The Unesco World Heritage site Takht-e-Soleiman is 42 kilometers northeast from a small town called Takab in Iran. It was the spiritual centre of the ancient state religion called Zoroastrianism.
This 1500-year old site must have been remarkable in its heyday, because the fortifying walls that still stand are very impressive. It is truly a remarkable location with its height, the view and the lake in the middle. The site is actually 20-meters higher than the surrounding area. The height of the site is primarily due to the deposition of lake sediment!
It is still possible to walk through what use to be the Fire temple. Back in the day, the temple contained an eternal flame which was “provided thanks to a natural volcanic gas channelled through ceramic pipes†(Iran 2008, Lonely Planet). The site also honours the elements of wind and water. Seeing as the site has such a great elevation there is usually an abundance of wind. The centerpiece of the entire site is the lake. Essentially it was the perfect location for the Zoroastrianists to worship.
The site also houses a small museum with various examples of ceramics, carvings and photos from the site’s excavations.
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