Zoroastrian Towers of Silence in Yazd: History and Visiting Tips

The Towers of Silence outside Yazd are disused Zoroastrian funerary structures known as dakhmas. They reflect a historical tradition of exposing the dead to sunlight and scavenging birds rather than placing bodies directly in the earth.

A visit to Yazd reveals a city of earthen architecture, narrow lanes and ingenious cooling systems. Traditional badgir windcatchers are among the features that make its historic landscape distinctive.

The city has long been home to Muslim, Jewish and Zoroastrian communities. UNESCO recognises the Historic City of Yazd for its surviving urban fabric and living cultural traditions.

Zoroastrianism has deep roots in Iranian history, and Yazd became an important centre for its communities. Religious buildings and historic sites in and around the city preserve traces of that continuity.

The hilltop dakhmas are among Yazd’s most distinctive heritage sites. They are no longer used for funerals, but they offer an opportunity to understand a practice that should be described with cultural sensitivity.

Built on elevated ground outside the old city, these roofless circular enclosures allowed sunlight and birds to reach the deceased. The surviving structures differ in size and history, so a single precise dimension should not be applied to all of them.

A dakhma is a designated place for the exposure of the dead, not a conventional burial pit. Its form reflects historical Zoroastrian religious rules concerning death and the natural elements.

Descriptions of later dakhmas often identify concentric areas for men, women and children. These arrangements are part of the documented tradition, although individual practices varied by place and period.

A central pit or ossuary could receive bones after the exposure process. Keeping remains separate from surrounding soil and water was an important concern in the ritual system.

Zoroastrian Beliefs and Funeral Traditions

In traditional Zoroastrian religious law, a dead body was associated with a form of ritual impurity called nasu. This was a theological concept, not a judgement on the person who had died.

Earth, fire and water were regarded as sacred creations. Exposure rites sought to avoid contaminating them. Historical customs were not identical across all Zoroastrian communities or centuries.

Rather than burying or cremating the deceased, some communities used elevated places of exposure. Encyclopaedia Iranica’s account of Zoroastrian burial traditions explains the religious and historical context.

Accounts from Yazd describe consecrated substances and carefully prescribed methods for preparing the deceased and ritual objects. Such details varied between communities and should not be confused with modern medical or hygiene practices.

One documented rite, sagdid, involved a dog looking at the deceased. In traditional belief, the animal’s gaze helped repel the spiritual danger associated with death.

Relatives, priests and designated attendants had different roles in preparing the shroud, reciting prayers and carrying the body. These duties were part of a wider sequence of remembrance.

Historical descriptions mention prayers, ritual purification and the presence of sacred fire before the body was taken to the dakhma. They record past religious observance, not activities for visitors to reenact.

Ceremonies could involve particular times of day, rules for bearers and periods of mourning. Scholarly accounts note regional variation, so no single sequence should be presented as universal.

Sunlight and exposure gradually affected the body, while scavenging birds accelerated the process. The practice was understood within religious teachings about the protection of sacred elements.

After exposure, dry bones could be transferred to a central pit or ossuary. Archaeological evidence also records other forms of ossuary used by Iranian Zoroastrian communities.

Use of the Yazd towers ceased during the twentieth century as communities adopted other funerary arrangements. Claims about a precise nationwide legal ban or a single transition date require stronger documentation than is currently available.

Visiting the Towers of Silence Today

Today, the towers are heritage sites rather than active funerary places. The growth of Yazd has brought them closer to the modern city, but their elevated desert setting remains striking.

The climb can be steep and exposed, particularly in hot weather. Wear suitable footwear, carry water and respect barriers around fragile structures. Confirm current access locally before travelling.

Approach the site as a place connected to a living religious community. Respect other visitors and conservation rules, and allow time to explore Yazd’s wider Zoroastrian heritage. For additional historical context, consult Encyclopaedia Iranica’s study of Zoroastrian funerary practices and UNESCO’s Historic City of Yazd profile.