Persepolis
Location
About
The ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, built by Darius I beginning in 518 BCE and destroyed by Alexander the Great in 330 BCE. The terrace of Persepolis, carved from the living mountain, supported the Apadana (audience hall), Throne Hall, and multiple royal palaces. Its sculpted stone reliefs — showing delegations of nations bringing tribute to the Great King — represent the apex of Achaemenid imperial art.
Significance
Persepolis was the symbolic heart of the world's first true superpower — an empire stretching from Greece to India. The Achaemenid kings (Cyrus, Darius, Xerxes, Artaxerxes) who built it appear throughout the Hebrew Bible as liberators of the Jews (Cyrus the Great) and adversaries (Xerxes / Ahasuerus of Esther). The empire's official religion was Zoroastrianism, and Ahura Mazda's symbol dominates the monuments.
History & Historical Arc
Darius I began construction in 518 BCE. Xerxes I and Artaxerxes I added major structures. The site served as the venue f…
Archaeological Notes
The fortification tablets (over 30,000 clay tablets recording rations distributed to workers) provide extraordinary insi…
Key Features & Structures
- Gate of All Nations (Xerxes Gate)
- Apadana (Darius I's audience hall)
Visitor Information
UNESCO World Heritage Site. Open daily. Near Shiraz. Combined with Naqsh-e Rostam. Dramatic evening light shows.
Related Figures
In the Bible
Source References
- Darius I, Behistun Inscription
- Arrian, Anabasis 3.18