Persepolis Photo Gallery

Persepolis: The magnificent palace complex at Persepolis was founded by Darius the Great around 518 B.C. Conceived to be the seat of government for the Achaemenian kings and a center for receptions and ceremonial festivities. The palaces were looted and burned by Alexander the Great in 331-330 B.C. The ruins were not excavated until the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago sponsored an archaeological expedition under the supervision of Professor Ernst Herzfeld from 1931 to 1934, and Erich F. Schmidt from 1934 to 1939.