The cradle of civilisation in Iran: Takt-e-Jamshid, Persepolis! Part 1 of 2

Photo. The Gate of All Nations, Takt-e-Jamshid, Persepolis, Iran. 

I don't know what Alexander the Great thought about the beautiful buildings and monuments when he approached of Persepolis (probably just a massive stone complex), but for me this was a kind of apocalypse. Actually it's no t so much to see from outside because of the high walls (18 meters).

By walking around in the ruins of Persepolis, I felt it was a special "ceremonial" event for me. It was more than I could imagine. I ascended the main stairway, step by step, up to the Gate of All Nations. It was like enter another world, a divine world with fantasy monuments, sculptures and carvings.

I could see mythical creatures such as dragons, two headed eagles and unicorns. There were also sculptures and carvings of bulls, lions (lions with horns), human-headed winged bulls, which are some of the motifs representing the Achaemenian power.

I enjoyed watching beautiful carvings of people from several foreign empires who visited Persepolis in kingdom's heydays, and I could admire large monuments. How could people at that time been able to build such monuments without modern equipment?

Photo. The double protomes of eagle, Persepolis. This was like a fantasy world.

When I noticed the first letters in the world's history, I really understood that I have arrived to a very unique place. It would been nice to climb up the hill to get a overall view of Persepolis, but due to the extreme heat I find it better to take it easy. It was more than enough to admire at the main site ……

The ruins of this ancient site still stand at the foot of a rugged little mountain in southern Iran. The remains witness of a great period in Iran's history. Derived from each monument at the site, there is an interesting story to tell. Even though it was so many strange things to see in the site, was interesting to think that Persepolis was developed to be a modern city with running tab water, drainage system, postal service and highways connecting it to other cities of the Persian empire. It was here the civilisation started!

Photo. Persepolis seen from outside. I wonder what Alexander the Great thought about the beauty of Persepolis?

History of great time

The city of Persepolis was founded in the Sixth Century BC by the Kings of the First Persian Empire, the Achaemenids. The site is located 60 km northeast of Shiraz in Iran. The present-day Persian name, Takht-e-Jamshid, means "Throne of Jamshid", a legendary Iranian King. However, the ancient name of the city was Parsa, or Pars' City, derived from the Greek name Persepolis.

Construction of the city began under Kings Cyrus the Great (ca. 550 BC) and Darius I (ca. 520 BC). It was built on a 1,800 meters altitude in the middle of the Old Persian vast land. One reason for raising the buildings on a high platform was because of defence, but also because to lift them above heat and rust from the towns in the plains.

What was the purpose of Persepolis?

There could be several purposes for building Persepolis, not just a single one, and it's likely to believe that new ideas have been brought up during the building period. It's common believed that Persepolis` main purpose was to serve as a ceremonial and spiritual Capital of the Persian Empire. Susa was the administrative capital of the Empire, located 500 km north of Persepolis.

For some scientists there is still a mystery why Persepolis was built, but by putting the puzzle together the history shows at that time that the people where worshippers of symbolism: it was their natural and universal form of thinking. Especially fertility symbols are found everywhere. Just as other cultures in the history around the world there were three main elements in their belief (the trinities): Sun, water and soil.

The inscriptions on the Persepolis` walls proclaim in solemn language that the buildings were erected by the grace of God. One thing is obvious is that the buildings as the Tachara of Darius and the palaces of Xerxes, Artaxerxes I and Artaxerxes II were royal residences.

Persepolis was the heart and soul of the Achaemenian Empire. It was a place of extreme religious importance. The character was so integrated with the Persian dynasty and its cultural and political heritage that its use could not be transferred to a foreigner with a foreign religion.

The building work of Persepolis continued under later Kings such as Artaxerxes I (ca. 450 BC), who finished the Hall of  Hundred Columns and Artaxerxes II (ca. 350 BC) who built the Unfinished Palace. However, the most glorious monuments in Persepolis were commissioned by Xerxes I (ca. 470 BC): the Gate of All Nations, and the Throne Hall.

How was Persepolis built?

The Persepolis complex covers four palaces, one chamber, embossments, staircases, columns and stone cemeteries. As I could understand people at that historical time had special skills in design, architecture, engineering and art. With so big efforts this site has apparently been of great significance. It was constructed on the feet of Rahmat Mountain in the plain of Marv-Dasht (518 B.C.) in the majesty of Darius I to be the metropolis of Achaemeninan Empire.

It was built with heavy stones in an area of 135,000 square meters. The big stones were shaped perfect to fit together. No mortar was used in the past between the stones except for iron fasteners in some spots, but I could see that the iron was removed. Some places it was replaced due to restoring work.

Photo. Perfect matching stones were used to build high and steady walls. Not even a razor could be put between these well shaped stones.