article Ab-anbar آب‌انبار: Literal translation: Ab meaning water and Anbar meaning storage facility. A specially designed subterranean space that holds clean water, usually employing windcatchers and fed by karizes. Gushvār گوشوار: Something that occurs in symmetrical form on both sides of an element e.g. two little rooms on the sides of a hall, entrance, etc. Kariz كاريز: An underground water channel similar to a Qanat. Layeh-rubi لایه‌روبی: The periodic cleansing of Qanats, Karizes, and Ab anbars from sediments that gradually settle as water passes by. Maz-har مظهر: The first location where a Kariz or Qanat surfaces. Meerab ميرآب: A person who was responsible for distributing (providing access) water into ab anbars via underground channels such as Qanats. Nazr نذر: A type of prayer in which a person asks for a favor in return for making a promise to a sacred entity. Pasheer پاشير: The lowest point of an ab anbar stairway; the location where a faucet is installed to provide water from the ab anbar storage tank. Qanat قنات: A system of connected wells, usually originating from elevated locations that direct water to locations far away via underground channels to a lower elevated maz-har. Saqqa-khaneh سقاخانه: A place (usually an enclave in an alley) where candles are lit and prayers (or nazr) are made. Sar-dar سَردَر: A gate-like entrance to a building, ab anbar, etc. The over-door decorations of this entrance. Sarooj ساروج: A special mortar made of sand, clay, egg whites, lime, goat hair, and ashes in specific proportions, and was very resistant to water penetration. Time for filling The time for filling the water reservoir was January and February, when there was no agriculture and water could be stored. Therefore, the water was kept in the tank for one year. To prevent it from rotting, a salt lick was added to the water from the top of the tank. Due to the stagnation of water, the salt lick did not dissolve throughout the water and over time a dense saltwater layer formed at the bottom of the tank, about one meter. Because of this, the tap was built one meter above the bottom of the tank. After the water of the tank ran out, before refilling it, the saltwater on the floor of the tank was cleaned. This was a difficult and demanding task which required a crew of laborers. See also Band-e Kaisar Cistern History of Persian