The Cypress of Abarkuh ( fa, سرو ابرکوه ''Sarv-e Abarkuh''), also called the
Zoroastrian
Zoroastrianism is an Iranian religion and one of the world's oldest organized faiths, based on the teachings of the Iranian-speaking prophet Zoroaster. It has a dualistic cosmology of good and evil within the framework of a monotheistic ...
Sarv, is a Persian cypress (''
Cupressus sempervirens'') tree in
Abarkuh
Abarkuh ( fa, ابركوه, also Romanized as Abarkūh and Abar Kūh; also known as Abarghoo, Abarkū, Abar Qū, and Abarqūh) is a city and capital of Abarkuh County, Yazd Province, Iran. At the 2016 census, its population was 27,524, in 5,880 ...
in
Yazd Province of Iran. It is protected by the
Cultural Heritage Organization of Iran
Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicraft Organization ( fa, وزارت میراث فرهنگی، گردشگری و صنایع دستی ایران, ''Vâzart-e Miras-e Ferhengi-ye, Gârdâshigâri-ye vâ Sânai'-ye Dâsti-ye Iran'') is ...
as a national natural monument and is a major tourist attraction with a height of and with a perimeter of at its trunk and higher up around its branches. It is estimated to be over four millennia old and is likely the oldest or second-oldest living lifeform in Asia.
The exact age of the tree has been difficult to determine, but it is estimated to be between 4000 and 5000 years old. Favorable natural conditions of its location have been credited as the main reason for the tree's longevity.
There is a legend about the tree, which says the tree was first planted by
Zoroaster
Zoroaster,; fa, زرتشت, Zartosht, label= Modern Persian; ku, زەردەشت, Zerdeşt also known as Zarathustra,, . Also known as Zarathushtra Spitama, or Ashu Zarathushtra is regarded as the spiritual founder of Zoroastrianism. He is ...
. It is said that Zoroaster left to spread his teachings to an Iranian city towards Balkh and met Shah
Vishtaspa
Vishtaspa ( ae, 𐬬𐬌𐬱𐬙𐬁𐬯𐬞𐬀 ; peo, 𐎻𐏁𐎫𐎠𐎿𐎱 ; fa, گشتاسپ ; grc, Ὑστάσπης ) is the Avestan-language name of a figure of Zoroastrian scripture and tradition, portrayed as an early followe ...
. He stopped at Abarkuh and supposedly planted this tree.
Gallery
Cypress of Abarqu - Bough - 1.JPG,
Cypress of Abarqu - Bough - 3.JPG,
Cypress of Abarqu - cones.jpg,
Cypress of Abarqu - Full view with two school girls in front of it.JPG,
Cypress of Abarqu - sign.JPG,
See also
*
List of oldest trees
*
List of individual trees
*
Cypress of Kashmar
The Cypress of Kashmar was a cypress tree regarded as sacred to followers of Zoroastrianism. According to the Iranian epic ''Shahnameh'', the tree had grown from a branch Zoroaster had carried away from Paradise and which he planted in honor of ...
*
Yaldā Night
Yaldā Night ( fa, شب یلدا ''shab-e yalda'') or Chelle Night (also Chellah Night, fa, شب چلّه ''shab-e chelle'') is an ancient festival in Iran, Iraqi Kurdistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan and Turkey celebrated on the winter solstice ...
References
Individual conifers
Yazd Province
Tourist attractions in Yazd Province
Individual trees in Iran
Oldest trees
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