Persepolis is the jewel in the crown of Iran's historical sites and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The location can be challenging for photographers as many of the palaces and walkways are closed to the public, and also due to the roof that (understandably) was erected to protect the antiquities from the elements.
Persepolis (literally Persian city), was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire (ca. 550–330 BC).
It was destroyed in a fire by Alexander the Great and his men, but whether this was by accident or for revenge is still debated. The ashes from that fire helped preserve the site until it was excavated in the 1930's.
Persepolis today is a mere shadow of its former self, but enough remains for visitors to still be awed by the grandeur of it all.
Persepolis is world renowned for its bas reliefs, and in particular for those on the sides of the Apadana staircases.
Originally the bas reliefs and other aspects of Persepolis would have been highly decorated. One can get an idea of what the immortal guards and archers may have looked like by referring to the famous glazed brick friezes found in Darius' Palace in Susa now in the Louvre and Pergamon museums.
Hi Richard, we are working on an exhibition showcasing Iranian art. Thanks for your fantastic photos and you made them available for educational use. Appreciate it!