Perspolis

The columns of the Apadana of Persepolis


Persepolis was one of the ancient capitals of Persia, first established by Darius I in the 6th century BC. It's ruins lie 35 miles north-east of the city of Shiraz. Persepolis was constructed between 518 and 516 BC and it was continued in the 5th century by Darius's successor Xerxes I and Artaxerxes I. It is now know as the throne of Jamshid.

Persepolis was used as a place of celebrations under the Persian empire at its prime celebrations such as the new year were held there.

The aparthda was the largest building in Persipolis. It is estimated to hold an average of 10,000 people. The roof was supported multiple columns 13 in which still stand today.

On the stairs of this building are depictions of ceremonies that took place there. For example when kings of conquered nations brought gifts to their king.

Beyond the Apadana where the Palaces of Darius and Xerxes. Darius' palace was the Tachara. Stone stairways had carvings of slaves with animals and food for serving the king. The doorways were carved as well. The king fighting lions, servants bringing towels and ointments to the king, and attendants shielding the king with umbrellas and flywhisks where all represented on these walls. Some of which still stand today. Xerxes palace was much larger then Darius' it stood almost twice the size of his, but the decorations were similar.

The second largest building in Persepolis was the Throne Hall. In the Throne Hall the king received nobles, dignitaries, and received tributes. The treasury was next to the Throne Hall it stood as an armory to store gifts for the emperor on the New Year from selective nations.

Two centuries after being created Persepolis was destroyed. Alexander of Macedonia put it in flames. It took an extreme amount of work to proceed with all of the treasure that was inside of it.

After being abandoned, it was eventually rediscovered in 1620. It was visited for a few hundred years before it was further examined.