Ka'ba-ye ZartoshtAbout Ka'ba-ye Zartosht
Ka’ba-ye Zartosht, commonly called the Cube of Zoroaster, is a freestanding cuboid stone tower near the royal rock-reliefs and tombs at Naqsh-e Rustam in Fars province, Iran. It is notable for its simple cubic form executed in dressed stone and for an internal chamber reached by a staircase.
The tower’s construction and use span several periods; it is conventionally associated with the Achaemenid or early post-Achaemenid era as a built stone structure, while inscriptions and reuse during the Sassanian period are also present. The monument stands about 12 metres tall with a square plan of roughly 7 metres per side and contains a small interior chamber reached by an internal stair.
The Cube sits at the Naqsh-e Rustam necropolis near the archaeological remains of Persepolis and is part of the wider ensemble of royal rock-reliefs and tomb façades in the Marvdasht area.
- Nearby inscriptions and reliefs: The structure bears later Sassanian-period inscriptions and sits immediately above the rock-cut royal tombs and reliefs at Naqsh-e Rustam, making it easy to combine with a visit to those monuments.
Nearby Attractions to Ka'ba-ye Zartosht
Best Time to Visit Ka'ba-ye Zartosht
Aim for spring or autumn (March-May or September-November) for the most comfortable weather when visiting the Ka'ba-ye Zartosht area.
Weather & Climate near Ka'ba-ye Zartosht
Ka'ba-ye Zartosht's climate is classified as Cold Semi-Arid - Cold Semi-Arid climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -1°C to 37°C. Very dry conditions with minimal rainfall with a pronounced dry season.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Good | -1° - 11° | 3° | 42 mm | some cloud | 59% | 1.9 m/s | 0.8 moderate | 10.4h |
| February | Good | 1° - 14° | 5° | 30 mm | some cloud | 57% | 2.6 m/s | 1.1 high | 11.0h |
| March | Very Good | 3° - 16° | 8° | 36 mm | some cloud | 51% | 3.2 m/s | 1.6 very high | 11.9h |
| April | Excellent | 7° - 21° | 14° | 13 mm | some cloud | 46% | 3.3 m/s | 2.1 extreme | 12.8h |
| May | Ideal | 12° - 27° | 19° | 6 mm | mostly sunny | 32% | 3.2 m/s | 2.6 extreme | 13.5h |
| June | Ideal | 16° - 34° | 25° | 1 mm | clear | 17% | 2.9 m/s | 2.9 extreme | 13.9h |
| July | Ideal | 20° - 37° | 29° | 1 mm | clear | 16% | 2.7 m/s | 2.7 extreme | 13.7h |
| August | Ideal | 20° - 36° | 28° | 1 mm | clear | 17% | 2.6 m/s | 2.6 extreme | 13.1h |
| September | Ideal | 15° - 33° | 24° | 0 mm | clear | 17% | 2.3 m/s | 2.1 extreme | 12.2h |
| October | Ideal | 10° - 28° | 19° | 4 mm | clear | 26% | 2.1 m/s | 1.5 very high | 11.3h |
| November | Excellent | 6° - 21° | 13° | 11 mm | mostly sunny | 45% | 2.1 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 10.6h |
| December | Very Good | 2° - 16° | 8° | 38 mm | some cloud | 55% | 1.9 m/s | 0.7 moderate | 10.2h |
How to Get to Ka'ba-ye Zartosht
The Ka’ba-ye Zartosht (the Cube of Zoroaster) stands at the Naqsh-e Rustam archaeological site near the Persepolis/Marvdasht area in Fars province. The usual approach is by road from Shiraz (the nearest major city) toward Marvdasht/Persepolis; there is parking at the Naqsh-e Rustam site and the monument is a short walk from the parking and visitor area.
Visitors typically combine this stop with Persepolis; local tour operators and taxis from Shiraz or Marvdasht run day trips to the archaeological complex.
Tips for Visiting Ka'ba-ye Zartosht
- Visit Ka'ba-ye Zartosht at Naqsh-e Rustam early morning or late afternoon for cooler light and better photos of the rock-cut royal tombs nearby; the monument is an outdoor site with no interior visits.
- Approach from the main Naqsh-e Rustam parking area and allow time to study the adjacent Achaemenid and Sasanian reliefs and inscriptions-hiring a local guide or bringing an up-to-date guidebook will make the iconography and inscriptions far more meaningful.