| |
| Yazd Province |
| |
| Yazd
Museum |
|
The Mirror-Palace
Archaeological Complex in Ayatollah Kashani Avenue, with
a built up area of 837 square meters, stands in a beautiful
garden. It includes impressive structures such as a large
bestibule, a fountain hall, a gallery and several rooms.
Here one can see antiques, calligraphic works, weapons,
stamps, Lurestan bronzes etc. Visiting hours are from 07:00
to 17:00 daily except holidays.
Excursions around
YazdTowers of Silence
Dakhmeh or Qal’eh-ye Khamushan, (Towers of Silence)
are three impressive buildings remaining from several other
similar structures on hilltops outside and in the immediate
vicinity of the town. The bodies of dead Zoroastrians would
be brought to the foot of the tower so that a ritual ceremony
could be held in the presence of the relatives and friends
of the deceased. The body was then carried by the priests
into the tower where it was laid on the flat stones on the
ground- thus avoiding the earth, water and fire, the divine
elements be contaminated. |
|
 |
|
In a short time
the body would be torn apart by passing vultures and crows.
The bones were then thrown into a circular pit in the center
of the tower. At the foot of the towers stand the remains
of the buildings which once served for the funerary ceremonies.
When the towers were used, only the priests were allowed
into them. Nowadays the Zoroastrians burry their dead in
a cemetery at the foot of the towers and hence some of the
towers have been opened to the public.
Chak Chak This important Zoroastrian fire-temple is on a
hill 52 km to the northeast of Yazd. It attracts thousands
of pilgrims for an annual festival that lasts for ten days
from the beginning of the third month after the Iranian
New Year. |
|
| |
|
|
|
