Tower of Death on the Silk Road 🇺🇿
Ancient Persian influence in modern Central Asia is visible not only in its culture and language, but also in its landscape. By the Oxus river, atop a dusty hillock in a windswept desert lies one of the earliest known examples of a dakhma, or a tower of silence. These towers play an essential, if somewhat macabre, role in the disposal of bodies in the Zoroastrian tradition. Once commonplace throughout the Persianate world, this practice is now confined to a few tiny pockets of the Zoroastrian community in India, and seems even in those places to be moribund. Join me on a quest through the lonesome Kyzylkum to learn more about Karakalpakstan’s very own tower of death.
Instagram: joemorgan1
00:00 Ancient history
00:26 Negotiations
01:20 Shipping up to Chilpik
02:42 A language barrier
04:35 A brief history of Karakalpakstan
06:15 The lonesome desert and I
07:01 Symbolism of the dakhma
08:36 Zoroastrian doctrine on the dead
10:20 Effecting an entry
11:53 Last rites
12:36 Whither vultures?
13:48 Turkmenistan
15:03 Escape
16:03 Thumbing a ride
17:50 Return to Nukus
18:54 Marriage counselling
Пікірлер: 20
The history of sky burials has always fascinated me. I personally would prefer the Tibetan sky burial. Similar to this, except the monk in charge actually prepares the body and offers small pieces to the birds, so nothing goes to rot or waste. I see it as the ultimate last act of selflessness, giving back rather than taking or destroying. I also like the aboriginal tribes of Australia who performed their sky burials in trees. They'd come back later to collect and bury the bones in a sacred place. Anyways, I appreciate the documentation. Peace, Love, Light and Discernment to All, Unconditionally
You show the most interesting places. I would be spooked tf out being there, it's like something out of Lovecraft
@JosephMorganYT
4 ай бұрын
It is a bit eerie. If you google it, there are some highly NSFW images of these towers actually being used in India
What a happy surprise, I was just looking through the channel the other day, glad to see a new video posted. Great video.
new fan here Joseph and looking forward to more of your exploration! onwards!
Joseph, I'm glad to see you back, I had feared something bad had happened to you
@JosephMorganYT
3 ай бұрын
Managed to scrape by so far :) Hope you enjoy the new one.
Had a good laugh at "...in the Aral Sea where we were a few days ago" since it's been more like 9 months for us! Great to have you back making videos!
great vid as always, the landscapes there look absolutely breathtaking
Fascinating! Thank you so much, for this captivating 20 minute tour.
Really really fantastic video! Thank you for making it. You're a great story teller and you have a great attitude. I really loved when you eschewed the concrete steps!!!
@JosephMorganYT
4 ай бұрын
Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it :) just sometimes you must reject modernity and embrace tradition
Great content! Keep it coming
He's alive and back with another banger!
I only recently found you and I have to say I absolutely love your channel. I'm looking forward to more from you!
@JosephMorganYT
3 ай бұрын
Welcome aboard :) I hope you enjoy the new one.
@GoodFriendJake
3 ай бұрын
@@JosephMorganYT I just got the notification for the upload and I jumped. Can't wait to watch it!
awesome video