The Maiden Tower of Baku: Ancient Secrets and a Legend of Love

On the shore of the Caspian Sea, in the very heart of ancient Baku, stands a mysterious and imposing stone tower. Its weathered walls once heard the prayers of pagan priests, reflected the flickering flames of ritual fires, and perhaps witnessed the birth of those who were called the “children of the Sun.” This ancient structure is shrouded in mystery — no legend has ever fully explained its origin or purpose. Locals tell stories that the tower has seen broken hearts, a girl’s tears, and a tragic ending that echoes through the centuries.
This is the Maiden Tower — one of the oldest and most enigmatic landmarks in Baku, located in the historic center of the city known as Icherisheher (Old City). It is widely regarded as a symbol of Baku and proudly listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

But where did this tower come from? Who were the builders behind its thick stone walls? Was it originally constructed as a fortress, a prison for a shah’s daughter, or perhaps as a pagan temple? Even today, despite many studies, scientists and historians have not reached a definitive answer — only theories and speculations surround this remarkable monument.

One theory comes from historian Abbas Ismailov, who believes the tower is more than 2,000 years old and originally served as a temple. According to him, the tower represents the ancient “buta” symbol — a powerful emblem of a single god that combines both male and female energies, symbolizing the union of Heaven and Earth. Ismailov also suggests that the tower was used for important religious rituals, especially during the winter solstice (December 21–24), a sacred time when ancient peoples believed the dying sun was reborn and renewed its strength.

The tower’s design supports this theory: it features a unique cut in the southern wall, positioned opposite a main window, allowing sunlight to enter the temple precisely during the solstice days. Additionally, four upper windows are aligned to follow the path of the rising sun. Thanks to this extraordinary architectural planning, sunlight would move smoothly from one window to another throughout the day, creating a striking effect of eternal light within the tower’s interior.

Another theory comes from historian Hasan Hasanov, who published a book titled “Maiden Tower” in 2014. Hasanov argues that the tower was not built in the 12th century, as commonly believed, but much earlier — in the 8th century BCE. His conclusion is based on archaeological discoveries, a re-examination of Soviet-era historiography, and analysis of ancient written sources. According to his research, the tower was constructed by the Scythians (also called Scytho-Saka-Cimmerians) as a religious temple. In later periods, the structure might have been adapted for military use as a defensive tower or even served as a lighthouse guiding ships along the Caspian coast.

Many researchers now believe that the Maiden Tower was constructed in two main stages. The lower part dates back to the pre-Islamic era, while the upper section was built later, in the 12th century, as evidenced by the inscription that reads “Masud, son of Dawood.” The original builders of the tower were likely Zoroastrian priests. Zoroastrianism is one of the oldest religions in the region, with its beliefs centered around the worship of the sun, fire, and the concept of spiritual purity.

According to Zoroastrian beliefs, a dead body was considered impure and could not be buried underground or cremated by fire, as these elements were sacred and had to remain uncontaminated. Instead, they practiced a form of sky burial, where bodies were placed on tall towers known as “Towers of Silence.” There, the bodies would be naturally cleansed by exposure to the sun, wind, and birds. Some scholars suggest that the Maiden Tower may have served this very purpose.

For many years, the tower was officially regarded as a military structure dating from the time of the Shirvanshahs in the 12th century. However, modern researchers have raised doubts about this theory. The tower’s architectural features challenge its classification as a fortress: it has very few windows, lacks arrow slits, and contains a narrow spiral staircase. Additionally, there is no strong structural connection between the floors, and the flat roof is too small to accommodate many guards. The interior was originally a single, open space, which would have made it difficult to use effectively for defense.

Therefore, the tower was probably not built for military use. More and more researchers believe it was a temple, an observatory, or a ritual site for ancient ceremonies.

But beyond all the science, people love the legend of the tower. It tells the story of a ruler’s daughter who fell in love with a poor soldier. Her father refused the marriage and arranged for her to marry a wealthy nobleman. Heartbroken, she asked to build a tower by the sea, saying she wanted time to pray and think before the wedding. When the tower was finished, she climbed to the top and jumped into the sea. Since then, the Maiden Tower has become a symbol of tragic love and sacrifice.

The Maiden Tower has stood firm through the rise and fall of empires and beliefs over centuries. Perhaps its walls still hold a mystery we may never solve — only feel.