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| three of the four tombs at Naqsh-e Rostam |
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| detail from panel at Naqsh-e Rostam |
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| 12.6m high Zoroaster's shrine at Naqsh-e Rostam its function a mystery |
After an excellent buffet lunch at the Laneh-e Tavoos garden
restaurant nearby, we are soon off to Persepolis ,
probably the most important ancient site in Iran
for all those interested in the history of the Persian
Empire . Founded by Darius the Great around 515 BCE, the Achaemenid Kings received their subjects and generally
ran their empire from here. Then Alexander the Great came and burnt it all to
the ground. The ruins are still exceptional.
Of course by the time we arrived after all that we had
already seen today it was early afternoon - our visit lasted from 2.30 until 5.30 - some say early morning is best for the light, but we benefited from less crowding and a lovely red colour to the ruins as
the sun went down.
We were only allowed to take the tiniest bags into the site,
such as money and camera, and were advised to leave everything else in the
coach, or bags must otherwise be left with security at the entrance.
There is a good souvenir shop but I had left my money on the bus! And purchases have to be made on leaving the site, not before. So the shop actually missed out on our Rials which we are all itching to spend!
And the toilets at the entrance were pretty grim - even the local ladies and children thought so.
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| detail at Persepolis |
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| part of the famous eastern Apadana staircase at Persepolis this side shows envoys from 23 subject nations bringing gifts |
There is a good souvenir shop but I had left my money on the bus! And purchases have to be made on leaving the site, not before. So the shop actually missed out on our Rials which we are all itching to spend!
And the toilets at the entrance were pretty grim - even the local ladies and children thought so.
While most of the group went straight to the café on the
site at the end of the trip, six of us climbed up to view at close hand one of
the royal tombs high above the ruins. Not only was this interesting, but a
fabulous panoramic view of the site was our reward. There are four royal tombs
up here, two of which we can easily access, those of Artaxerxes II (d. 358 BCE)
and Artaxerxes III (d. 338 BCE).
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| panorama of Persepolis from royal tombs above |
As we leave many of the Iranian families were parking up at
the side of the road and disappearing into the adjoining woods to picnic,
lighting fires, spreading blankets out and no doubt cooking kebabs - a firm
picnic favourite here. As I have said before, this is an Iranian passion. They
will picnic just about anywhere, and in many places there are special shaded
picnic shelters for the purpose. And they take all their litter away with them,
leaving the place as clean as they found it.
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| an eagle griffin or Homa - auspicious bird - adopted as symbol of Iranian National airline. |
For much further on information on Persepolis see:
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| heading home from Persepolis at day's end |
Amazing monuments!
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