0 Persons
21 December 2012 - 11:20

Iranian archeologists have drawn a general plan of Persepolis, the ceremonial capital of the Persian Empire located in Iran’s southern province of Fars.

Head of Persepolis archeology team Alireza Asgari said on Wednesday that the plan was based on new studies conducted on the outskirts of the monumental site.

According to Asgari the third phase of Persepolis archeological studies was dedicated to structures built around Persepolis during Seleucid, Sassanid and Islamic eras.

Asgari also referred to the wide range of earthenware unearthed near Persepolis which he believes can provide a better understanding of the site's history.

The latest discoveries made during excavations in June 2012, included 20 meters of previously unknown Persepolis water canals and 1,000 bas-reliefs mostly belonging to the columns of the Hundred-Columns Palace.

Once known as the richest city under the sun, Persepolis was the ceremonial capital of this Persian Empire, which was the greatest power of the ancient world.


Cyrus the Great established Persepolis in 519 BCE as the most magnificent of the four Achaemenid capitals -- Susa, Ecbatana, Persepolis and Babylon -- which were founded in logistic locations to help Achaemenid kings efficiently administer their vast empire.

Situated 70 km northeast of modern day Shiraz in the southern Fars Province, Persepolis (Persian city) was built by Darius I and his successors over a 50-year period.

Spanning an area of over 125, 000 square meters, the Achaemenid capital was known for its stunning inscriptions, unique architecture and wooden columns made of tall Lebanese cedars and Indian teak trees.

Persepolis was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. It was also one of the 80 treasures featured on the 2005 BBC series, Around the World in 80 Treasures.
press tv/281

News ID 183718