Markar Museum of Yazd, which is located in the Markar Zoroastrian Complex of Yazd is a display of the history and culture of Iranian Zoroastrians. Zoroastrians of Yazd believe that Zoroaster was the only prophet who was sent among Indo-European peoples. He called on people to worship Ahura Mazda several thousand years ago, and today many people still follow Zoroastrianism in Iran and other countries around the world.

History of Markar Museum

About 90 years ago, a person named Pashootan Ji Markar started a complex in Farhang-e Iran Bastan Culture Square of Yazd City, which included an orphanage, a boarding school, a clock tower, and a high school. Since the basement of this orphanage was not being used anymore, a person named Esfandiar Ekhtiari renovated this basement and created a spectacular museum in it in the year 2015.

Who Was the Founder of the Markar Complex?

Pashootan Ji Dusabhai Markar, founder of the complex that has been named after him was born in Mumbai, India, in 1871 AD. He started his education in a school called “Elfston” and then joined the “Din Shah Silister” training center to learn office work. After completing his studies, Markar turned to business and in a short time became the owner of a good fortune. He was elected as the president of the Zoroastrian Association of Iran and Bombay in 1938 AD.

He was very interested in Iran and that is why he learned the Persian language. Markar was interested in reading Sa’di’s Golestan and Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh and devoted a lot of time to reading them such that he memorized these two books!

His great interest in Iran made him build an orphanage for Zoroastrian orphans in 1922 AD. Gradually, the Markar Complex was completed and new buildings, including the Markar girls’ and boys’ schools, were built in it. An old bathhouse can also be seen in this complex, the date of the construction of which goes back to before the establishment of the Markar complex. An old qanat also passed through this complex, which supplied the water requirements of the residents.

Different Sections of Markar Museum

Interconnected corridors of the building attract attentions immediately after entering the Museum. There are a number of books on the shelves of these corridors, each of which is dedicated to the biography of one of the Zoroastrian personalities. Among these books are the biography of Pashootan Ji Markar, the Gathas holy scripts, and inscriptions about Zarathushtra.

In a part of the museum, celebrations and ceremonies specific to Zoroastrians are introduced. Various statues are also located in this museum. The display of Zoroastrian clothes occupies another part of the museum. Each of these clothes is related to one of the ceremonies of Zoroastrians.

The introduction of shrines and other buildings that are of religious and historical importance to Zoroastrians has been done by showing their images. Since Pashootan Ji Markar is considered one of the influential people of the Zoroastrian society in the last century, he is fully introduced to the visitors of this museum and his pictures can be seen on several walls of the museum.

Architecture of Markar Museum

The structure in which the museum has been set up has been built using bricks. Maximum efforts had been made to receive enough light inside the building, therefore, despite the fact that the Markar Museum is located in a basement, it is illuminated with ambient light.

Having eye-catching lighting and the pleasant weather of Yazd makes visiting the Markar Museum at night more pleasurable for tourists.

Markar Museum of Yazd, which is located in the Markar Zoroastrian Complex of Yazd is a display of the history and culture of Iranian Zoroastrians.