Perspolis (Takht-e-Jamshid)

Perspolis is the name of one of the ancient cities of Iran that consistently over the years was the magnificent and ceremonial capital of Iran kingdom during the Achaemenid Empire.

In this ancient city there exists a building called Perspolis (Takht-e-Jamshid) which is constructed during the reign of Darius, Xerxes (New-Persian Khashayar, more currectly, khaš?y?rš?), and Artaxerxes I (Ardeshir I), and for about 50 years was the center for ritual ceremonies, especially Nowruz. The founder of this huge complex (Perspolis) was Darius the Great, most of the available information about the history and culture of the Acaemenid is due to the stone inscriptions which are engraved on the walls and tiles of the palace. The full extent of Perspolis (Takht-e-Jamshid) palaces is 125 thousand square meters.

At the time of construction the name of Perspolis was “P?r?a” meaning “the city of persian”. The Greek called it Perspolis (in Greek it means “Parse Shahr”). In contemporary Farsi this building is called Takht-e-Jamshid or the kingdom of Jamshid, the legendary king of Iran.

This complex has been recorded in the list of Iran’s Historical Works in the UNESCO Global Heritage from 1979.

The geographic location of Perspolis (takht-e-Jamshid)

Perspolis is located in the capital city of Fars province, 10 kilometers north of Marvdasht and 57 kilometers of Shiraz. Its height from above the sea level is 1770 meters. 

In the East side of this complex palaces are leaning on Kuh-e-Rahmat (The mountain of Mercy), and other three parts are extended to the Marvdasht plain. Takht-e-Jamshid is built on Soffeh or a stone platform which is 8 to 18 meters above the Marvdasht plain. Dimensions of Takht-e-Jamshid are 445 meters (West), 300 meters (North), 430 meters (East), and 390 meters (South). Also, the length of Takht-e-Jamshid is equal to the length of Acropolis in Athens, but its width is four to five times the width of Acropolis.

Introduction to the oldest part of Perspolis (Takht-e-Jamshid)

Archaeological evidences show that the oldest parts of Perspolis date from 518 BC. As cited in various historical sources, the construction of Perspolis (akht-e-Jamshid) began about 25 centuries ago on the West hillside of Kuh-e-Rahmat (the mountain of mercy) or Mitrayamehr at the time of Darius the great and after that it has been continued by his successors with some alterations in its original building. 

The construction of this huge and beautiful complex, according to some sources, lasted for 120 years.

Archaeological research 

The first scientific excavations at Persepolis were carried out by the German Ernst Emil Herzfeld in 1931. He was sent by the Oriental institute of Chicago University. His findings are still being kept in this institute. Herzfeld believed that the reasons behind the construction of Perspolis were the need for a royal and majestic atmosphere, a symbol of the Empire and a place to celebrate special events, especially Nowruz. For historical reasons, Persepolis was built where the Persian Empire was founded, although it was not the center of the empire at that time.

The unique architecture of Perspolis

Architects, artists and professionals of the construction of Perspolis were from different nations under the reign of the Achaemenid kings such as Assyrians, Egyptians, Urartuians, Babylonians, Ludians, Ionians, Hindu, Scythians, and etc.

Over time a number of the pillars of the gate of Sad Sotun palace in Perspolis survived catastrophes such as earthquakes. At first glance they seem to be integrated, but in fact they are fragmented and are mounted on each other.

The secret behind their stability against earthquake is in the joint part of these fragments, where two pieces of pillars are joined together by the use of molten lead. In addition to strengthening the joint of the two pillars, this lead has a vital role in resistance of the structure against earthquake.

Lead is a malleable and soft metal that at the time of earthquake reacts and does not split, and this is the same role which is played by the springs put between the pillars in the modern buildings.

Persepolitan architecture is noted for its use of wooden columns. Architects resorted to stone only when the largest cedars of Lebanon or teak trees of India did not fulfill the required sizes to bear the cieling. Column bases and capitals were made of stone.

One of the architectural arts in Takht-e-Jamshid is that the ratio of portals’ height to their width and ratio of pillars’ height to the distance between the two pillars are golden ratios. Golden Ratio is important ratio in Geometry that exists in the nature. This shows the art of traditional Iranians is Architecture.

Arrangement of the motifs

Architectures and artists involved in the construction of Perspolis decorated the patterns and motifs in three ways.

One of them was sticking precious metals on the surface of the crown, earring, necklace, bracelet, and the like to the original pattern by the use of the holes which were made on both sides of the desired object to enjewel them.

Second designing and engraving the original ornaments of the clothes, crown and hats with needle, in a very delicate way, and there are some samples of them in the palaces of Darius (Tachara) and harems. Third is the coloring, of which there are samples in Se dar palace and Sad sotoon. 

Introduction to palaces and buildings of Takht-e-Jamshid complex

Apadana palace

1. Tachara palace
2. Hadish palace
3. Malakeh palace
4. H palace
5. Se dar palace
6. Sad-sotoon palace
7. Shoura palace (council palace)
8. Tombs of the kings
9. Imperial treasury building

Address: Perspolis (Takht-e-Jamshid), 57 Km of Isfehan _ Shiraz road, Shiraz, Fars province, Iran 

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