Takht-e Soleyman

There is no mysterious place than Takht-e Soleyman in Iran. Some say there is a hidden treasure in its deep water, some say demons were kept in its prison, some say its the birthplace of Zoroaster and the legend has it the Holy Grail might be hidden somewhere here. Stay tuned to read more about this UNESCO World Heritage Site in West Azarbaijan Province, Iran.

About Takht-e Soleyman

Takht-e Soleyman is an archeological site near Takab, a city between Urmia and Hamadan, in West Azarbaijan, Iran. This complex consists of Khosrow Iwan, Azargoshnasb Firetemple, Soleyman Prison Mountain, Anahita temple, and the mysterious lake.

Why the name “Takht-e Soleyman”? Soleyman is the Persian form of the name Solomon. Legend has it this complex was built by the superpowers of King Solomon who had a magic ring. Takht-e Soleyman means Solomon’s throne. Also, they say Solomon would imprison monsters who disobeyed him in a deep crater in the mountain.

History of Takht-e Soleyman

The excavations of Takht-e Soleyman revealed that there are historical remainings from different periods. The oldest remainings have belonged to the Achaemenid period which dates back to the 5th century BC. After that, Takht-e Soleyman was the citadel of the Parthian Empire and they found some coins which prove that the Sasanid Empire ruled here. There is also evidence of the presence of Byzantine emperor Theodosius II in Takht-e Soleyman.

Each of historical monuments in Takhte-e Soleyman was built in one of these historical periods and each of them has different stories. But the most interesting and mysterious part of this complex is the central royal blue water lake. First, let’s take a brief look at the main part of this complex and then, we will tell you the strange stories associated with this extraordinary lake.

Historical Monuments in Takht-e Soleyman

As mentioned above, Takht-e Soleyman has five main parts:

Khosrow Iwan (Khosrow Vault) is the remaining of a height iwan in the northwest part of the complex. The Sasanid kings would stay in this place and watched the holy ceremonies that were held in the Zoroastrian fire temple. This place was built for Khosrow the First (Anoshirvan-e Sasani) and it is very similar to the other Sasanid historical monument, Taq Kasra in Iraq.

Azargoshnasb Fire Temple (Zoroastrian Fire Temple) means the temple of the male horse’s fire. In this holy place, Zoroastrians would keep the holy fire. Based on historical records, the walls of this temple were filled with pictures of stars, planets, animals, plants, and some strange patterns. They also say that the royal fire didn’t have any ash and it had been burning for 700 years. After the inversion of Arabs to Iran, this fireplace was destroyed, and instead, a mosque was built on its ruins.

Soleyman Prison Mountain is a 101-meter volcanic cone-shaped mountain in a three-kilometer distance of Takht-e Soleyman. In the center of this mount, there is a crater with a 65-meter diameter. There are ruins of a holy temple from 1000 BC near the crater. Based on folks myths, this was a prison for demons (Dives) and genies who disobey Solomon King.

Anahita Temple is a holy temple for Anahita, the goddess of water, love, and fertility in ancient Iran. Anahita temples can be found in most ancient cities in Iran which are close to a body of water.

Takht-e Soleyman Lake is the most mysterious part of this complex. This irregular oval-shaped lake is the main reason for the prosperity of this place over the years. This is actually not a lake but it is a spring. We still don’t know how deep is this spiring but in the shallow parts near the edges, it reaches 40 to 45 meters. Discover more about this lake in the next part.

The Mysterious Lake

The first interesting fact about this lake is that its water temperature doesn’t change, even in hot days of summer when the rest of the area is covered in snow. Also, based on the elements that exist in this lake, which makes it water hard, there are no living things except some plants.

Some legends say this lake was created by Solomon King when he hardly hit his cane on the ground. The other myth says the lake bed is filled with magical muds made by volcanic ashes that sinks and eats every living thing that enters this lake.

Another famous story is about a messenger, who was sent by Hormozd King to Bethlehem, the biblical birthplace of Jesus, to give tidings to the Holy Mary about the birth of his child. After hearing the news, the Holy Mary gave him a bag of soil and told him there is building in the heart of this soil. On his way back, the messenger became badly sick and before he dies, he buried the bag in the ground, and then that spot turned to a lake and the area became flourishing.

The Treasure in the Lake

There are several myths and stories about a sunken treasure in the depths of this lake. Some believe that Cyrus the Great ordered to throw the priceless treasure of Croesus, the king of Lydia, into the lake after he defeated him.

But the most interesting legend is about the magical ring of Solomon. They say when the demons defeated Solomon, they took his powerful magical ring and threw it in the lake. Some say Solomon never found his ring, and some say he found it inside of a fish.

No one knows which story is true, but if you are planning about a treasure-hunting into this lake, DON’T! It is dangerous and unfortunately, there were people who sank in this lake. If you don’t believe it, look for the empty graves near the lake for those who swim in this lake and never came back.

Location of Takht-e Soleyman

Takht-e Soleyman is located near Takab town in West Azarbaijan Province. To reach this UNESCO World Heritage Site you have to drive about five hours from Urmia. You can enjoy other attractions in the region like Lake Urmia, Urmia Grand Bazaar, and Urmia Museum as well.

Where to Eat near Takht-e Soleyman

There are no restaurants near this historical archaeological site; so, you have to bring some snacks with you!

Where to Stay near Takht-e Soleyman

There is no accommodation near Takht-e Soleyman, but you can stay in Urmia hotels. If you want to stay in a luxury hotel in Urmia, you can choose Urmia Aria Hotel, Urmia Park hotel, or Urmia Sahel Hotel. If you looking for budget hotels Urmia Bahar Apartment Hotel, Urmia Mah Kimia Hotel, and Urmia Morvarid Hotel are your options.