Espakhu Fire Temple

🕰️When was it built?

From its materials and architecture, the building is attributed to the Sasanian era. The use of rubble stone and sarooj and the pairing of a dome and an iwan support this. The fire temple was added to the National Heritage List on 23 January 1978 as number 1579.

🏛️What was it built for?

The building is known as a fire temple. A fire holder and a hole in the middle of the dome for smoke to escape are tied to this use, although local people sometimes call it a church.

👀What you will see

• Walls of rubble stone with sarooj mortar, forming the body of the rectangular building.
• The tall east entrance iwan, with a barrel vault, which leads to the domed chamber.
• The domed chamber in the western part of the building, which with the iwan forms the main plan.
• Entrances in the north and south walls with keyed arches, among the building's architectural features.
• The hole in the middle of the dome, which let smoke out of the fire-holder space.

🎒Good to know before you go

• The building is on a hill south of the village; wear proper walking shoes to reach it.