1. Exploring Ancient Persia’s Royal Fire Temple.
- Author
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ALEX, BRIDGET
- Subjects
- *
RELIGIOUS adherents , *ARCHITECTURAL style , *STATE religion , *RELIGIOUS minorities , *SACRED space , *TEMPLES , *POTTERY , *BROTHERS - Abstract
Archaeologists have discovered the ruins of a Zoroastrian sanctuary in Iran called Takht-e Soleyman, which was a temple complex dedicated to Zoroastrianism and visited by kings of the Sasanian Empire. The site includes a main temple with a sacred flame dedicated to warriors, as well as a palace for the kings. Excavations have uncovered artifacts like bullae, which provide information about the temple's activities and people. The Sasanian Empire was a powerful political entity that lasted for over four centuries and had Zoroastrianism as its official religion. The empire was generally tolerant of other religions, although there were instances of persecution. The article discusses the archaeological findings at Takht-e Soleyman, including the construction of the site by the Sasanians and later the Ilkhanids, the involvement of different religious groups, the destruction of the temple by the Byzantine emperor Heraclius, and the ongoing research into the palace's design and purpose. [Extracted from the article]
- Published
- 2024