Gandzak

Gazaka, an ancient Persian (Atropatenian) city in the region of Lake Urmia (northwestern Iran). One of the largest temples of late Zoroastrianism, or Mazdaism (religion of fire worship), was located in Gandzak. It was probably in Gandzak in the first centuries A.D. that the religious dogmas and traditions later known as the Avesta were codified. In the early seventh century there were about 3,000 buildings in Gandzak. In 622, during a war between Iran and Byzantium, Gandzak was destroyed by the Byzantines.