Pasargadae

Empire of Cyrus the Great

The rise of the Persian Empire occured during the reign of Cyrus the Great, one of the most powerful rulers of that era. He was a wise ruler, a great warrior, and a master of diplomacy who significantly expanded the territory of Persia.

From a small country, it transformed into the Great Persian Empire, embracing nearly all of the previous civilised states of that time.

Pasargadae – the ancient capital of Persia.

The great king used all the experience gained from conquests and major military campaigns to build the first capital, Pasargadae. Surrounded by mountains, the city was located on a hilly plateau beside the main road used by passing caravans.

This city, founded in the 6th century BCE, serves as a remarkable example of the art and architecture from the reign of the Achaemenid dynasty, the founders of the Persian Empire.

Here, one can see the motifs inherent in Egypt, Anatolia, and Assyria. Craftsmen, representing different nations, worked on its creation, resulting in a combination of styles, symbols, and images that complement the unified appearance of the Persian Empire. Cyrus the Great generously rewarded them for their work.

The Tomb of Cyrus the Great

The mausoleum of Cyrus the Great stands right at the entrance to Pasargadae. The tomb is very simple yet elegant. It’s surprising that it was constructed with the use of a rope and an earth mound—a technique unusual for that era. Today, this structure is considered one of the oldest earthquake-resistant buildings in the world. Despite being built 25 centuries ago, it has been perfectly preserved to this day.

The Palace in Pasargadae

The palace was located about two kilometres away from the tomb.

The massive gates at the palace entrance greatly impressed visitors. The door jambs were decorated with moulding depicting the same scene: three priests leading a bull to the slaughter.

The entrance to the palace was guarded by the bulls with wings and human heads. Assyrian people referred to them as shedu— household protective spirits. These figures were created from a greenish-black stone, but unfortunately, they haven’t lasted until to the present day. The reception hall, with its 16-foot-high columns, was inside the building. The floor was made of dark stone.

And only a three-meter-tall bas-relief depicting the man with two pairs of wings and a beard wearing a headdress resembling an Egyptian crown, has miraculously remained to this day. Some people assume that this is an image of Cyrus II, because on top of it was once inscribed in three languages the sentence "I am Cyrus, an Achaemenid King".

Toll-e Takht Fortress and the Persian Garden

The city also had the citadel of Toll-e-Takht, as it was typical for many capitals of that time. Unfortunately, only fragments of the massive walls and towers of the citadel have remained to this day.

Pasargadae gardens are considered an example of the Persian "Chahar Bagh", a traditional and sophisticated form of Persian Gardens. It was divided into four sections, with a water source in the middle. The water was distributed throughout the garden via channels.

Pasargadae is one of Iran's UNESCO World Heritage Sites

The Pasargadae ensemble was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Unfortunately, Cyrus II didn’t complete his grand construction, as he was killed in a battle for Egypt. Today, standing in the middle the ruins of one of Iran’s oldest cities, one can only imagine the splendour and grandeur of those times, the power of the Achaemenid Empire, and its ruler—Cyrus the Great.