Persian Religion and Achaemenid Sacred Spaces

Abstract

Chapter 7 examines the problem of the architecture and spatial contexts of Achaemenid religion. It argues that the dynasty did not impose a tradition of fire temple architecture on their empire. It is important to assert this at the outset because throughout the last century scholars have repeatedly assumed the existence of- and often attempted to reconstruct- a trans-millennial tradition of Iranian temple architecture built to house a sacred, ever-burning fire in the manner of a late antique or medieval Zoroastrian fire temple, retrojecting them onto the ancient evidence. It explores the evidence we do have to understand the Achaemenid approach to temples and sacred spaces.