfandiyar Ekhtiyari, the Zoroastrian representative on the Iranian Parliament, states Khalili. Parsiana attempted to contact Ekhtiyari but since there was no response from him we wrote to Mobed Mehraban Firouzgary of Iran who replied: "I am unable to reach Dr Ekhtiyari or his assistant over their mobile phones. They may be travelling over one of his distant, Zoroastrian constituencies and thus unreachable. I have tried other sources to get more information about this announcement, however, have failed to find anyone who has the slightest idea about this wonderful project. Actually such announcements had been floated some years back, as well, but have never been pursued or materialized in any form, so far.”

Proposed Fravahar Island in the Persian Gulf

This item was first brought to our notice by Mehru Cama who wrote, "It was sent to me by an Iranian friend… Just because the proposed island is going to be in the shape of a farohar (which is a symbol used and seen all over Muslim Iran), the Zoroastrians seem to take claim/credit for it…”
The fravahar motif represents the immortal spirit of a human being and is meant to remind mortals that their purpose on Earth is to lead a selfless life so that the soul progresses spiritually and attains union with Ahura Mazda. Giving a detailed explanation of the fravahar or farohar, Khalili explains that the human face indicates its connection to mankind. The two wings, each with three layers of feathers denote good thoughts, words and deeds spurring an individual to take flight and progress. The lower body of the Fravahar, again in three layers, represents bad reflection, words and deeds which cause misery and misfortune for human beings. The two loops on either side symbolize Spenta Mainyu or the beneficent force towards which the face is turned and Anghra Mainyu or the evil force that is to be shunned. The circle in the center of the Fravahar’s trunk is indicative of the immortal spirit. Whilst one hand of the fravahar points upwards to remind us that success comes with hard work, the other hand holds a ring signifying a covenant bond representing loyalty and faithfulness.