Amasya – Oluz Höyük Ateşgedesi ve Erken Zerdüşt Dini Kutsal Alanı

Abstract

The contributions of Oluz Hoyuk to the Iron Age of Halys Basin took a religious turn including its cultural, historical and military properties. The evidence and the small finds uncovered in 2B Architectural Layer (425-300 BC) and 2A Architectural Layer (300-200 BC) presents important data regarding the Early Zoroastrianism and the earlier periods of Cult of Fire, a topic where unknown data far surpasses what is known. The remains started to be uncovered by the discovery of Sacred Fire Pit is understood to belong to a Atashkadah and a Sanctuary with the work of 2017. In this context the presence of a people in Oluz Hoyuk who worships or reveres fire, believes in the unity in god and does not care or believe in the figurines of deities is proven. It is understood that these people who concretized their beliefs by building a Atashkadah, a Sanctuary and a sacred road (Persian Road) which leads to them between the years of 425-200 BC are Persian in origin and created one of the first communities of the Early Zoroastrianism. When the historical process of the Zoroastrianism has been taken into account, the fire burning and preserved outdoors in the earlier period (5th century BC) seems to be the central practice of the new religion which institutionalized in Oluz Hoyuk. In Oluz Hoyuk, the presence of the rituals and the practices which constituted the Early Zoroastrianism in the Early and Middle Achaemenid periods proves that North-Central Anatolia (Pontika Kappadokia) and Kappadokia should be evaluated in the sacred geography of Avesta.