This ppt is about the ancient Persian ceremonial empire -Persepolis.

1. Persepolis
Wonder of Persian urban planning
DEVESH ANAND-21AR60R27 PLANNING THEORY AND PROCESS-PART B
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2. DEVESH ANAND-21AR60R27 PLANNING THEORY AND PROCESS-PART B
Fig 2:google map of contemporary Iran
Overview of Persepolis
• By the early fifth century B.C.E. the Achaemenid
(Persian) Empire(44 % human population of planet
earth.
• Famous for monumental architecture, Persian
kings established numerous monumental centers,
among those is Persepolis (today, in Iran).
• Persepolis, the ceremonial capital of the
Achaemenid Persian empire (c. 550-330 B.C.E.)
• Persepolis, a Greek toponym meaning “city of the
Persians”.
• Persepolis was intentionally founded in the
Marvdast Plain
• Serve as a ceremonial center and citadel for the
city.
• LOCATION-Iran, Fars, 62 km (by road) north-east from Shiraz, (Kuh-e Ramat mountains)
• ALTERNATE NAMES- Contemporary -Takht-e Jamshid (means –throne of
Jamshid),Uvadaicaya (Old Persian), Matteziš (Babylonian), Chehel minar ("forty
columns" in Middle Persian).
• FOUNDED- 521
BCE
• ABANDONED- Around 330 BCE • UNESCO- 1979, No.114
Fig 1:Growth of Persian empire under different kings

3. DEVESH ANAND-21AR60R27 PLANNING THEORY AND PROCESS-PART B
Fig3: Site plan of terraced Persepolis
9 Major Structures
Timeline
Plan of Persepolis
• Darius the Great directed a massive building program at
Persepolis that would continue under his successors
Xerxes.
• Persepolis included the building of a massive terraced
platform covering 125,000 square meters.
• Four groups of structures: residential quarters, a treasury,
ceremonial palaces, and fortifications.

4. DEVESH ANAND-21AR60R27 PLANNING THEORY AND PROCESS-PART B
Apadana Palace(Audience hall)
• The Apadana palace is a large ceremonial building, likely an audience
hall with an associated portico.
• The roof of the structure is supported by columns.
• The footprint of the Apadana is c. 3600 square meters; originally 72
columns, each standing to a height of 24 meters, supported the roof
(only 14 columns remain standing today).
• The column capitals assumed the form of either twin-headed bulls ,
eagles or lions, all animals represented royal authority and kingship.
fig 4:plan of apadana hall
Fig5: Front view of Apadana hall
Fig 6:Aerial view of Apadana Hall
Fig 8:Twin headed Bull -Capital Fig 7:Column design
N
Not to scale

5. DEVESH ANAND-21AR60R27 PLANNING THEORY AND PROCESS-PART B
The Apadana Stairs
• The official entrance to terrace and from here the easiest entrance
to Apadana from north stairs .
• Eastern stairs consists of representation of all nations in
Achaemenid Empire
• In Northern stairs the reliefs are poorly built
• People are bringing tribute to the great king. Many courtiers are
shown like the Persian and Medes.
fig 9: East stairway ,Apadana fig 10: Stairwall design Lion and bull fight
fig 10: North stairway ,Apadana
Treasury
• Consists of a series of rooms, where the two larger rooms had 100
and 99 wooden columns. This enormous building had only two small
entrances.
• It belongs to the oldest building phase and was built by king Darius I
the great
• It was one of the most important symbol of king’s power
• Many people were employed to keep the gold and silver
• More than 1300 people were employed
fig 11: Ruins of Treasury
fig 12: Restoration work of Ruins of Treasury

6. DEVESH ANAND-21AR60R27 PLANNING THEORY AND PROCESS-PART B
The Xerxes gate
• The construction of the Stairs of All Nations and the Gate of All Nations
was ordered by the Achaemenid king Xerxes (486-465) .
• The successor of the founder of Persepolis, Darius I the Great .
• Like Gate R in Pasargadae, the entrance of the Gate of All Nations was
protected by bulls .
• The entire monument was a giant construction with two large doors in
the west and east and a hall between them .
• The columns of the central halls were 16 meters high Gate of all Nations,
eastern entrance A lamassu; eastern entrance of the Gate of All Nations
fig 13: Ruins of Xerxes gate
fig 14: Eastern entrance of Xerxes gate fig 15: A lamassu ,Eastern gate
Darius Palace
• The palace was known as Tacara, “winter palace”, according to the
inscription known as Dpa
• It was completed after the king’s death in 486 BC by Xerxes, from
inscriptions known as XPc
• Compared to other structures the Tacara has remained well
preserved. The big stone structures survived, only the wooden parts
have vanished.
fig 16: Ruins of Darius palace
fig 16: Aerial view of Darius palace fig 17: Darius Palace plinth

