Persepolis

=Ancient Society - Persepolis =

 - The City - The Kings - The Greeks - The Burning -

Persepolis: Ancient Capital of the Persian Empire
Powerpoint of the development of Persepolis:

Video: [|Persepolis Recreated] Website: [|iraninfo]

//(the following is from __Unlocking the Past__)//

Persepolis was built on a large rock shelf or terrace measuring 458 by 275 metres.
 * The site**

On it was built several palaces, an Apadana or audience hall, several smaller halls, a treasury, courtyards, several other buildings of unspecified purpose, military quarters and ceremonial grounds. It was decorated with beautiful carved stone reliefs on doorways and beside grand stairways. Persepolis was built mostly of stone and mud brick with massive stone doorways and windows.

There is no Persian evidence that explains why Persepolis was founded. Greek writers such as Herodotus did not even know that the site existed. The Greek playwright Aeschylus, in his play The Persians, located the site of King Darius’ tomb at Susa.

Darius, on building Persepolis, made a dedication to the site in a carved inscription which read in part: //As regards the fact that in this place this fortress has been built, formerly here a fortress has not been built. By the favour of Ahura Mazda, this fortress I built, and Ahura Mazda ordered that this fortress should be built ... and so I built it, and I built it secure and beautiful and adequate, just as I wished to do.// (AT OLMSTEAD, HISTORY OF THE PERSIAN EMPIRE, P 175)



The Apadana was an imposing square building, raised above the terrace. Thirty six columns supported the roof and a great double staircase gave access to two porches on each side. The facades of these stairways are decorated with beautiful relief sculptures. On the northern and eastern stairways, three registers of reliefs show courtiers facing the central panel. Three registers on the opposite wing show 23 groups of tribute bearers, each group being led towards the central panel. The tribute bearers represent the many peoples of the empire. They all bear traditional gifts to present to the king.
 * The Apadana**

The central panel shows the king and crown prince giving an audience to an official. The king and crown prince face the lines of tribute bearers who approach from the west. The courtiers and soldiers follow from the rear.

The Palace of Darius was nearby. Its mud brick walls have disappeared but the stone doorways, stairways, column bases, door jambs and windows are still intact. Darius’ palace consisted of a central columned hall, flanked by rooms to the right and the left.
 * The Palace of Darius**

Reliefs on Darius’ palace include:
 * king followed by attendants carrying fly whisk and parasol
 * royal hero stabbing a lion and a bull
 * royal hero grasping lion club and stabbing lion monster
 * palace guards
 * domestic attendants
 * servants carrying banquet supplies
 * tribute groups of Artaxerxes Ill.

Darius’ son, King Xerxes, added greatly to Persepolis, completing the Apadana and building a new palace. Much of the remaining ruins are attributed to him.
 * Xerxes’ additions**

Xerxes’ palace is similar to the Palace of Darius. It consisted of two monumental stairways, a courtyard and a central columned hall flanked by smaller rooms. The reliefs include:
 * Xerxes’ palace**
 * king followed by two attendants carrying parasol and flywhisk
 * palace guards
 * servants.

The so called Harem of Xerxes is thus described because of its relatively secluded position on a low level of the terrace and its identical small apartments in the western section. It was made up of a hall with 12 columns, a porch facing onto a courtyard and smaller rooms off the hall. Reliefs:
 * The Harem of Xerxes**
 * king followed by two attendants
 * royal hero stabbing a lion and monster
 * guards.

The Central Building (also called the Council Hall or the Tripylon) is located beside the Apadana and the Hall of 100 Columns. It consists of a main hall. Reliefs:
 * The Central Building**
 * king with crown prince behind, Ahura Mazda above and below, 28 figures representing the empire support the king
 * king followed by two attendants
 * courtiers
 * servants carrying banquet supplies.

The Throne Hall or Hall of 100 Columns is a massive square building opening onto a court to the north. A stairway leads to the Treasury to the south. Three sides open into narrow chambers, perhaps storerooms. Reliefs:
 * The Throne Hall**
 * Artaxerxes enthroned behind two smoking braziers, surrounded by officials and receiving a Median noble; beneath him guards are arranged in five registers
 * royal hero stabs griffin monster, lion monster and bull
 * king enthroned with attendants supported by subject peoples.

Palace H is decorated with a proces¬sion of tribute bearers and the King enthroned.
 * Palace H**

The Treasury is an immense complex of buildings measuring 143 by 77 metres. It was built of mud brick and consisted of nearly 110 separate rooms. A hint of the vast treasures stored within the Treasury is given by the objects recovered by archaeologists. These included fragments of smashed royal vessels, a granite Assyrian goblet that once belonged to King Ashurbanipal, alabaster vases, statuettes of Egyptian gods, Babylonian sculptures, a Greek marble statue, nearly 200 seals (for royal proclamations), stone vessels, glass¬ware, bronze dishes and weapons.
 * The Treasury**

As well, many clay tablets have been found, which deal with the economic life of the empire.