The Zoroastrian Cube
The Zoroastrian cube is a religious building located in necropolis which seems to be built about 2500 years ago, during Achamanid Dynasty.
The structure was built on a 3 Steps platform, as the foundation, and has cubic form with almost a hipped-roof at the top, it had been made out of different parts of white limestone and also black under the roof, joining together without mortar, a technique which is called dry masonry. in fact the builders joined heavy parts of stones together by using metal clamps, called swallowtail clamps. Moreover, there are different blind-niches on all sides of the building. All of the mentioned-features make us to conclude that it dates back to Achamanid period, about 2500 years ago and was built after a similar building in Pasargadae, known as Solomon prison.
Actually the function is not clear but there are some theories about it. First it could be a fire temple, because, there are traces of smoke on the inner walls, however, it’s possible that a Shepherd or travelers might light a fire there. Also, the structure doesn’t have a chimney. In addition, Achamanid did put the Holy Fire on an altar in a free space. second it is possible to be a tomb of a king or a nobleman, but who. Because Achamanids tomb are in Necropolis, Persepolis and Pasargadae and their architecture are absolutely different. Another theory is that the place used to be a treasury, due to the Kartir’s inscription around its walls which says that here was a place for keeping the copies of Zoroastrian holy book, Avesta.
In addition, it has been called Zoroastrian cubic since 150 years ago, because its form is like the one in Mecca, but its older name according to an inscription on its wall ,written by the order of the Zoroastrian high priest during the Sasanian Dynasty, was Bun Khaneh, meaning the Main or the first house.
Moreover there is another inscription around the structure. they are in Greek, Parthian and Sasanian Pahlavi which were written by the order of Shapur the 1st , a Sasanian king, They are describing Shapur’s functions and victories in the battlefield that Shapur defeated three Roman emperors during the 3rd century AD. Also it is mentioned that Shapur himself captured the Roman emperor Valerian and 70000 of his legions.
