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Persepolis

General Urbs ₁ Featured January 3 , 2007

The ancient Persian city of Parsa.

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.

Reference: The Oriental Institute ~ Persepolis and Ancient Iran

Persepolis Recreated, a fantastic program about the ancient City, it's kings and construction. Thanks to Inaras Junius for the initial link.

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