ATESHGAH. A Zoroastrian term still used in New Persian, ateshgah, or ātashgāh (also pronounced āteshgāh), originally meant "place of the fire" or, technically, "fire precinct." It derives from Middle Persian or Pahlavi ātakhshgāh, reflecting an Old Persian and Avestan nominative singular ātarsh (fire), plus Old Persian gāthu and Avestan gātu, gātav (place, space). The Avestan and Old Persian term ātar- produced the Middle Persian and New Persian word ātur or ādur (fire) as well. Consequently āturgāh and ādurgāh also have been used to denote places or precincts in which fires burn. A fire that burns in an ateshgah is regarded as spēnāg (holy) and is utilized for Mazdean or Zoroastrian rituals. It did not and does not have to be a constantly burning fire, or one of the highest ritual rank, nor be tended solely by the...