Towers of Silence

By Crusader1307

Relating to The Iranian Religious Belief of Zoroastriansm  - ‘’Towers of Silence’’ were important to their Funerary and Afterlife Beliefs. Circular stone constructs, most were roughly 25 to 35 feet in height – with a single entrance way allowed. The entirety of the structure’s roof was left open to ‘’The Sky’’. Inside was a simple platform. After a ‘’Believer’’ died (and required prayers and related customs offered), a body was NOT treated with an kind of preservation techniques. Wrapped in a Shroud, it was left on the platform for a specific period of time (as long as several weeks, depending on the desert conditions). This allowed the remains to decompose rapidly, often leaving only skeletal conditions. After which, these portions were placed in a pit and allowed to continue to weather. Some times, chemical assistance was aided by this time, to further break down the bone – hopefully into dust. This was then venerated and entombed (in some cases). The Belief was centered on the fact that once The Soul departed ‘’Life’’, The ‘’Body’’ was of no great importance. Some Sects of Zoroastrianism still follow this practice – which is Centuries old.