Historical monuments of Apsheron peninsula (4 hours)

Temple of Fire «Аtashgakh» in Surakhani village (XVII century)
Watchtowers in Mardakan settlement and Romani (XII-XIV centuries).

Towers of Apsheron. The enormous constructions during XI-XIII centuries were carried out pursuant to making fortification of the Shirvanshakhs palaces on the territory of Apsheron peninsula. Among structures of that period of times towers and castles occupy special place – they served as a reliable bulwark for feudal lords in internecine war, as well as like a place of shelter and served like shield during times of foreign oppressions’ intrusions. Being allocated alongside all Apsheron peninsula the towers had not been intended for long-term dwelling. Apart from one-timing castles of the Western Europe the castles of Apsheron did not have broadened indoor yards equipped with dwelling and service buildings. Such structures were allocated behind serfdom walls. The towers served just as interim shelter intended for feudal lords and their vassals whilst there were occurred assaults and in view of passive defense. All towers of Apsheron were entered into the whole system of defense. In XVII-XVIII centuries the towers played signaling role. When enemy is being approached thereto at the tops of towers someone may set afire of oil and in such a way they might giving notice to population on coming danger. Those ones, which the most being kept in good conditions are the towers allocated in Ramana, Nardaran and two of them in Mardakan; in destroyed condition in Bilgakh, Shagan and Kala. There were existed towers also in settlements of Mashtaga, Shuvelyani, Kishli, Govsani, Buzovna and others. So, in villages of Apsheron there were existed nearly 30 towers.

The Perl of this tour is the Zoroastrian-Fire worshiping (the Temple of Fire).
The fire during all the time played important role in the life of azerbaijanians. Inextinguishable, beating under the ground, the fire caused within peoples the feeling of cult. It was deifed, there were constructed sanctuaries. One of such places - temple “Atashgakh”, which means “House of fire, “Place of fire”.
On the place of the ancient sanctuary of Zoroastrians, the richest Indian merchants started to construct such buildings. One of the earlier buildings of the temple is related to 1713 year. To the most late one is regarded the central temple-Altar, having been erected, as legend says- on assets of merchant Kanchanagara in 1810 year. During XVIII century around the sanctuary, being attached to each other, there were outgrew chapels, cell, caravanserai. At cells of monument there are available inscriptions made on rock, being performed with prints of Indian letter – davanagari and gumruki.

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