Persepolis: The Lost Jewel Of Ancient Persia
Wikimedia CommonsThe ruins of Persepolis.
Persepolis served as an ancient capital of the Achaemenian dynasty kings in Persia, located approximately 30 miles northeast of modern Shīrāz in southwestern Iran. Known in Old Persian as Parsa, this magnificent city was built on a grand terrace against the Kūh-e Raḥmat (Mount of Mercy), showcasing the wealth and power of one of history’s greatest empires.
Construction began under Darius I, who reigned from 522 to 486 B.C.E., though successive rulers continued to embellish the site.
The complex featured colossal buildings constructed from precisely cut dark gray stone, including the famous apadana (audience hall) where 13 massive columns still stand today. Elaborate reliefs depicted representatives from across the empire bringing offerings to the king during the festival of the vernal equinox, demonstrating Persepolis’ role as a ceremonial center that symbolized Persian imperial unity and authority.
Persepolis’ glory ended dramatically when Alexander the Great overthrew Darius III, the last of the Achaemenian line. The city’s destruction resulted in an immense loss of accumulated learning, art, and culture, including religious works of early Zoroastrianism written on goat-skin parchment, along with artworks and tapestries.
Wikimedia CommonsPersepolis’ Apadana palace.
Unlike truly “lost” cities, Persepolis was never completely forgotten by locals, but exploration beginning in the early 17th century led to modern rediscovery of cuneiform writing, and detailed studies of the trilingual inscriptions found on the ruins contributed to cuneiform’s initial decipherment in the early 19th century.
Ernst Emil Herzfeld conducted the first scientific investigation in 1931 after being appointed excavation director by the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago, and excavations have continued since then, aside from periods when regional conflict prevented work.
The ruins were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979.
