In the spring of 334 BC Alexander the great made in the campaign against Persia. His army consisted of 30 thousand soldiers and five-thousand cavalry. The first clash occurred in 334 BC on the Hellespont by the river Hranik. The winner in the battle with the army of the enemy, the number of which amounted to nearly a million people went Alexander. Thus began a triumphal victory of the great commander in Asia.

February 1 330 B.C. Alexander finally captured and sacked the Persian capital city of Persepolis, then burned, and people killed. Production Greeks have been enormous: 120 thousand talents of silver, 8 thousand talents of gold. Stocks of jewelry and objects of gold, according to historians, were simply inexhaustible. Alexander took 3000 camels and many mules to transport looted.

The death of Persepolis marked the end of the great of the Achaemenid Empire. The Holy city of Persians, where he was buried kings and where they brought tribute from all subject lands, never rose again.

Palace of Darius in Persepolis

Now the majestic buildings of the ancient city rise on the background of dark mountains, which with the Muslim times called Kuh-and-Rahmat (Mount of Mercy). At sunset stones Persepolis take various shades of that change, as becomes darker, from yellow to pink and dark-red, so it seems like ancient buildings again devouring flame long-gone past.

Had withheld many events from everyday life of the ancient capital, and its a true story can be restored only partially. Hardly anyone will be able to dispel the mystery Shrouding these structures. Although in houses and palaces of Persepolis people lived for almost two centuries, there are no signs of wear either on the stairs or in the rapids, nor on the floors; not visible even to the Royal household utensils, carved of stone, was ever used. Blank remained numerous signs for the Royal records, and it still does not explained.

A large part of Persepolis take nine main buildings. Buildings, the remains of which have survived to the present day include the Royal residence, palaces, and Darius, Xerxes I, stables and garrison premises, one mysterious building and a number of tombs.

City of stone, Persepolis, was built mainly under king Darius I. He built the capital, wanting to immortalize his name. In the famous Behistun inscription, carved on a cliff, the king left a memory of the "modest" description: "I was not a liar or a villain... According justice did I... I'm not quick-tempered. I own them and are able to contain the anger... that one person speaks against another, does not convince me, till I hear the speech of both... I tested warrior. My hands and feet are trained. I am a good rider. I'm a good shot from a bow with a horse and then... Oh servant, hard to tell, what I, as I am clever and as you rise above all".

Darius I was proud of not only themselves and their capital, he is most glorified Empire, which he was able to create. During excavations in the corners of the room it under the walls of the Palace were found stone boxes, and in them were gold and silver plates with inscriptions of Darius in three languages. They narrated about the size of his Kingdom: "that's the state I speak, from Scythia, which on the other side of Sogdiana, to Cush, from India to Lydia, which gave me Ahuramazda, the greatest of the gods".

Unfortunately, all found by archaeologists Royal inscriptions provide only fragmentary information about the history of the country. But you know exactly what Persepolis was the capital and spiritual center, as their main deity, "God Aryans", Darius I of cites Ahuramazda. In addition, the Persians worshiped fire on the altars, sacrificed animals, prepared and drank Homo (intoxicating drink; they stood for truth, despising a lie.

Had the Persians and their own prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra). The latter claimed that he was elected Ahuramazda. Zoroaster preached dobromysli, dobroslava and dobrogeanu.

Rituals of sacrifice led the Magi, a special tribe, differing right to perform priestly functions. Probably, they had to prepare Homo.

In the rituals of the ancient Aryans haoma played sacred role, but nothing definite about it is unknown. I believe that it led to an excited state, which allows them to "see" the future. Consider that Homo received from ephedra, a plant growing in Asia. Branches it pounded in a mortar. Turned out alkaloid extract ephedrine, the same tonic substance as coffee, tea, tobacco and opium. Pure alkaloids bitter taste. When Homo used during the ceremony, it was mixed with milk, it is possible to change the taste. In Persepolis found a significant number of stupas and pistils used to make the drink. Herodotus States that the Persians took important decisions only intoxicated, under the influence of haoma.

Darius began to build Persepolis in 520 BC terrace of the city was built on a natural rock and rose from the foot of the mountains on the height of 177 M. in Addition, at different height were constructed three different sites. On the edge of the terrace was raised high massive wall of mud bricks. Underground passed channels to divert water, which could get in the building and the terrace itself. All the buildings are oriented on the same axis (in the direction from Northwest to Southeast. The terrace was built so that every new building was erected next to the already built. Between the buildings remained fairly narrow passages and corridors. From one to another level terraces were many stairs.

For centuries preserved carved in the walls and on both sides of the stairs procession. On the reliefs depict all those who were privileged to see his powerful Lord, going to the Palace with gifts. Here are marching armed with swords warriors with their horses and chariots; go nobles of Persia and media nobles and chiefs of the Saka - pointy hats and long beards, are a gift horses, carry gold bracelets and precious garments; in the long folded clothes pass before the king and the people of Babylon, bear fabric and rings; lead awkwardly moved Bactrian camels residents Bactria...

House in Persepolis were built of limestone blocks. Limestone contained bitumen, so the color of his ranged from grey to brown and black. On the walls, terraces and the buildings of the connecting seams almost not visible because the blocks are carefully processed and adjacent to each other stones were fastened with staples inserted into the lead basis. This helped to reinforce the walls and protect them from destruction, and to protect against earthquakes.

External and internal surfaces of walls of houses were faced with raw brickwork and richly decorated. The Bible mentions the feast in the Palace of the king of Persia: the White paper and Afontovo color wool fabric attached bessonnye and purple cords hung on silver rings and marble pillars. In the same passage: "Gold and silver beds were on the platform, covered with green stones, and marble, and pearls, and jewels of black. Wooden doors were trimmed with fine sheets of bronze and precious metals with relief ornaments. Fragments of such sheets were found during excavations.

Near his Palace Darius built the Treasury. Excavations have revealed that it had almost a hundred rooms, halls and alcoves; they were repeatedly subjected to looting.

In the Treasury was kept not only precious metals, clothing and furniture, but also different items salvaged from the conquered temples, palaces and cities. Some items you can find the names of pharaohs of Egypt, the kings of Assyria and Babylonia, and in one case even the title of the Hittite king.

With Persepolis is closely related area of Napiste (Arabic name Naksi-and-Rustam). Here, in the rock, about six miles from Persepolis, tombs were carved four kings of Achaemenid dynasty. They belong Darius I, his son Xerxes, Ahasuerus and Darius II. All the tombs are decorated with relief images of warriors, and next to them there is a ruined temple, where traditionally kept the eternal flame.

The first who carried out excavations at Persepolis, was not an archaeologist, and the Governor of Fars province - Farhad Mirza. He ruled at the end of the XIX century and cruelty. and incredible greed. Farhad intended, clearing the Treasury, to find remains of luxury, but found nothing.

Only in 1931 in Persepolis started the expedition under the guidance of well-known architect, the archeologist and linguist of E. Herzfeld. The main task of archaeologists was to remove caused by the wind dust accumulating for centuries, heaps of rocky debris and construction waste.

In our days has almost completed work on the reconstruction of a greater part of the buildings Persepolis; he rose again from the ruins and appeared in all its antique splendour.