A 2500-Year-Old Persian Fire Altar Reflecting the Fire Cult in Central Anatolia

Discovered in the Bünyan district of Kayseri, Central Anatolia, in the 1930s, the Persian Fire Cult Altar, dating back to 500 BC, is a unique artifact used in Persian fire-related religious rituals.

Initially transferred to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations for security reasons, this altar is known to be the only example depicting the Persian fire cult. In 2022, it was returned to its original home, the Kayseri Archaeology Museum.

The altar features figures depicting fire priests engaged in ritual acts on all four sides. These figures provide valuable insights into the religious beliefs and rituals of the period. The objects held by the priests, such as bundles of tinder and libation cups (piales), help us understand their use in these rituals.

The adoption of Anatolian-style altar stones by the Persians indicates a cultural interaction between the two civilizations.

Made of light limestone, the altar’s portability suggests it was used in ritual areas. The fine details on the figures provide information about the artistic style and craftsmanship of the time.

This altar is not only a historical artefact, but also a source of important information about Persian religious beliefs, rituals and cultural interaction with Anatolia.

Kayseri’s Archaeological Significance: A Cradle of Civilizations

Kayseri, where the unique Persian fire altar is located, is a city located in the heart of Anatolia and has a rich history of thousands of years. Kayseri, which has a great archaeological importance, has hosted different civilisations and has carried the traces of these civilisations to the present day.

The most important archaeological site of Kayseri is Kültepe-Kaniş, which belongs to the Age of Assyrian Trade Colonies. Located 20 km northeast of Kayseri, Kültepe was an important trade centre in ancient times. Kültepe, one of the most important settlements of Anatolia during the Assyrian Trade Colonies, was home to thousands of cuneiform tablets. These tablets are the first written documents of Anatolia and shed light on the social, economic and political life of the period.

Kültepe is on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.

Very important fossil deposits were unearthed during excavations at the Yamula dam in Kayseri.