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Persepolis (built c. 515-330 BCE)

Prior to the construction of Persepolis, the Achaemenid empire had entered a period of prosperity and expansion under the rule of Cyrus the Great (r. 559-530 BCE) and his successor Cambyses II (r. 530-522 BCE). When Darius I assumed the throne in 522 BCE, a royal capital already existed at Susa and a summer palace was in place at Ecbatana. From the beginning, Persepolis was not intended to replace these, but to serve as the ritual and ceremonial center of the empire. Groundbreaking of Persepolis began in 515 BCE and lasted for nearly 200 years. The site was on the verge of completion when Alexander the Great conquered the area and destroyed the ceremonial city in 330 BCE. It now lies in a state of ruins, though modern archaeologists have been able to create plausable renderings of how the site would have looked in its prime.

Like the Tall-i Takht Citadel created by his predecessor, Cyrus the Great, Persepolis stands on a large terrace (450 x 300 m) elevating it from the surrounding plains, with one side adjacent to a mountain. Indeed, there is some indication that Cyrus may have had a hand in the initial design of the site, though execution of these plans fell to Darius and his successors. Rather than delve into a detailed chronology of the phases of construction, the following summary covers the major building ruins visible today. For the location of each, please reference the aerial view presented at the bottom of this page.

Double Stairway Entrance

A double stairway serves as the primary access to the terrace. The seven-meter wide stairs would have allowed horsemen and infantry on parade to approach the stairway, divide into two files, and then merge again at the top of the staircase. From afar, the symmetrical staircases served as mirror images of one another, reflecting the Achaemenian's fascination with symmetrical, conjoined forms (e.g., the addorsed bulls serving as column capitals).

Gate of All Nations

Erected by Xerxes, this square structure greeted visitors ascending from the staircase. Two enormous bulls flanked the front entrance and winged bulls with human heads guarded the inner doorway. From inside, the west set of doors lead to the Apdana yard and the other, to the east, opened onto a long road. Originally double-leaf doors made of wood likely covered each of the entrances, but these have long since disappeared.

Apdana of Xerxes

Construction of this palace on the western side of the terrace began during the reign of Darius and was completed by his son Xerxes I about 30 years later. Shaped like a square, each side of the Apdana extended sixty meters and consisted of sun dried brick faced with ornamented tile. The interior comprised a grid of seventy-two columns crowned with animal sculptures in the form of addorsed bulls (bulls joined back-to-back) or other forms. Thirteen of the columns still stand. Originally, the columns supported a deeply cofferred ceiling built of oak and cedar beams brought from Lebanon, though none of the ceiling has survived. In front of the Apdana, two stone staircases provided entrance from the north and east sides. The staircases are embossed with images of the Persian elite guard known as the "Immortals".

The Apdana likely served as inspiration for the palaces and pleasure pavilions built during the Safavid dynasty. In particular, the talar, or front portico of the Chehel Soutoun in Esfahan is clearly inspired by the design of the Apdana.

Hall of One Hundred Columns

Also known as the Throne Hall, this structure is the second largest building at Persepolis, measuring seventy meters on each side. It originally served as a reception hall for military commanders and representatives of the empire's subject peoples, though it later became an imperial museum. The hall is accessable via eight stone doorways that depict the king on his throne or battling with monsters.

Palace of Darius (the Tachara)

The Tachara was the first of the palace buildings built on the terrace, completed before Darius' death. Facing southward, the building was used for the Nowrouz spring celebrations prior to the completion of other structures on the terrace that would later assume this purpose. The design of the Tachara proved to be a prototype for later palace architecture.

Tomb of Artaxerxes

The tombs of Artaxerxes II (404-359 BCE) and Artaxerxes III (359-338 BCE) are located to the east of the terrace on a hill overlooking the site. These are among the last of the constructions at Persepolis, as Alexander destroyed the site only a few years after the completion of Artaxerxes III's tomb. Most of the earlier Achaemenid rulers were buried at Naqsh-e Rustam to the north of Persepolis.

Aerial view

Image adapted from signpost on site