Fars
Persepolis
Das zeremonielle Herz des Achämenidenreichs, in Stein gehauen
8 Highlights · tippen Sie auf einen PunktPersepolis (altpersisch Parsa, örtlich Takht-e Jamshid, „Thron des Jamshid“) war die zeremonielle Hauptstadt des Achämenidenreichs, um 515 v. Chr. von Darius I. auf einer weiten Steinterrasse am Fuß des Kuh-e Rahmat in der Marvdasht-Ebene in Fars begonnen. Nachfolgende Könige – Xerxes I. und Artaxerxes I. – fügten monumentale Paläste, Audienzhallen und Torbauten hinzu, deren Flachreliefs tributbringende Delegationen aus 23 Untertanenvölkern des Reichs zeigen. Der Komplex wurde 330 v. Chr. von Alexander dem Großen geplündert und niedergebrannt, was seine Rolle als imperiales Schaustück beendete; seine kolossalen Säulen, skulptierten Treppenaufgänge und Tor-Lamassu zählen jedoch weiterhin zu den vollständigsten erhaltenen Zeugnissen altpersischer Kunst und Macht. 1979 in die UNESCO-Welterbeliste eingeschrieben, liegt die Stätte etwa 60 km nordöstlich von Shiraz nahe der Stadt Marvdasht.
Nächste 5 Tage
Top-Sehenswürdigkeiten
1Apadana Palace
Darius I's grand audience hall, famed for its tribute-bearer stairway reliefs. The largest and most celebrated structure on the terrace; its eastern and northern stairways carry the iconic procession of 23 delegations bearing gifts to the king, the single most important sculptural program at Persepolis. Of 72 original 20m columns, around 13 still stand.
2Gate of All Nations (Gate of Xerxes)
Xerxes I's grand entrance guarded by colossal human-headed winged bull lamassu. The ceremonial threshold to the terrace, a roughly 25m-square hall whose surviving lamassu (double-bull and man-headed bull capitals) and trilingual cuneiform inscription of Xerxes greet every visitor. The defining first image of Persepolis.
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Throne Hall (Hall of a Hundred Columns)
Vast 70m-square hall begun by Xerxes I and completed by Artaxerxes I. The second-largest building on the terrace, originally roofed by 100 columns; its doorway reliefs show the enthroned king and royal combat scenes. Used for receptions and later as a storehouse before its destruction.
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Tachara (Palace of Darius)
Darius the Great's private palace, the best-preserved building at Persepolis. The oldest and most intact structure on the terrace, with finely polished black stone doorframes and some of the sharpest surviving reliefs, including servant and royal-attendant figures. Known as the 'Hall of Mirrors' for its once-glossy stone.
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Hadish (Palace of Xerxes)
Xerxes I's residential palace on the highest part of the terrace. One of the largest residential palaces, occupying the terrace's highest level with commanding views; its doorway reliefs echo those of the Tachara and it was heavily affected by the 330 BC fire.
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Tripylon (Central / Council Hall)
Small central audience hall linking the main palaces. A pivotal connecting structure near the terrace's center, its stairway reliefs show Persian and Median nobles ascending — a key example of the procession motif at smaller scale.
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Rock-cut Royal Tombs above the terrace
Cliff tombs of later Achaemenid kings (likely Artaxerxes II and III) carved into Kuh-e Rahmat. Cruciform facade tombs cut into the mountain directly behind the complex, mirroring the royal necropolis at Naqsh-e Rostam and offering the best elevated panorama over the whole terrace.
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Naqsh-e Rostam
Achaemenid royal necropolis with four cliff tombs and major Sassanid rock reliefs, ~6 km from Persepolis. The cross-shaped tombs of Darius I, Xerxes I, Artaxerxes I and Darius II are cut high into the cliff, beneath them a series of monumental Sasanian victory reliefs and the enigmatic Ka'ba-ye Zartosht tower. The single most important sight to pair with Persepolis.
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Naqsh-e Rajab
Compact group of early Sassanid rock reliefs, ~3 km from Persepolis. Four well-preserved Sasanian bas-reliefs (investiture of Ardashir I, equestrian scenes) plus the inscription of the priest Kartir, an easy and uncrowded add-on between Persepolis and Naqsh-e Rostam.
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Pasargadae & Tomb of Cyrus the Great
UNESCO 2004First Achaemenid capital and the austere stepped tomb of Cyrus the Great, ~60 km north (separate UNESCO site, 2004). Founded by Cyrus the Great, the original Achaemenid capital predates Persepolis; its simple six-stepped limestone tomb of Cyrus is one of Iran's most revered monuments and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its own right.