n the heart of an ancient nation, a sacred fire burns. It hasn’t been extinguished for over 2,000 years. Its mysteries inspired the faith of millions and lie at the very root of what Christians, Muslims and Jews believe in today. This journey covers two and a half thousand miles and takes us behind the veil of Islamic fundamentalism to a place where time and history began.
Iran is not strictly at the “ends of the earth” but because it’s been effectively off limits to many Westerners for so long, it is still a land shrouded in mystery. This journey begins in modern day Iran, a much-misunderstood country at the centre of a troubled region. In the capital, Tehran, there are still signs that some Western visitors remain unwelcome. Graffiti on the walls of what was the United States’ Embassy, serves as a reminder of the capture of 52 American hostages held by revolutionaries for over a year in the same building. The graffiti proclaims Iran’s hatred of America, a country they call the “Great Satan” and everywhere the face of Ayatollah Khomeini, father of the Islamic revolution, is to be seen. While Islamic law can still jail a woman that forgets to cover her head or a man that drinks a beer, it is now being observed less strictly.
The old Iran is re-emerging from behind the fundamentalist veil, an ancient land with roots reaching right back to the beginning of time. Centuries before Jesus, a man was born here whose vision still shapes our world. His name was Zarathustra, but he’s also known as Zoroaster. Fire was his fascination. In its flickering mystery, he saw things which few had seen before; a single supreme being, a heaven for the good and a hell for the wicked, a divine saviour and a last judgement. Jews and Christians have long embraced versions of these beliefs, which are still very much at the centre of our civilisation today. This journey is as much spiritual as physical as we head into Iran’s remotest corners in search of Zoroaster’s eternal flame.
The route takes us northwest deep into the Elburz Mountains, on the southern shores of the Caspian Sea. This is one of the greatest barrier ranges of Central Asia with peaks over 10,000 feet high. For many centuries, the Elburz have been a refuge for those who wanted to remain independent of cities on the plains. They have also been used as a sanctuary for anyone wanting to hide from the authorities or simply wanting to be different. These mountains have also been a place from which to plot mayhem. Our route leads us to the lair of the Assassins and the fortress of a very dangerous man.
Alamut Mountain, which means, “eagle’s teaching”, is a rocky skyscraper thrusting 3,000 feet into the air. Maybe it’s just the extraordinary shape, but toiling up its slopes, you begin to understand why some people believe that certain spots on Earth possess uncanny powers. A challenge for the toughest of climbers;
(^_^)>http://www.davidadamsfilms.com.au/projects/journeys/iran-people-of-the-flame/
KGB
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