7. DEVESH ANAND-21AR60R27 PLANNING THEORY AND PROCESS-PART B
Palace of Xerxes
• The palace was known as Hadis, “dwelling place”, was twice
as large as Palace of Darius
• The palace of Xerxes is badly as it was destroyed by
Alexander the great when he looted the city in 330 BC.
• This palace stands on live rock and uses the highest part of
the terrace.
• The main room has 36 columns and was surrounded by 6 smaller
rooms, 3 in the east and 3 in the west.
fig 18: Ruins of Palace of Xerxes
fig 19: The king leaving the palace fig 20: Damaged Xerxes
Harem or Queen Quarter
• The decoration of the Queen’s Quarters were not very different from
the rooms of king reliefs of royal warrior.
• A famous inscription (known as the "harem inscription" or XPf) was
found in the Queen's Quarters. It deals with Xerxes' accession to his
father's throne and mentions that there were rival candidates.
• From the Persepolis Fortification Tablets, we learn that rulers like
Darius had perhaps four wives.
fig 21: Queen quarter entrance
fig 22: Interior of Queen quarter fig 23: Royal warrior

8. DEVESH ANAND-21AR60R27 PLANNING THEORY AND PROCESS-PART B
The Throne hall
• The Throne Hall is the second largest building of Persepolis.
• This 70×70 square meter hall was started by Xerxes I and completed by
his son Artaxerxes I (465 – 424 BCE).
• Its eight stone doorways are decorated on the north and south with
reliefs of throne scenes, and on the west and east with scenes depicting
the king combating monsters
• The Throne Hall was used mainly for receptions representatives of all
the subject nations of the empire.
fig 24: Plan of the Throne hall
fig 25: Damaged Xerxes
Council hall
• Council Hall or Central Hall is located in the southeastern corner of
Apadana
• It is called Tripylon because it includes three grand gates.
• The Central Hall opened to two columned porticos on the north and
south.
• Reliefs of stairways suggest that the Council Hall was used mainly for
receptions for military commanders.
fig 26: Ruins of Councill hall
N
fig 27: Restoration work of Council Hall
Not to scale

9. DEVESH ANAND-21AR60R27 PLANNING THEORY AND PROCESS-PART B
Foundation and sewerage
• Limestone and mud-brick were the main building materials used at
Persepolis.
• Levelling of natural rock on the plain, depression were filled in.
• There were tunnels for sewerage were dug underground through the
rock and the platform began to rise
• There was a large elevated cistern to catch rainwater for drinking and
bathing.
• The complex was cut out from the mountain kuh-e-rahmet
• Tocreate level terrace the large depressions were filled with soil and
and heavy rocks
fig 28: Surface drainage fig 29: Under sewerage
Literaturestudy
• The language use was Old Persian
• Connection with the Indus Valley Civilization was found to be
established.
• Apadana hoard were found under stone boxes containing the
foundation tablets of Apadana Palace. The hoard is a collection of
coins (8 gold lightweight). These coins were recently minted in the
Achaemenid Rule.
fig 30: Inscription XPf, Persian text (Tehrancopy) 486-465 BCE
fig 31: Inscription on Coins

10. References
• Persepolis | History, Ruins, Map, Images, & Facts. (2021). Retrieved 8 October 2021, from https://www.britannica.com/place/Persepolis
• Persepolis - Wikipedia. (2021). Retrieved 8 October 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persepolis
• https://www.earthismysterious.com/magnificent-ruins-of-the-ancient-city-of-persepolis/
• Magnificent Ruins Of The Ancient City Of Persepolis – Earth is Mysterious. (2021). Retrieved 8 October 2021, from
https://www.earthismysterious.com/magnificent-ruins-of-the-ancient-city-of-persepolis/
• The Ancient City of Persepolis. - Holiday From Where. (2021). Retrieved 8 October 2021, from https://holidayfromwhere.com/ancient-city-
persepolis/
• Persepolis Images, Stock Photos & Vectors | Shutterstock. (2021). Retrieved 8 October 2021, from
https://www.shutterstock.com/search/persepolis
• profile, V. (2021). Ancient City of Persepolis, Iran. Retrieved 8 October 2021, from https://moveonthetop.blogspot.com/2015/01/ancient-
city-of-persepolis-iran.html
• Persepolis: The Audience Hall of Darius and Xerxes (article) | Khan Academy. (2021). Retrieved 8 October 2021, from
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/ancient-mediterranean-ap/ancient-near-east-a/a/persepolis
• Persepolis. (2021). Retrieved 8 October 2021, from https://www.wondermondo.com/persepolis/
• Persepolis director explains about temporary restoration of World Heritage. (2021). Retrieved 8 October 2021, from
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/450154/Persepolis-director-explains-about-temporary-restoration-of-World
• (2021). Retrieved 8 October 2021, from https://irantour.tours/iran-cities/shiraz/shiraz-historical-sites/persepolis-apadana-palace.html
• Huff, D. (2021). PALACE ARCHITECTURE. Retrieved 8 October 2021, from https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-
iranica-online/palace-architecture-COM_506?lang=de
• Persepolis (Takht-e Jamshid) - Persia Advisor. (2021). Retrieved 8 October 2021, from https://www.persiaadvisor.travel/about-
persia/persepolis-takht-e-jamshid/
• Suren-Pahlav, C. (2021). Persepolis (Parsa) | CAIS. Retrieved 8 October 2021, from https://www.cais-
soas.com/CAIS/Archaeology/Hakhamaneshian/persepolis.html
• Persepolis, Palace of Xerxes - Livius. (2021). Retrieved 8 October 2021, from https://www.livius.org/articles/place/persepolis/persepolis-
photos/persepolis-palace-of-xerxes/