Persepolis is a standing testament to the wonders of ancient Persia. Its ruins provide food to the imagination of what it must have looked like at the peak of its civilisation, Persia of the Achaemenid kings. It is believed that Darius I conceived the idea of Persepolis and began its construction between 515- 518 BC. There are some indications that it was built earlier but no ruins have been found to support this.

Darius I intended to use Persepolis as his ceremonial capital. He would hold court here and the dignitaries from his vast empire would gather here to pay tributes to the King. Persepolis was a showcase of the wealth and might of the Persian Empire with the actual seat of government being elsewhere.

The design of the city contributed to its grandeur. The whole city was built on a terrace 125,000 sq metre, partly artificial and partly cut out of the mountain. A dual staircase provided the only means of entrance. Walls supported three sides of the city while the east side was protected by the mountain Kuh-e-Rehmat. No remains of the walls can be seen now. The construction of the city took place in different phases with each successor to the throne adding his bit. However, most of the construction took place in the reign of Xerxes, son and successor of Darius I. It is even reported that construction was still going on in Persepolis when the city was attacked by Alexander the Great in 330 BC.

At the head of the dual staircase into the city, visitors passed through the Gate of All Nations, which is guarded by carved stone bulls and on another side by lamassus` (bulls with the heads of a bearded man). The largest building was Apadana, the audience hall. It stood at an elevation and was approached by staircases decorated with elaborate sculptures. These showed the ceremonial processions with representatives of conquered nations bringing gifts to the King. The Apadana could accommodate an estimated 10,000 people. It was supported by 72 stone pillars, of which 36 supported the roof and 36 supported verandas on three sides of the buildings. The top of these pillars were decorated with carved stone double-headed animals. Thirteen of these pillars are still standing. An inscription reads, “Darius the great king, king of kings, king of countries, son of Hystaspes, an Achaemenian, built this palace.” Historians believe that the Apadana was still incomplete at the time of Darius`s death and was completed by his son Xerxes.

Next to the Apadana is the Throne Hall. This was where the king held court, receiving his subjects and envoys. Its roof was supported by 100 wooden columns and served as the basis for an alternative name for the Throne Hall, the 100 Column Palace or Hall of 100 columns. Its walls are decorated with scenes of the throne hall and of the king fighting demons.

Other structures are the Treasury, palaces of Darius (the “Tachara” meaning winter palace) and Xerxes (the “Hadish” meaning dwelling place), the Council Hall, the Tryplion Hall, the palace of Artaxerxes I, living quarters, stables and sepulchres. The palace of Darius is reached by a stone staircase, decorated with carvings showing the king fighting lions, servants bringing food for the king and attendants shielding the king with an umbrella. The Palace of Xerxes is bigger and decorated with similar reliefs.

In the face of the mountain behind Persepolis are three sepulchres, one of which is incomplete. The facades of these are richly decorated with reliefs. One of them shows the king worshipping. These are believed to be the tombs of Artaxerxes II, III and Darius III. The incomplete tomb is thought to be of Darius III, who was the ruler when Persepolis was attacked.

The city was destroyed by Alexander the Great. He first plundered its wealth using 20,000 mules and 5,000 camels to carry away the loot. Then in a drunken rage the Greeks burned the city to avenge for Xerxes` destruction of the Acropolis of Athens. However, an ancient historian wrote, “The Macedonians were ashamed that so renowned a city had been destroyed by their king in a drunken revel; therefore the act was taken as earnest, and they forced themselves to believe that it was right that it should be wiped out in exactly that manner.” It is even said that when Alexander returned many years later and saw the ruins he regretted what had been done.

No visit to Persepolis would be complete without undertaking a visit to the Naqsh-e-Rostam. This is the site of four royal sepulchres, of which one is incomplete, carved into a perpendicular face of rock. An inscription proclaims one tomb to be the last resting place of Darius I while the remaining three are thought to be those of Xerxes I, Artaxerxes I and Darius II. All are similar with facades shaped in the form of a cross. At the centre of the cross is the entrance which leads into a burial chamber. The tombs were looted during the looting of Persepolis so the burial chambers are empty. Seven reliefs decorate the rock. The oldest is a faint image of a man and is thought to be from 1000 BC. It was part of a larger relief which was destroyed. The remaining are of the Sassinid kings showing investitures of kings and battle scenes.