Gahvareh Did (Gonbad-e Azod)

🕰️When was it built?

It is attributed to Azod al-Dowleh of the Buyid dynasty, while some consider it older and date it to the Sasanian era. The building was added to Iran's National Heritage List on 26 December 1973 as number 961.

🏛️What was it built for?

What this chahartaqi was first used for is not known. Some see it as a fire temple, others as a watch post where fires were lit under the dome to pass news on to the next post, and others say it had an astronomical use, for finding the spring and autumn equinoxes.

👀What you will see

• The building is made of rubble stone and mortar and has a conical dome.
• From beside Gahvareh Did, the Allah-o Akbar gorge and the Quran Gate lie below you.
• The Mortaz Ali Well is east of Gahvareh Did, on the same mountain.

💡Something interesting

An old tale holds that Gahvareh Did is the tomb of a mystic called Shams Pahlavan, and says that Shah Nematollah Vali stayed here for a while when he came to Shiraz. It is a tale and does not settle when the building was made.

🎒Good to know before you go

• The way up has little shade; bring water and wear comfortable shoes.
• Don't write anything on the walls; graffiti is one of the kinds of damage this building has suffered.