Ancient Anahita (Zartosht) Hill in Ardebil

The ancient hill of Anahita, also known as Sarghin and Zartosht in the past, has been enlisted as the national site, numbered 1,976.
The hill is located on the western part of the city of Sari in in Ardebil Province. The explorations in the spot revealed objects and pottery pieces which date from late first and second millenia BC.
Anahita was for many years a place for the Zoroastrian priests and nearby the temple there was a place called Sari Ghiyah Yeylagh which was a summer-quarter for the Sassanid rulers. Anahita and Azar Farigh are among the 2 remained temples in the region.
But after the invasion of the Arab to Azerbaijan and the collapse of the Sassanid emperor, Sari Ghiyah and temples as well as fire temples gradually lost their importance and fame among people.
However, the remains from the Seljuk, Ilkhanid, Kara Kuyunlu, Aghkoyunlular exist which reflects their governance on the land.
In the early 1340s, the remains of the wall of the castle and the building atop the hill were destroyed to make a drinkable water cistern. The hill served as the mosque for the locals for many years.
According to some, beneath the hill and the castle there used to be underground trails which one of their exits lies in the area of Gav Mish Guli Square in Sarein, which is now blocked.
Of course there are other subsidiary tunnels which served for different purposes. The officials in charge in the Cultural Heritage Organization are doing their best to restore the whole historical zone.