It is probably unfair to say that there are only seven miracles in the world, because in fact they are much more, in particular, a masterpiece of Persian architecture and engineering thought - the most ancient royal city of Persepolis could well have occupied one of the most worthy places among them. >

How to get

Excavations in the territory of the former Persepolis began only in the second half of the 20th century, but already archaeologists found many interesting artifacts. Today, thousands of tourists are striving to see the glorious history of one of the oldest Iranian cities in these magnificent ruins. You can get here on a special excursion bus or a private car from the nearby city of Shiraz, having covered a distance of sixty kilometers.

A bit of history

Persepolis was founded back in 560 BC by one of the most eminent kings of Persia - Darius I, who wanted to make it the capital of all the territories conquered by him, and later the capital of the world. Active construction began here only forty years later. In particular, there was laid a huge monolithic platform platform with an area of ​​about 140,000 square meters, which housed all the most important city buildings.

The construction of the majestic city lasted sixty years and, what is especially surprising, it did not involve any slave, only free builders, as well as the best architects and sculptors of that time..During this time they managed not only to erect chic palaces and several blocks surrounded by high walls, but also to run a water pipeline and even various underground communications .All the buildings were arranged in a special order, aligned along clear lines, they helped to navigate in time, playing the role of a kind of solar clock .

The city was surrounded by five-meter thick walls and a height of more than ten meters, it could be entered through a gate to which was a wide staircase numbering one hundred and six steps carved from solid stone.

Architecture and planning of Persepolis

The city was conceived by Darii I as the main residence for the reception of foreign guests, as well as the venue for all sorts of official and solemn events, so the main buildings here naturally were the royal palaces. They were decorated with unique frescoes and bas-reliefs, expensive tiles, jewels, pearl and ivory jewelery were everywhere enchanted.

Palace of Apadan

Most of all, the palace of Apadan stands out, the hall for celebrations was so huge that its vaults were supported by seventy-two massive columns decorated with fine carvings. At the same time, up to ten thousand people could be in the hall. On the walls of the palace were cut scenes from the life of the Persian kings, the conquest of other states, etc.

This palace stood on a four-meter high, and led to its main entrance two staircases adorned with two-sided bas-reliefs, which illustrated on the inside the procession of servants and servants, carrying their gifts to the king, and on the outside portrayed the solemn procession of the tsar and his entourage. And the right staircase was intended for foreign visitors of the city, and on the left could only climb the Persians. These stairs were of such a design that they could be climbed on a chariot.

In the palace there were a few more halls of rather large sizes, one of which was provisionally called the "Hall of a hundred columns", since during the excavations foundations for hundreds of columns were found. Its walls were decorated with bas-reliefs, illustrating the majesty and omnipotence of the kings, on one of them depicted the struggle of Darius I with the demon. From this hall one could get into the labyrinths and secret underground rooms, where the untold wealth, won by the Persians during numerous military campaigns, was stored.

Harem Xerxes I and the tombs of the kings

Among other buildings, the so-called harem of Xerxes I deserves special attention, as well as the tombs of all Persian kings carved into the rocks. Among them, the tomb of the last of the kings of the great Persia, who fled ignominiously from the battlefield and was killed by his own people, is especially symbolic. His tomb was never completed, and his body rests entirely in another place.

Persepolis and Macedonian

Persepolle towered above all, about two hundred years after its foundation it was completely destroyed by the army of Alexander the Great. In 330 he entered the city and took out all his treasures, according to his contemporaries, for this it was necessary to load several thousands of camels and donkeys. And then he set fire to the main royal palace, as a result of which all the once splendid and powerful city burned down. So Alexander of Macedon avenged the Persians for the fact that they once tried to burn the Acropolis of Athens.

Types of Persepolis

Persepolis