Tower of Silence (Zoroastrian)

Yazd, Yazd Province, Iran

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The Tower of Silence in Yazd, Iran, is a circular, raised structure traditionally used by Zoroastrians as a site for excarnation, where the dead were laid out to be naturally decomposed by vultures.

This practice stems from Zoroastrian beliefs that earth, fire, and water are sacred and must not be polluted by burial or cremation. Bodies were placed on the tower in distinct rings designated for men, women, and children, and after vultures stripped the flesh, bones were collected in a central pit called the "ostudan."

Located about 15 kilometers southeast of Yazd city on a hilltop in the desert, the tower symbolizes the religious significance of life, death, and purity in Zoroastrianism. Although this funerary practice has been banned in Iran since the 1960s, the tower remains a historical and cultural monument that reflects the ancient spiritual traditions and ecological respect of the Zoroastrian community.

The site is preserved as a national heritage and draws visitors interested in the unique legacy of Zoroastrianism in the region.