PERSEPOLIS
Persepolis, founded by Darius I in 518 B.C., served as the Achaemenid Empire's capital. It was constructed on a massive terrace that was partly artificial and half natural, and the king of kings designed an amazing royal complex based on Mesopotamian patterns. The massive ruins are significant and of high quality, making it a unique archaeological site.
Persepolis, whose spectacular remains lie at the base of Kuh-e Rahmat (Mountain of Mercy) in south-western Iran, is one of the world's finest archaeological monuments. The royal city of Persepolis, renowned as the pearl of Achaemenid (Persian) ensembles in the domains of architecture, urban planning, building technology, and art, is one of the archaeological monuments that has no equal and bears unique witness to a most ancient civilization. The city's massive terrace was completed in 518 BCE by Darius the Great, the Achaemenid Empire's monarch. On this terrace, successive monarchs built a succession of architecturally spectacular royal buildings, including the huge Apadana palace and the Throne Hall ("Hundred-Column Hall").
The Achaemenid monarchs Darius I (522-486 BCE), his son Xerxes I (486-465 BCE), and his grandson Artaxerxes I (465-424 BCE) constructed a magnificent palace complex on an enormous half-natural, half-artificial terrace, drawing inspiration from Mesopotamian models. This 13-hectare complex with magnificent entrances, towering stairways, royal rooms (Apadana), reception rooms, and dependencies is one of the world's most significant archaeological sites. The terrace is a huge architectural achievement, with a double flight of access steps, walls covered in sculpted friezes at several levels, the Assyrian-esque propylaea (monumental gateway), massive carved winged bulls, and the ruins of vast chambers. By carefully constructing lighter roofs and employing timber lintels, Achaemenid architects were able to sustain open area roofs with a minimum of remarkably slender columns. Columns were crowned with extravagant capitals, including the double-bull capital, which had the forequarters of two kneeling bulls positioned back-to-back, extending their linked necks and twin heads exactly under the intersections of the ceiling beams.
Persepolis was the Achaemenid Empire's capital, although it was primarily intended to serve as a showplace and stunning venue for the kings' and empire's receptions and festivals. The terrace of Persepolis remains, as its builder Darius would have liked, the image of the Achaemenid monarchy itself, the summit where likenesses of the king resurface on a regular basis, here as the conqueror of a monster, there borne on his throne by the downtrodden adversary, and where lengthy cohorts of carved soldiers and guards, dignitaries, and tribute carriers march eternally.
The archaeological remains of Persepolis are genuine in terms of location and context, materials and substance, and shapes and design. The Persepolis terrace and its surrounding structures have remained in their current location throughout history. Restoration work has carefully preserved the monuments' authenticity, employing traditional technologies and materials that complement the ensemble. The main plan of Persepolis has not changed. Furthermore, there are no contemporary restorations at Persepolis; all monuments' remnants are real.
