Ancient Persepolis

The ancient palace at Persepolis was founded by Darius the Great around 518 B.C. It was considered to be the ancient “seat of government” for the kings of the Achaemenid kings, as well as a ceremonial center that showed off the wealth of the empire (The University of Chicago). Persepolis was designed to reflect Darius’ perception of himself as “as the leader of conglomerates of people to whom he had given a new and single identity” (U.S. Library of Congress). Although the palace complex was not finished by the time Darius the Great had passed away, the project was continued on by his son and successor, Xerxes (U.S. Library of Congress). Unfortunately, in 330 B.C. the palace was destroyed when Alexander the Great conquered and looted Persepolis (The University of Chicago).