Министерство Образования Азербайджанской Республики

Азербайджанская Национальная Консерватория

Бакинский Музыкальный Колледж

Самостоятельная работа 10

Предмет:Английский язык
Курс: IIa
Преподаватель: Садигова Арифа
Студентка: Абдинзаде Джамаля

Тема: Ateshgah
The Baku Ateshgah (from Persian: =‫آتشگاه‬, Atashgāh,
Azerbaijani: Atəşgah), often called the "Fire Temple of
Baku" is a castle-like religious temple in Surakhani, a
suburb in Baku, Azerbaijan. Based on Persian and
Indian inscriptions, the temple was used as a Hindu and
Zoroastrian place of worship. "Atash" (‫ )آتش‬is the
Persian word for fire. The pentagonal complex, which
has a courtyard surrounded by cells for monks and a
tetrapillar-altar in the middle, was built during the 17th
and 18th centuries. It was abandoned after
1883[citation needed] when oil and gas plants were
established in the vicinity, ending the flow of natural
gas to the temple and extinguishing the holy fire.
The Baku Ateshgah was a pilgrimage and
philosophical centre of Zoroastrians from
Northwestern Indian Subcontinent, who were involved
in trade with the Caspian area via the famous "Grand
Trunk Road". The four holy elements of their belief
were: ateshi (fire), badi (air), abi (water), and heki
(earth). The temple ceased to be a place of worship
after 1883 with the installation of petroleum plants
(industry) at Surakhany. The complex was turned into
a museum in 1975. The annual number of visitors to
the museum is 15,000.

The Temple of Fire "Ateshgah" was nominated for List

of World Heritage Sites, UNESCO in 1998 by Gulnara
Mehmandarova — president of Azerbaijan Committee
of International Council on Monuments and Sites
(ICOMOS). It was also featured on an episode of
Globe Trekker.

It was declared a state historical-architectural reserve

by decree of the President of Azerbaijan on 19 December
2007.