Atashkadeh-e Yazd - Fire Temple of Yazd

Zoroastrianism is an ancient Persian religion that supposedly arose 4,000 years ago. While there is no confirmed date of its origin, it is possibly one of the oldest religions that still exists. You can learn more about Zoroastrianism at the active Zoroastrian temple in Yazd (Atashkadeh-e Yazd).

Location of Atashkadeh-e

The Zoroastrian Fire Temple is located on a smallsite within the city that is considered sacred by Zoroastrians. The construction of the temple was funded by the Indian Parsi community (during the Muslim conquest of Persia in the 7th century, a Zoroastrian community, Parsis, migrated to India. Today, approximately 60,000 Zoroastrian Parsis reside there).

Architecture of the Fire Temple in Yazd

One of the main symbols of Zoroastrianism is called Faravahar, which can be found above the temple’s entrance. It is a human figure with spread wings, symbolising kind thoughts, good words, and good deeds. The downward-facing tail represents bad thoughts, bad words, and bad deeds, while the large circle symbolises the existence of both good and evil. At the center of the circle, there is a bearded man, representing wisdom. He holds a ring – the symbol of loyalty.

The Avesta, the main sacred book of Zoroastrians, can be found inside the temple, next to the fire. This collection of prayers and rules of morality, that the Zoroastrians so deeply believe in, is not only a sacred book, but also an important part of ancient Persian history and literature. It reflects both the material and spiritual aspects of life.

In the temple buildings, visitors can learn about the history of Zoroastrianism through displayed materials and photographs of various events and rituals. Under each photograph, there are descriptions in both Persian and English, explaining the events captured in the image.

The ancient religion Zoroastrianism

The Prophet Zoroaster, also known as Zarathustra in ancient Persian, is considered the founder of Zoroastrianism. The majority of the facts known about him are taken from the Avesta.

It is difficult to determine the exact period of Zoroaster's life. Some scientists suggest that he lived at the same time as Cyrus the Great, the Persian king of the 6th century BCE. It is believed that Zoroaster was born in the territory of modern north-eastern Iran or south-western Afghanistan. Perhaps he was a member of a tribe that followed an ancient polytheistic religion, similar to early forms of Hinduism, and taught his followers to worship a single god named Ahura Mazda.

Zoroastrianism is generally recognised as one of the earliest religions to introduce the idea of a single god, the concept of heaven and hell, and the idea of Judgment Day.

The history of Zoroastrianism in Iran

Zoroastrianism was one of the major religions of the ancient world and was the state religion of several major Persian dynasties. The Persian Achaemenid Empire, founded by Cyrus the Great, was a great example of this. Cyrus the Great, the founder of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, was a devout Zoroastrian.

In the 7th century, the Arab conquest of Persia led to the decline of Zoroastrianism, causing its almost complete disappearance. Today, there are between 100,000 and 200,000 adherents of this religion worldwide, and it is practised as a minority faith in certain areas of Iran and India.

The sacred fire of the Zoroastrians in Iran

There is an altar with an eternal flame in the Fire Temple of Yazd. According to some sources, this flame has been burning continuously since 470 CE. The fire is a symbol of Zoroastrianism, representing purity and the divine presence, and visitors are only allowed to look at the sacred flame through glass from the hall to avoid desecrating it with their breath.