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By the 6th century B.C.E., under the leadership of Cyrus the Great, Persia had become the first land empire of the ancient world, stretching from the Mediterranean to India. Darius the Great, who ruled from 522 to 486 B.C.E., introduced Zoroastrianism as the state religion and built Persepolis as the empire's ceremonial capital -- a site for imperial tribute and the celebration of rituals such as No Ruz (New Year). In 330 B.C.E., Alexander the Great conquered Persia, ending Cyrus' Achaemenian dynasty and burning Persepolis to the ground. Only the pillars, gates, and other masonry features of the city still stand in the desert 40 miles northeast of Shiraz. Seen here is the "Gate of All Nations," a ceremonial entrance built by Darius' successor, Xerxes, guarded by "lamasu" -- bulls with the heads of bearded men.
Persepolis has played contrasting symbolic roles for 20th century leaders. For the Shah, it was central in his bid for legitimacy based in an affirmation of the historic greatness of the Iranian nation; Ayatollah Khomeini, on the other hand, viewed the ruins simply as a symbol of the monarchy, and during the Revolution razing the site was seriously considered. The ruins were neglected until after Khomeini's death, when President Hashemi Rafsanjani recuperated Persepolis as a symbol of national dignity, incorporating the legacy of the classical Persia as part of the culture of modern Iran.
CREDIT: Afshin Marashi
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