Azerbaijan is known as “The Land of Fire”, and aptly so. When Marco Polo visited the then-Persian city of Baku, he wrote about numerous mysterious flames that could be found all over the region: “This is absolutely the most interesting and fascinating thing, which can be seen nowhere else.”
The natural fires of Azerbaijan are considered to have played a crucial part in the ancient Zoroastrian religion, which was founded in Iran and flourished in Azerbaijan in 1000 BC. For Zoroastrians, fire is a link between humans and the supernatural world, and a medium through which spiritual insight and wisdom can be gained. It’s purifying, life-sustaining and a vital element of worship.
This story is from the AG 03/2020 - 142 edition of ASIAN Geographic.
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This story is from the AG 03/2020 - 142 edition of ASIAN Geographic.
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