The Cube of Zoroaster
The Ka'ba-i Zartosht meaning the "Cube of Zoroaster", is a 5th century BCE Achaemenid-era edifice at Naqsh-e Rustam, an archaeological site just northwest of Persepolis, Iran.
The structure, which is a copy of a sister building at Pasargadae, was built either by Darius I (r. 521-486 BCE) when he moved to Persepolis, or by Artaxerxes II (r. 404-358 BCE) or Artaxerxes III (r. 358-338 BCE). In Frye's opinion the intention was the same [as that of its sister building], that is, to build a safety box for the paraphernalia of rule in the vicinity of Persepolis as had been done at Pasargadae. From a reference to fire altars in a Sassanid-era inscription on the building it has been inferred that the structure was once a fire altar, or perhaps as an eternal-flame memorial to the emperors whose tombs are located a few meters away. This is however highly unlikely since the lack of cross-ventilation would have soon choked the flame.
Ka'ba-i Zartosht - The "Cube of Zoroaster" Wikipedia
Railroad jeopardizing Zoroaster's Kaba Iran News - December 4, 2006
What was the Zoroasterıs Kaba? There are various theories as to its original purpose. Some experts believe that the monument was the home of a complete copy of the Avesta which had been written on 12,000 leather parchments. Some Orientalists also believe that Zoroasterıs Kaba was a place where the Zoroastriansı sacred fire was kept burning eternally. A number of other researchers say that the monument is the tomb of Smerdis, the son of Cyrus the Great, who was murdered by his brother Cambyses (king of Persia 529522 BC). Some archaeologists also believe that it was used as an ancient government archive.
In 2005, Iranian archaeologist Reza Moradi Ghiasabadi rejected this theory and described the monument as the worldıs most unique calendrical and astronomical observatory. "At the end of Shahrivar (the sixth month of the Iranian calendar, August 23-September 22) we can determine exactly the day of the month by the light shed by the sun on Zoroasterıs Kaba. It has been used for daily needs, determining the time of cultivating crops, and collecting taxes," he explained. Zoroaster's Kaba bears a Sassanid era inscription explaining the historical events during the reign of the Sassanid king Shapur I (241-272 CE). The trilingual inscription, written in the Sassanid and Parthian dialects of Middle Persian and ancient Greek, describes the war between Persia and Rome in which Shapur I defeated Valerian, who was captured in 260 and died in captivity.
ZOROASTRIAN PROPHECY - SAOSHYANT
NORUZ - MARCH 20 - PERSIAN NEW YEAR
ALPHABETICAL INDEX OF ALL FILES
