President Ilham Aliyev and his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva acquainted themselves with the conditions created at the “Atashgah Temple” State History and Architecture Reserve after the restoration and reconstruction works

On March 29, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva acquainted themselves with the conditions created at the “Atashgah” State History and Architecture Reserve after the restoration and reconstruction works.

Mehriban Aliyeva was presented a bunch of flowers.

The Head of State and his spouse were informed that, being one of Azerbaijan’s material cultural monuments, built on the remnants of a Zoroastrian temple related to the 17th – 18th centuries and entered on UNESCO’s first list of the World Heritage, the Atashgah temple consists of 26 cells and the central altar.

It was informed that, starting from September 2012, works on improvement of the territory around the temple, construction of subsidiary buildings  have been carried out with rapid pace and completed during seven months. The main building accommodates a reserve department, museum, a house of mugham, a forging furnace related to national applied art, a blacksmith shop, copper and porcelain dishes, engraving on wood, carpet, kalaghayi (silk head-dress), bast mat weaving shops, souvenirs, a picture gallery etc. Created in a special architectural style, the museum includes corners reflecting ancient residential houses and monuments once existed in Baku city and Absheron. Domestic items and samples of art once used by our ancestors are displayed here.

Then President Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva acquainted themselves with the works carried out at Atashgah temple.

It was brought to attention that an altar, 26 cells and caravanserai had been built around the temple in the 17th century. Since the 18th century the temple has received the shape we see today.

The Head of State viewed the photo stand with pictures of Atashgah temple made in the 19th century, photos reflecting the appearance of the temple before and after the restoration, and design layouts of works to be done on the territory of the Reserve in the near future.

Expressing gratitude for the works done, President Ilham Aliyev set relevant tasks and gave recommendations.