Fire Temples/Agiaries
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Followers of Zoroastrianism worship within buildings known as agiaries or fire temples. The general structure of these buildings has changed over time as they have become more modern. The oldest and most basic agiaries consisted of four stone walls with arc shaped entrances. Even though the architecture of these temples varies depending on when and where they are constructed, their most distinct and consistent feature is the pillars in front of the entrances of the buildings. The inside of a modern fire temple will consist of a large hall to hold ceremonies. A floor above or below the main floor will be a room that is smaller than the main hall. Connected to this room will be the innermost sanctum called the atashgah, meaning 'place of the fire', which is where the fire-alter can be found. There are no lights within this room besides the fire, and the room is designed so that sunlight cannot enter it. The walls of the room are always tiled or made of marble and are left undecorated. Tools to keep the fire burning are either hung on the wall or stored in a small room or rooms accessible only through the atashgah. There is a bell hanging in the corner of the atashgah that is rung five times daily to mark certain times of the day. Those that are not followers of Zoroastrianism are forbidden from entering any room from which they could see the fire. This rule is not written in any of the Zoroastrian holy scriptures but has nonetheless developed as a tradition.