The 2,500 year old ruins at Persepolis, Iran

*WS 144 – the 2,500 year old ruins at Persepolis, Iran*

Persepolis is a ruin 60 km north-east of Shiraz in southern Iran. It was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire (550–330 BC). The earliest construction was dated to 515 BC. Most of it was built during the reign of Darius the Great (reign 522 BC to 486 BC). Grey limestone is the main building material. It seems this was a palace meant for certain functions and used seasonally. There was no elaborate living quarters. The complex was destroyed by Alexander the Great in 330 BC. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We visited it in 2018. 

The 1st photo shows the first structure built here: the Great Stairway, 111 steps, 7 m wide. The next 3 photos show the Gate of All Nations, which consists of a grand hall guarded by 2 pairs of mythical animals. A pair of bulls with the heads of bearded men and another pair with wings and a Persian head. Both in partial ruin of course. 

The 5th photo shows the "Apadana" which is the general palace, with a square grand hall, each side 60 m long. There were 72 columns, 13 still standing. The 6th photo shows the ruins of "Tachara", or palace of Darius the Great.

There are many carved bas-reliefs here, in limestone or plaster. A popular one is a lion attacking a bull, appearing in many places, shown in the 9th photo. Darius the Great was buried in a necropolis 12 km away, his giant tomb shown in the last photo.