SAEDNEWS: Many researchers and scholars believe that Evin should be considered among the ancient sites of the capital, citing the presence of a several-hundred-year-old plane tree in the neighborhood as evidence.
According to the Politics Desk of Saed News, quoting Hamshahri Online, the famous plane tree of Ovin is considered one of the main symbols of this neighborhood, and the long-time residents share many memories associated with this iconic tree. Today, only the dried trunk of the ancient Ovin plane tree remains, but it still holds a place as part of the neighborhood’s identity.
Seyed Mehdi Arabi, a university professor and researcher of Shemiran, says: “This tree was so large and sturdy that certain businesses, like ice-selling and cobbling, were conducted inside it. Many Ovin residents would gather under this tree to make decisions about important events and incidents. Because of this, the area where the tree stood became known as ‘Pachenar.’ According to some researchers’ findings, the age of this tree is estimated to be over 1,200 years. Scholars believe that the ancient Ovin plane tree served as a kind of social hub for the village. However, due to disputes between Ovin’s farmers and the royal court during the reign of Reza Shah in the early Pahlavi era, it was cut down, leaving a hidden wound in the hearts of the people of Ovin.”
The plane tree, which was cut down in 1929 (1308 in the Iranian calendar) by order of Reza Shah, was older than the so-called “13 Plane Trees” of Ovin, which are also famous. The bond between the people of Ovin and this tree seems unbreakable. Arabi adds: “The residents of Ovin still regard this tree as a symbol of resistance against the oppression of the early Pahlavi government, and they have preserved its name with this perspective. Today, locals refer to the central area of Ovin as Pachenar, yet if you look carefully, no trace of the tree can be found there. Nearly a century has passed since the 1,200-year-old plane tree was cut down, but people insist on preserving its name, and many historical documents are intertwined with the word ‘Pachenar.’”
