A Zoroastrian funerary tower for excarnation — the practice of exposing the dead to vultures and the elements rather than burial or cremation. The circular stone platform sits atop a desert hilltop outside Yazd, open to the sky. Zoroastrian cosmology holds that earth, fire, and water are sacred elements that must not be polluted by contact with death — so the dead are returned to the sky. The circular form maximizes exposure to sun and carrion birds, while the hilltop placement catches wind that accelerates desiccation. Bodies were arranged in three concentric rings: men on the outer ring, women in the middle, children at the center. Active through 1974, when Iranian law mandated burial.
WikipediaStellar Alignments (89 stars)
| Star ▴ | Rise Az ▴ | Rise Δ ▴ | Set Az ▴ | Set Δ ▴ | Tradition ▴ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pleiades (Alcyone) | 63.2° | — | 296.8° | — | |
| Orion's Belt (Alnilam) | 91.9° | — | 268.1° | — | |
| Sirius | 109.1° | — | 250.9° | — | |
| Thuban | — | — | — | — | |
| Vega | 43.0° | — | 317.0° | — | |
| Regulus | 73.2° | — | 286.8° | — | |
| Aldebaran | 71.7° | — | 288.3° | — | |
| Antares | 120.2° | — | 239.8° | — | |
| Fomalhaut | 128.7° | — | 231.3° | — | |
| Arcturus | 64.2° | — | 295.8° | — | |
| Galactic Center (Sgr A*) | 124.4° | — | 235.6° | — | |
| Galactic Anti-Center | 55.7° | — | 304.3° | — | |
| Deneb | 35.7° | — | 324.3° | — | |
| Capella | 33.1° | — | 326.9° | — | |
| Castor | 50.4° | — | 309.6° | — | |
| Pollux | 55.1° | — | 304.9° | — | |
| Procyon | 82.5° | — | 277.5° | — | |
| Betelgeuse | 81.5° | — | 278.5° | — | |
| Rigel | 100.4° | — | 259.6° | — | |
| Bellatrix | 83.2° | — | 276.8° | — | |
| Achernar | — | — | — | — | |
| Acrux | — | — | — | — | |
| Mimosa | 171.1° | — | 188.9° | — | |
| Altair | 80.9° | — | 279.1° | — | |
| Kochab | — | — | — | — | |
| Dubhe | — | — | — | — | |
| Alkaid | 22.5° | — | 337.5° | — | |
| Mizar | 7.3° | — | 352.6° | — | |
| Hamal | 64.8° | — | 295.1° | — | |
| Zubenelgenubi | 106.5° | — | 253.5° | — | |
| Alnitak | 92.7° | — | 267.3° | — | |
| Mintaka | 90.9° | — | 269.1° | — | |
| Saiph | 101.7° | — | 258.3° | — | |
| Peacock | 177.8° | — | 182.3° | — | |
| Miaplacidus | — | — | — | — | |
| Rigil Kentaurus | — | — | — | — | |
| Hadar | 176.7° | — | 183.3° | — | |
| Gacrux | 163.3° | — | 196.7° | — | |
| Naos | 137.4° | — | 222.6° | — | |
| Suhail | 141.4° | — | 218.6° | — | |
| Avior | 176.7° | — | 183.3° | — | |
| Atria | — | — | — | — | |
| Regor | 147.8° | — | 212.2° | — | |
| Alsephina | 160.1° | — | 199.9° | — | |
| Shaula | 134.6° | — | 225.4° | — | |
| Ankaa | 146.2° | — | 213.8° | — | |
| Menkent | 131.1° | — | 228.9° | — | |
| Alpheratz | 58.4° | — | 301.6° | — | |
| Eltanin | 22.7° | — | 337.3° | — | |
| Kornephoros | 63.1° | — | 296.9° | — | |
| Rasalhague | 74.7° | — | 285.4° | — | |
| Denebola | 69.6° | — | 290.4° | — | |
| Alhena | 70.3° | — | 289.8° | — | |
| Alphard | 97.9° | — | 262.1° | — | |
| Bharani | 68.2° | — | 291.9° | — | |
| Pushya | 66.5° | — | 293.5° | — | |
| Adhara | 124.0° | — | 235.9° | — | |
| Wezen | 120.7° | — | 239.3° | — | |
| Navi | 1.8° | — | 358.2° | — | |
| Schedar | 18.0° | — | 342.0° | — | |
| Nunki | 122.0° | — | 238.0° | — | |
| Canopus | 159.0° | — | 201.0° | — | |
| Kaus Australis | 131.8° | — | 228.2° | — | |
| Sabik | 107.8° | — | 252.2° | — | |
| Scheat | 59.5° | — | 300.5° | — | |
| Enif | 80.8° | — | 279.1° | — | |
| Diphda | 114.5° | — | 245.5° | — | |
| Alphecca | 56.0° | — | 304.0° | — | |
| Rasalgethi | 72.2° | — | 287.8° | — | |
| Spica | 100.2° | — | 259.8° | — | |
| Zubeneschamali | 98.9° | — | 261.1° | — | |
| Unukalhai | 80.6° | — | 279.4° | — | |
| Murzim | 111.1° | — | 248.9° | — | |
| Phact | 131.7° | — | 228.3° | — | |
| Mirfak | 28.9° | — | 331.1° | — | |
| Vindemiatrix | 74.0° | — | 286.0° | — | |
| Markab | 75.0° | — | 285.0° | — | |
| Algol | 42.2° | — | 317.8° | — | |
| Sadalmelik | 93.0° | — | 267.0° | — | |
| Sadalsuud | 98.9° | — | 261.1° | — | |
| Sun (Summer Solstice) | 62.1° | — | 297.9° | — | |
| Sun (Winter Solstice) | 117.9° | — | 242.1° | — | |
| Sun (Equinox) | 90.0° | — | 270.0° | — | |
| Sun (Northern Cross-Quarter) | 70.5° | — | 289.5° | — | |
| Sun (Southern Cross-Quarter) | 109.5° | — | 250.5° | — | |
| Moon (N Major Standstill) | 55.6° | — | 304.4° | — | |
| Moon (S Major Standstill) | 124.4° | — | 235.6° | — | |
| Moon (N Minor Standstill) | 67.8° | — | 292.2° | — | |
| Moon (S Minor Standstill) | 112.2° | — | 247.8° | — |
Related Sites — Solar Alignment