Heritage with Related Tags
Ecbatana
<p>The archaeological site of Hegmataneh is located in northwestern Iran. This ancient city was inhabited for nearly 3,000 years and provides important and rare evidence of the Median civilization from the 7th to 6th centuries BC. After that, Hegmataneh was also the summer capital of the Achaemenid Empire, the Seleucid Empire, the Parthian Empire, and the Sassanid Empire. </p>
Pasargadae
Pasargadae was the first dynastic capital of the Achaemenid Empire, founded by Cyrus II the Great in the 6th century BC in Pars, the homeland of the Persians. Its palaces, gardens and the Mausoleum of Cyrus are outstanding examples of royal art and architecture of the first phase of the Achaemenid Empire and an outstanding testimony to Persian civilization. Particularly noteworthy remains of the 160-hectare site include: the Mausoleum of Cyrus II, the defensive terrace Tal Takht, as well as the Royal Gatehouse, the Audience Hall, the residential palaces and gardens. Pasargadae was the capital of the first great multicultural empire of Western Asia. Stretching from the eastern Mediterranean and Egypt to the Indus River, it is considered the first empire to respect the cultural diversity of different peoples. This is reflected in Achaemenid architecture, which is a comprehensive representation of different cultures.
Kunya-Urgench
Kunya-Urgench is located in the northwest of Turkmenistan, on the left bank of the Amu Darya River. Urgench was the capital of the Khorezm region, which was part of the Achaemenid Empire. The old town has a series of monuments built mainly from the 11th to the 16th centuries, including a mosque, caravanserai gates, fortresses, mausoleums and a 60-meter-high minaret. These monuments bear witness to outstanding achievements in architecture and craftsmanship, whose influence spread to Iran and Afghanistan, and later to the architecture of the Mughal Empire in 16th century India.
Persepolis
Founded in 518 BC by Darius I, Persepolis was the capital of the Achaemenid Empire. Built on a vast, half-artificial, half-natural platform, it was here that the King of Kings built an impressive palace complex inspired by Mesopotamian models. The importance and quality of these monumental remains make it a unique archaeological site.
Bisotun
Located on the ancient trade route that connected the Iranian plateau to Mesopotamia, Bisotun has remains from prehistoric times to the Median, Achaemenid, Sassanian and Ilkhanate periods. The main monument of this archaeological site is a bas-relief and cuneiform inscription commissioned by Darius I when he ascended the throne of the Persian Empire in 521 BC. The bas-relief depicts Darius holding a bow and arrow (as a symbol of sovereignty) and stepping on the chest of a man lying in front of him. According to legend, the figure represents Gaumeta, a wise man and pretender to the throne of Media, whose assassination led to Darius's rise to power. Under and around the bas-relief, there are about 100 cuneiform inscriptions. The 1,200-line inscription tells of Darius' battles in 521-520 BC against rulers who tried to dismantle the empire founded by Cyrus. The inscriptions are written in three languages. The oldest is the Elamite text, which mentions a legend describing the king and the rebellion. Next is the Babylonian version of a similar legend. The last part of the inscription is particularly important, as it is here that Darius first presented the Old Persian version of his res gestae (what was done). This is the only known Achaemenid monumental text that records the restoration of the empire by Darius I. It also bears witness to the exchange of influences on the development of monumental art and writing in the Persian Empire. There are also remains from the Median (8th-7th century BC), Achaemenid (6th-4th century BC) and post-Achaemenid periods.