Yazd Zoroastrian crypt: the secrets of the Silent Tower
Zoroastrian crypt of Yazd, which is also known as the Tower of Silence and the Tower of Silence, is located 15 kilometers southeast of Yazd, on top of a low sedimentary mountain called Dakhme Mountain. This crypt, which dates back to the Qajar era, is the burial place of the Zoroastrian dead.
Burial customs in the crypt:
According to Zoroastrian customs, after death, the deceased person’s body is moved to the crypt and placed in an open space. By eating the flesh of the corpse, the scavengers help the soul return to nature. The remaining bones are also collected after some time in the wells built inside the crypt.
Architecture:
Zoroastrian crypt of Yazd, with its special and unique architecture, seems to be the manifestation of Zoroastrian philosophy about life and death. Two circular towers with a height of about 25 meters are burial places for the dead. The materials used in the construction of the tomb are mainly clay and brick.
Towers:
Two crypt towers with thick and high walls provide a safe space away from the reach of wild animals to bury the dead. At the top of each tower, there is a hatch through which the dead person’s body is transferred into the tower.
Internal space:
The interior of the crypt is divided into two parts. The first part is the burial place of men and the second part is the burial place of women. Inside the crypt, there is a stone platform on which the dead person’s body is placed.
