Persepolis is situated about 60 km northeast of Shiraz. Shortly after taking power in 515 BC, the Achaemenid king Dariush I started with the construction of his new city near the old Pasargadae residence. He invited the best builders and craftsmen from all over his empire to contribute. The new city was to become even bigger and more beautiful, even richer and more powerful than all previous residences. The first construction phase alone took more than 50 years. It is believed that Persepolis was used primarily to host large ceremonial celebrations and receptions such as Spring New Year and to impress visitors with its grandness and beauty.

Situation
The artificial platform of Persepolis lies at the foot of Mount Rahmat at about 1650 m above sealevel and covers an area of 455 m x 300 m. At the time, the city was surrounded on three sides by a 45 m high fortification wall, the fourth side opened onto the wide plain.
A large stair with 111 steps leads up to a terrace of the former city. The site was almost completely covered by various palaces and buildings. Whether there were also residential districts at the foot of the terrace, has not yet been explored, but existing traces might suggest it.

Entrance Gate
At the top of the terrace, two giant bull figures guarded the gatehouse to the city, which was also called the "Gate of All Nations". This was the only and well-guarded entrance to the magnificent city.

Apadana
Once you has passed the entrance gate you got onto a wide square in front of the «Apadana», the largest and most important building in the city. It was Dariush's reception hall where he received the guests. The beautifully designed staircases with their stone reliefs are particularly well preserved. Like an antique film, these reliefs show the size and diversity of the multi-ethnic empire of the time.
The central hall of the Apadana, which could hold up to 10,000 people, was about 60 m x 60 m in size and over 20 meters high. Thirty-six massive stone pillars once carried a roof that was bigger than a football field. Of the once 36 pillars, about 13 pillars can still be seen today.

Palaces
Behind the Apadana Dariush I had a private residential palace built for himself. In front of the palace he created a small persian garden, the only green space in the city. Standing in front of the palace there is an excellent view over the plain. Right next to Dariush's palace, his son Xerxes I had his own private residential palace built, which was even bigger and more beautiful than his father's. There was also a palace reserved for women only. At the very back of the town, well sheltered at the foot of the mountain, Dariush I also commissioned a huge treasury house. Its numerous gates were guarded day and night, and all the sumptuous gifts that the guests had offered were kept there. The treasure house was as big as the Apadana itself!

Further Buildings
Xerxes I had another throne hall built with one hundred columns. Furthermore, there were also a kitchen building, administration buildings and high up on the mountain a cistern for the water needed in the city.
Behind the city you will find two rock tombs in the sheer rock walls, following the example of those of the Naqsh-e-Rostam.

Destruction
In the year 330 BC Greek soldiers invaded Persepolis and plundered the treasure house. They needed several thousand mules and camels to bring away all the jewels and precious things. Then they set the city on fire. The city was left in ruins. The wind blew desert sand over it and as time went by the great Persepolis was forgotten. During the Middle Ages, Islamic scholars believed that the towering pillars were leftover minarets of an old mosque and gave the place the name "Mosque of the 40 Minarets".

Present time
Today the monumental ruins represent a unique archaeological site. They are a beautiful example of Achaemenid architecture. In 1979 Persepolis was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.