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Reliefs based on the Pinelli engraving (1928). It depicts a scene from the everyday life and the campaign of Alexander the Great. Reliefs by the sculptor Pr. Tzanoulinos (bronze). Hellenic War Museum (Athens, Greece). (CC by 2.0 / Tilemahos Efthimiadis)

Archaeological Track of Alexander The Great’s Footprint in Persia

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Archaeology in modern Iran tracks Alexander the Great’s footprint in ancient Persia as his army crossed the Euphrates, crisscrossed the plateaus, marched along the Royal Road, across the Zagros Mountains, fought three battles at Granicus (334 BC), Issus (333 BC) and Gaugamela (331 BC) and conquered an ancient land with a history stretching back to a time when gods walked the earth.

The ruins of Takht-e Soleyman, where the fire of Adur Gushnasp was stored. (Salar Arkan / CC BY-SA 4.0)

The ruins of Takht-e Soleyman, where the fire of Adur Gushnasp was stored. (Salar Arkan / CC BY-SA 4.0)

Azr Goshnasb Fire Temple At Takht-e Soleymān

When Alexander conquered Persia, the ancient principles of Zoroastrianism, as believed by Cyrus and his descendants, disseminated through a process of Greco-Persian religious and cultural synthesisation. Yet, during the destruction of Persepolis, Alexander’s troops destroyed many of the Avesta, the Zoroastrianism sacred texts.  However, much later under the Sassanid Empire (205 – 651 AD), orthodox Zoroastrianism was revived and developed to have clear distinctions from the practices laid out in the Avesta.

Atashkadeh is the word for fire temples in Farsi, the language of Iran. Zoroastrians do not worship fire, but they view it as a source of divine light, practiced at the Atashkadeh to honor Ahura Mazda, the All-Knowing and All-powerful creator.  The fire temple Azr Goshnasb at Lake Oruomieh at Takht -e Soleyman became, by custom, a place of pilgrimage by foot for newly enthroned Sassanid Kings after their coronation and it was frequented by the warrior class, but not by the magi or the common people.

During the Mongol Ilkhanate (1256 – 1335) a summer residence was built by the ruler Abaqa in 1271 on this site, over the ruins of the ancient fire temple. The name Takht-e Soleymān or Throne of Solomon hints, that the origin of this fire temple is enveloped by the smoke of legends and relates that King Solomon used to imprison monsters inside a nearby 100-meter-deep crater which is called Zendan-e Soleyman "Prison of Solomon". Solomon is also said to have created the flowing pond in the fortress complex built on the grassy plain, surrounded by a volcanic mountain region.

Archaeologists speculate that the sacred fire was first taken to the site in the late fourth or early fifth century and the earliest remains built around the ‘bottomless lake’ date to the Achaemenian Empire. The fire temple was sacked in 623/4 by Heraclius during the Byzantine–Sassanian War but the Iranians succeeded in saving the fire, which they later restored to the temple, which was quickly rebuilt.

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Dr Micki Pistorius has an Honours Degree in Biblical Archaeology

Top Image: Reliefs based on the Pinelli engraving (1928). It depicts a scene from the everyday life and the campaign of Alexander the Great. Reliefs by the sculptor Pr. Tzanoulinos (bronze). Hellenic War Museum (Athens, Greece). (CC by 2.0 / Tilemahos Efthimiadis)

By:  Micki Pistorius

 
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Dr Micki

Micki Pistorius is a South African psychologist, author and journalist. As a child, Micki’s natural curiosity was cultivated by both her parents and developed into an insatiable interest in history, art and literature. Her passion for history, archaeology and human... Read More

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