Ancient Persia

Coins of the Parthians

Some of the most interesting ancient coins were neither 'Greek' or 'Roman'. In fact, the coin producing civilizations of the ancient world spread far across Asia including people and places rarely mentioned in beginning World History classes. One of the most well known of these were the rulers of much of what is today Iran, Iraq and surrounding reg...

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Campaigns of Achaemenid Persia 550 - 330 BC

The Achaemenid Kings and their Satraps were constantly involved in organising campaigns either to expand their empire or to fight in its defence. In doing so they showed themslves to be highly organised and capable of thorough planning in mobilising vast and hetergoneous forces....

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Persepolis and Ancient Iran

Oriental Institute. Catalog of Expedition Photographs. This document is a catalog of 999 photographs contained in an Oriental Institute text/microfiche publication entitled Persepolis and Ancient Iran. With an introduction by Ursula Schneider, former Oriental Institute photographer, it presents a comprehensive survey of archaeological sites in th...

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Post-Achaemenid Archaeology

History & Method of Research. The Circle of Ancient Iranian Studies (CAIS) IRANIAN ART & ARCHAEOLOGY: Post-Achaemenid Period By: K. Schippmann. Very few monuments from this period have been discovered in Iran, and probably none from the time of Alexander the Great, though it has been argued by H. Luschey that the long known life-size ston...

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Archaeology of Ancient Iran

Circle of Ancient Iranian Studies. Articles on ancent Iranian art, archaeology and architecture....

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Achaemenid Remains in Parthian City

In Search of Achaemenid Remains in Parthian City. While looking for evidence of the Median civilization in Ecbatana historic hill in Hamadan, remains of the Parthian civilization were discovered. New season of excavations in this ancient hill will focus on the rich civilizations of the Parthians and the Achaemenids. Last year, archeologists starte...

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Temple of Anahita

On the road traveling from Tehran toward the city of Kermanshah "Bakhtaran," one passes through the valley of Asad-abad. In small town of Kangavar, ruins of a majestic historic site start to appear right by the roadside. The site is known as the Temple of Anahita, built by Achaemenian Emperor Ardeshir II (Artaxerxes II), 404 BC to 359 BC....

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The Early Achaemenid Persian Army

The Persian army was very multicultural in its make up. It consisted of trained regular units of Persian and Median infantry and cavalry supplemented by conscripts from subject nations within the empire and well as hired mercenaries or garrison troops from within or from outside the empire. The full time regular soldiers such as the Immortals were ...

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Persepolis Terrace

Architecture, Reliefs, And Finds "" Oriental Institute Photographic Archives. The magnificent palace complex at Persepolis was founded by Darius the Great around 518 B.C., although more than a century passed before it was finally completed. Conceived to be the seat of government for the Achaemenian kings and a center for receptions and ceremonial...

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