Takht-e Soleyman

Takht-e Soleyman, "The Throne of Solomon", is the holiest shrine of Zoroastrianism and the former Sassanid Empire.

The partially excavated site consists of the following locations:
- Takht-e Suleiman (‘Solomon’s throne’), the main focus of the nomination with a Zoroastrian Fire Temple and the Anahita temple
- The mountain to the east of the previous served as quarry for the construction of the site
- Zendan-e Suleiman (‘Solomon’s prison’), a small volcano with ancient shrines around the top
- Tepe Majid, an archaeological mound culturally related to Zendan-e Suleiman
- Belqeis Mountain with a citadel (named after Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother)

Year Decision Comments
2003 Inscribed Reasons for inscription

Reviews

Davoud Nadjafi (Iran, Takab Afshar):
Hi and thank you so much for giving us a chance for writing about Takht-suleyman. I am orignally from Takab Afshar, located 40 kilometers Northwest of the site. i grew up in Takab and i live there for 19 years. on fridays, the first thing we thought of with freinds was to go there and enjoy the beautiful scenery and weather. you know you have a kind of strength there,whenever i was there, i could breathe my predecessors. the air the took in their lungs. i feel free there. it's been 5 years i have left my home town and i was living Tabriz and now in Tehran. when i just think of this place and how much i miss it. my heart fills with the nostalgia to go there again to be and forget whatever the modern civilization have given us along with sadnesses. i miss there so much that my heart is bursting and my eyes are full of tears for i have lived this place of my ancestors. Again I thank you to give me some space to share what I feel being not there. I strongle recommend anyone who would read this material to get a chance and visit this historical fire temple of the most lovely religion of Zolostrians. You would feel what meant good speech, good deeds and good thoughts. and back to civilization you would miss it so much.
Date posted: May 2009
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It is certainly not the easiest of places to get to but then getting there is half the fun and you will not be dissapointed. How anyone would have ever built such a large fortress in the middle of nowhere remains a mystery to me but obviously not to the Zoroastrians at the time. The location is large, still retains some detailed structures but it is the history of the fortress and it's location that give it it's charm and make it unforgetable. The staff is freindly, as nearly everyone in Iran invariably was in our travels there, but the facilities are a bit run down.
 


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