Atashkooh Fire Temple

Zoroastrianism in Iran has thoroughly been upheld and as a religion promoting human values and virtues it has for ever been respected in the country. As an old community, Zoroastrians have maintained their religious status and traditions and their culture and arts are still visible in many places throughout Iran.

One genuine example is the ancient fire temple of Atashkooh, 13 km from Mahallat, 10 km from Delijan, in Markazi Province. Historians believe that the building dates from the Sassanid era. Among the most remarkable Zoroastrian buildings in the world, the temple stands on the slope of a mountain with the same name and nearby a river also named Atashkooh and features lovely nature.

The four-vaulted structure, covering an area of about 600 square meters, holds stone pillars in cylinder shapes. The enclosed rooms in the temple served as a place to light fires. Composed of a trio of the main east hall, the west hall, and a corridor, the fire temple was a place to worship and pray. Bare bricks have been used for construction and the exterior highlights stone works. To consolidate, wooden piles have also been applied insides the walls.

The well-built pillars manifest the glamor of the temple. Ibn Faghih Hamedani, the Iranian historian and geographer compares this building with Taq Kasra and Anahita Temple, in Kangavar, and writes, “The unsophisticated but impressive building has a lot to say about the history and teaches us many lessons. “

Nearby the building rises a tall plane tree, which is interesting because of its old age.

Although the sanctum has somehow been impaired, it is still worth seeing, especially taking into account the beauty of the holy place in the middle of gray mountains and green nature. And perhaps that’s why sightseers still explore the lands and visit the deserted temple.