Top 10 Intriguing Facts about Maiden Tower

Maiden Tower, Baku, Azerbaijan by maksym niezhentsev-Pixabay

Top 10 Intriguing Facts about Maiden Tower

Standing at an impressive 29.5 approximate height, the Maiden Tower is an iconic ancient monument in Azerbaijan. It is a cylindrical eight-story structure. It is located in the Old City of Baku, another medieval site in the country.

It is considered to have been built around the 12^th century. In 2000, it was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Interestingly, the exact purpose for its construction has not been settled upon by historians.

There however up to 20 local legends about the tower’s history. Pretty mysterious indeed. It is a distinctive landmark in Azerbaijan and is featured in the country’s currency notes and letterheads.

Tourists, local and foreign alike visit this iconic tower all year. It is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm.

Here are some of the top intriguing facts about the mysterious Maiden Tower.

1. The Maiden Tower is the oldest surviving monument in Baku Old City

Old City Baku by Самый древний-Wikimedia Commons

Old City is a historic medieval town in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. It houses several old houses and monuments, but the Maiden Tower is considered the oldest surviving one. Its completion is dated back to the 12^th century.

It has been described as the most majestic monument of Baku, built on a solid rock foundation and still standing to date.

It has a height of 29.5 meters and a base diameter of 16.5 meters. The walls’ thickness varies from 5 meters at the base to 3.5 meters at the top floors. All floors are connected by a staircase.

2. It houses a museum

Maiden Tower’s entry by Самый древний-Wikimedia Commons

There is a museum at Maiden Tower, which showcases the historic evolution of the Old City of Baku. The latter dates back to the 12^th century, although some historians contend that its establishment dates back to the 7^th century.

Its architecture, historic buildings, and culture have evidence of Zoroastrianism, Arabic, Persian, Shirvani, Ottoman, and Roman influences.

It was once the capital of the Shirvani dynasty, and the Palace of the Shirvanashahs still stands today. Baku is a host of rich cultural and historic threads. Some of these are displayed at the museum.

3. It serves splendid views of the City from its top

House of Hajinsky, Baku Old City by Ludvig 14-Wikimedia Commons

The tower is itself quite tall, standing at an impressive 29.5 meters. The views from the roof are pretty spectacular, capturing the minarets, streets of Baku, the Baku Boulevard, and the magnificent house of Isa Bek Hajinski. You can take in a wide vast of Baku Bay as well, on the western shore of the Caspian Sea.

4. The Maiden Tower is widely associated with Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrianism is an Iranian religion, founded on the teachings of Iranian-speaking poet, Zoroaster. It exalts a deity; Ahura Mazda, with the literal meaning of Ahura being Lord and Mazda being wisdom.

From archeological and architectural evidence, the Maiden Tower is considered to have been a Zoroastrian Fire-Temple Tower. Professor Davud A. Akhundov dates the fire temple to approximately the 8^th century. Many legends regarding the tower are Zoroastrian as well.

5. There are several myths and legends about the Tower

Maiden Tower at night by Azerifactory-Wikimedia Commons

The purpose, design, and accurate history of the Maiden Tower have been shrouded in mystery for long. There is hardly any conclusive theory, but there are numerous myths and legends crafted about it.

Most of these are connected to the Islamic and medieval history of Baku, but others are rooted in the Azerbaijan Zoroastrian religion and culture.

The most popular one is that of a fiery-haired girl sent to fight the enemies of the Baku people in medieval times. It is narrated that a fortress in Baku had a fire temple tower where the people of Baku hid when an enemy attacked.

 They refused to surrender and instead had their priest pray to the Holy Fire in the tower, asking Ahura Mazda, Lord of Wisdom to help them.

He sent them a fiery-haired virgin lady, who defeated the enemy’s commander, saving the people. The tower was then named the Maiden Tower.

6. The name of the Tower is considered symbolic

The Tower’s name has been a subject of interest as well among historians. Besides the legends, it has been difficult to find written evidence and historical or archaeological explanations as to why the tower is called the ‘Maiden Tower.

It is however considered, in addition to the legends, that the tower was termed ‘Maiden’ because it was never destroyed by any enemy.

It was therefore never ‘desecrated’ and remains the ‘virgin’ or ‘maiden’ temple-tower of the Ahura Mazda, the Zoroastrianian God.

7. It is depicted on the currency notes of Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan bank note by Ilgar Rimazi-Wikimedia Commons

The Maiden Tower is considered a distinctive landmark of Azerbaijan. It is thus featured on Azerbaijani currency (manat) notes.

It is depicted on the obverse of 1 to 250 manat banknotes of 1992-2006, and the 10 manat banknote issued since 2006. It is also depicted on the reverse 5 qepik coin minted in 2006. The tower is indeed a national emblem.

8. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000

Baku Maiden Tower by داود مجتهدی-Wikimedia Commons

In 2000, the Maiden Tower was listed as a World Heritage Site alongside Old City. Shortly after, an earthquake caused significant damage to the tower.

It was again listed by UNESCO under the List of World Heritage Sites in Danger in 2004, citing a lack of efforts by the Azerbaijani government to preserve it.

It was later removed from the list in 2009 after an assurance by the concerned parties of an adequate conservation plan.

9. The Maiden Tower has been restored over time

Following removal from the List of World Heritage Sites in Danger in 2009, Azerbaijani was requested to submit a report of the conservation and restoration progress of the tower to the World Heritage Center by February 2010.

From 2011 to 2013, restoration projects at the tower were undertaken. Barriers were also installed around the tower’s observation dock to prevent suicides.

10. It has been a subject of theatre plays and ballets in Azerbaijan

Maiden tower ballet of Afrasiyab Badalbeyli – first ballet in East. Sourced from Wikimedia Commons.

Most of these are derived from the legends relating to the tower. The tale told is that of a king who forces his daughter to marry a man she does not love. She asks him to first build a tower for her and after it was completed, she commits suicide by jumping from its top.

One of the popular ballets is the Maiden Tower Ballet, a world-class Azerbaijani production. It was created by Afryasiyab Badlbeyli, a Soviet Azerbaijani composer, in 1940. It was the first Azerbaijani ballet. A remake was performed in 1999.