Persepolis

Persepolis (Old Persian: 'Pars', New Persian: تخت جمشید, Takht-e Jamshid) was an ancient capital of the second Iranian dynasty, the Achaemenid Empire. Ancient Persians called it Parsa, meaning the city of Persians. Persepolis (Greek: Περσες πόλις) is the Greek translation of the name. In modern Iran, the city is known as Takht-e-Jamshid (Throne of Jamshid). The largest building in Persepolis is the Apadana Hall with 72 columns. The Tachara palace built by Darius I is also an important building. The Hadish palace in Persepolis was started by Xerxes and finished by his son Artaxerxes.

Persepolis has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.

Persepolis Media

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  As is typical of Achaemenid cities, Persepolis was built on a (partially) artificial platform.

• Reconstruction of Persepolis, capital of the Persians (Latin with English subtitles)

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  General view of the ruins of Persepolis

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  Aerial architectural plan of Persepolis

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  Persepolis in 1920s, photo by Harold Weston

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  Hemidrachm from the Kingdom of Perside, c. 100 BC–100 AD

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  Bust of Alexander the Great (British Museum of London)

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  "The Burning of Persepolis", led by Thaïs, 1890, by Georges-Antoine Rochegrosse

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  Thaïs setting fire to Persepolis