Silent Towers and Zoroastrian Fire Temple

One of two Zoroastrian Towers of Silence near Yazd where the dead were laid out to be consumed by vultures	Iranian tourists headed for the Towers of Silence	The taller of the two hills has the Tower of Silence for the Zoroastrian men	The lower hill has the Tower of Silence for the Zoroastrian women
Ab Anbar near the Silent Towers, Yazd	Ruins of early Zoroastrian buildings at the base of the Towers of Silence	An old kitchen	The Silent Tower looms above the ruins below
Zoroastrian Tower of Silence (women)	Zoroastrian Tower of Silence (women)	View from the taller of the Towers of Silence on the ruins below	Old buildings for the Zoroastrian priests attending the Towers
The taller of the Towers of Silence, out of use since the 1960s	Looking across to the second of the Towers of Silence	Yazd is encroaching of this formerly isolated place	Looking across to the lower tower
Entrance to the Silent Tower	Crater in the center of the men's Tower of Silence	Rugged mountain scenery behind the Silent Towers	Rugged mountain scenery behind the Silent Towers
Rugged mountain scenery behind the Silent Towers	Paths lead from the towers to other nearby ruins	Other ruins behind the Towers of Silence	The mountains receiving a fresh dusting of snow at the end of March
Zoroastrian ruins and a modern water pumping station	Since the 1960's, the Zoroastrians are now buried in a nearby cemetary	Zoroastrian Cemetary	Atashkadah, Zoroastrian Fire Temple, built in 1934, Yazd
The Prophet Zoroaster (Zarathushtra), an early monotheist from 1400-1000 BC	Normally, outside No Ruz, Iranian tourist sites are deserted	The sacred flame is said to have been buring since 470 AD, transferred from an earlier temple	Zoroastrian priest stokeing the sacred flame
Iranian tourists visiting the Zoroastrian Fire Temple during No Ruz	Iranian tourists visiting the Zoroastrian Fire Temple during No Ruz	Iranian tourists visiting the Zoroastrian Fire Temple during No Ruz