Скачать или смотреть An ancient temple inside a home

This might be one of the most unexpected finds of my travels.

In the heart of Tbilisi, Georgia—a place you wouldn’t normally link to ancient Persia—I stumbled upon one of the oldest Zoroastrian temples outside of Iran.

Zoroastrianism, long before Christianity and Islam, was one of the world’s most influential religions—centered on one god, Ahura Mazda, and the eternal flame as its most sacred symbol. So when I heard whispers of a 5th-century temple still standing here, I had to see it.

At first glance, it was underwhelming—a weathered wall beside a quiet residential home. Still, I figured the owner might know something I didn’t, so I knocked. Ten minutes passed. No answer. Just when I was about to give up, I tried one last time—and the door opened.

To my surprise, the temple was hidden inside someone’s private property. The homeowner, as it turns out, is the unofficial guardian of this ancient site, letting curious visitors step inside.

Likely built under Sasanian rule, it would have served the Zoroastrians who once lived in Tbilisi, a city once under Persian control, and housed an eternal flame that burned without end.

From the street, it looked like nothing. But beyond that wall was a rare piece of Persian history—still standing in the middle of modern-day Georgia.