Posted on 01/08/2020 1:54:01 PM PST by CondoleezzaProtege
A world of ancient mystery is located in Iran, with some sites dating back over 7,000 years, far before the civilization of the Persian Empire and its capital, Persepolis. This archaeological site is the number one tourist destination in the country, and with good reason. Culture Trip takes a look into why this forgotten empire is one of the greatest wonders of the ancient world.
Persepolis is no doubt the main attraction that lures tourists to Iran. Located about 70 kilometers (43.5 miles) outside of the modern city of Shiraz, these ancient ruins served as the capital of the Persian Empire, which spanned across Northern Africa, India, and southern Europe at the height of its power between 500 and 350 BC. Referred to locally as Takht-e Jamshid and established by King Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BC and finished by his son Cambyses II and grandson Darius over the course of 150 years, Persepolis means “city of Persians.” The architecture was to be indicative of its supremacy; therefore, buildings such as the Imperial Treasury, Apadana Palace, and others were constructed. It was so great, in fact, that its splendor continues to act as a model for present-day architecture, as seen in Kish Island’s Darius Grand Hotel and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tehran.
Today, however, Persepolis is a mere shadow of its former self. The grand staircases and remaining colonnades of Tachara Palace (the oldest palace) are among the most intact parts. The Hall of 100 Columns once stood with towering wooden pillars, but the only evidence of them which remains at present is the stone bases. The most complete remnants are on display in several museums throughout Europe and North America, but as valuable as their insight may be, they can’t begin to capture the magnitude or surreal feeling that one gets by actually walking on these ancient grounds and becoming part of the past.
Bas-reliefs are among the highlights of this archaeological wonder. Lotus flowers and cypress trees frequently appear throughout the site. Other notable carvings represent nobles, dignitaries, and envoys of Ethiopian, Tajik, Indian, Egyptian, and Armenian nationalities, among others, who visited the capital bearing tributes for the King of Kings. Every detail of their face, hair, curly beards, and clothes is both mind-boggling and connected to the present in appearance.
Persepolis is not only a symbol of Iran, but its significance and grandeur are embedded in the psyche of Iranian people today. For this population, it’s not just ruins of a forgotten empire. It’s the place where the Cyrus Cylinder, the first charter of human rights that expressed tolerance and equality for all religions, races, and languages, was recorded. (It is now in the British Museum). Despite the negative attention Iran receives in mass media, Persepolis continues to act as a reminder of one of the most powerful empires and is a source of pride for Iranians who remember that they are descendants of these past great leaders and this most civil of ancient civilizations. You could even say that it serves as an aspiration for Iran to once again become a model society and rise to the top.
“Trump but when he tweeted about attacking cultural sites”
He never did. Here is his actual tweet.
“....targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD. The USA wants no more threats!”
Important to the Iranian culture is not archeological ruins. It seems to me that means political leaders, oil sites, etc.
This is just drama, people claiming he would try to bomb some remote ruins.
“I have to remember that this city existed more than 7,000 years before Islam was invented...”
Exactly...
Too bad they have no respect for Christian sites.
Especially when a lot of the Iraqi antiquities were looted during the second Gulf War. Not our fault, but one of the side-effects of the war.
He likely was referring to mosques...which are known to be arsenals.
I’d love to visit Persepolis; however, the price of having my throat slit, my family murdered or being blown-up by my “guide’s” suicide belt makes that unlikely. moozlums are one sick “culture”...a culture of death.
“”far before the civilization of the Persian Empire and””
Don’t they still have a long way to go to become civilized?
Well, yeah, he kinda did.
"They're allowed to kill our people. They're allowed to torture and maim our people. They're allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people," he told reporters on Sunday evening. "And we're not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesn't work that way."
That is not thousand year old ruins. That is targeting the presidential palace, that is targeting political leaders that are a fixture of Iranian culture, that is things related to the Mullahs, that is oil, that is dozens of things of that nature.
The reality is that Saudi Arabia will never be a place safe for Americans to visit. But it’s reasonable to think that the Mullahs will be overcome and Iran will return to the decent hardworking and intelligent society that it is.
It would be wonderful to be able visit sites like this someday.
OK, we can discuss what a cultural site is, but he said it.
“I don’t give even the slightest rip.”
Enlightened men do not destroy historical sites like this.
It’s a crime against humanity itself.
Hopefully Iran does not hide military assets in such places. But even if they do, we should avoid them if we can to prevail.
Be civilized.
Did you care about the relics the Taliban
destroyed? How about the WTC?
“It would be wonderful to be able visit sites like this someday.”
I agree.
That was, I would guess, unparalleled gracious treatment for "foreigners and their God" in the ancient world.
When Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Netanyahu honored him as "The New Cyrus".
Israel issued a beautiful coin/medallion bearing Trump's image along with the Persian king Cyrus.
“”far before the civilization of the Persian Empire and””
Don’t they still have a long way to go to become civilized?
The ancient Persians get a bad rap because they were always fighting with the Greeks and the Greeks were always talking stink about them. We of course get most of our modern knowledge on the subject from the Greeks and that is reflected in how we see the history. E.g., movie “300.” But the Persians supposedly were fairly beneficent as rulers.
Not if my enemy will use my civility against me.
Nope.
I haven’t seen anyone upset when our “Southern” culture was wiped off the map.
Thanks for that info. I had a haircut today by an Iranian gal. She said she doesn’t watch much news as it drives her nuts but “those people are crazy” - I guess speaking about the rulers in Iran. I asked her if she has family there and she said her mom and sister and she talks to them regularly but had nothing but contempt for the supposed rulers!
come on, give us a break. You know the answer to that ........Sheesh!
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