The magnificent ruins of Parsa (known as Persepolis to the Greeks) lie at the foot of Kuh-i-Rahmat, or "Mountain of Mercy," in the plain of Marv Dasht about 400 miles south of the present capital city of Teheran.

The exact date of the founding of Parsa is not known. It is assumed that Darius I began work on the platform and its structures between 518 and 516 B.C., visualizing Parsa as a showplace and the seat of his vast Achaemenian Empire. He proudly proclaimed his achievement; there is an excavated foundation inscription that reads,

"And Ahuramazda was of such a mind, together with all the other gods, that this fortress (should) be built. And (so) I built it. And I built it secure and beautiful and adequate, just as I was intending to."

However, the security and splendor of Parsa lasted only two centuries. Its majestic audience halls and residential palaces perished in flames when Alexander the Great conquered and looted Parsa in 330 B.C. and, according to Plutarch, carried away its treasures on 20,000 mules and 5,000 camels.

Watch the video, Persepolis Recreated, a fascinating program about the ancient city and the kings who constructed her. Thanks to Inaras Junius for the initial link.

Sources:
The Oriental Institute ~ Persepolis and Ancient Iran
Parsa complex drawing courtesy CAIS: IRANIAN ART & ARCHAEOLOGY: ACHAEMENID DYNASTY
Table background: Orient Express
Page text/design 2008, Xena Apilsin