Pasargadae

20 days left

Invest in History Education

By supporting World History Encyclopedia, you're investing in the future of history education. Your donation helps us empower the next generation with the knowledge and skills they need to understand the world around them. Help us start the new year ready to publish more reliable historical information, free for everyone.
$0 / $10000

Definition

Jan van der Crabben
by Livius
published on 28 April 2011
Available in other languages: French
Subscribe to topic Print Article
Pasargadae Palace (by dynamosquito, CC BY-SA)
Pasargadae Palace
dynamosquito (CC BY-SA)

Pasargadae was one of the oldest residences of the Achaemenid kings, founded by Cyrus the Great (r.559-530). It resembled a park of 2x3 km in which several monumental buildings were to be seen. According to the Roman geographer Strabo of Amasia, the palace of Pasargadae was built on the site where king Cyrus (r.559-530) defeated the leader of the Medes, Astyages, in 550 BCE (Strabo, Geography, 15.3.8). The battle is a fact, also mentioned in the Nabonidus Chronicle, and there is no evidence to contradict that it took place on the Murghab plain, but the context contains errors, so we should not place too much confidence on it. However, that Cyrus was indeed the builder of this town, can be corroborated from the fact that the building inscriptions in the palace, known as CMa, mention Cyrus, the great king, an Achaemenid. If he did not build the palace on this site because of a military victory, there may have been other reasons: the place is beautifully situated in the center of a fertile plain, on all sides surrounded by mountains. It is essentially a valley that was filled by sediments from the river Pulvar. Pasargadae is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

If we ignore the prehistoric site at Tall-e Nokhodi and similar sites, the oldest monument of Pasargadae is the citadel, which is known as Tall-i Takht or "throne hill". Situated on one of the few hills in the valley, it overlooks the palace complex itself. The citadel may or may not predate the reign of Cyrus, and reminds one of the fortified terrace complex at Masjid-e Solaiman, although masonry is more refined. Cyrus' palace, situated to the southwest of the Tall-i Takht, consists of two units: the residential Palace P (built from cold white natural stone) and a columned audience hall, Palace S. The audience hall was approached from the south-east; the visitor first had to pass a gate and then had to cross a bridge over a branch of the river Pulvar.

Remove Ads
Advertisement
Prison of Solomon
Prison of Solomon
Sebastià Giralt (CC BY-SA)

It is best to imagine Pasargadae as a group of garden pavilions in a park: essentially a camp of nomads, but made out of natural stone. Stylistically, the Audience Hall, the Residential Palace, the garden pavilions A and B, and the Gate belonged to the architectural tradition of the Iranian nomads, who lived in large tents. However, Cyrus used elements from other cultures as well: sculptures from the Assyrian palaces were used as models, work may have been done by stonemasons from Greek Ionia, and a hybrid demon guarded the gate. Perhaps the population of the city had a similar, mixed character. The small tomb of king Cyrus is situated a little to the southwest. It was venerated by later rulers, a.o. the Macedonian king Alexander the Great, who ordered restorations in January 324 BCE. King Darius I the Great (522-486) built a new capital, Persepolis, forty-three kilometers downstream along the river Pulvar. However, Pasargadae remained an important place, probably as the religious capital of the Achaemenid empire where the inauguration of the kings took place. You can read a description over here. Perhaps, the sanctuary in the northwest played a role in the ceremonies.

The site remained occupied after the end of the Achaemenid Empire. There's some evidence for a great fire on the citadel in c.280, and the presence of coin hoards in the stratum of destruction suggests that the fire was caused by enemies. There is no evidence for war in Persis at that moment, but there is a very tantalizing reference to Bactrian troops (?) at the End of Seleucus Chronicle (rev.8). Reportedly, the remains of the tomb of king Cambyses were identified in 2006.

Remove Ads
Advertisement

Did you like this definition?
Editorial Review This article has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our editorial policy.
Remove Ads
Advertisement

Translations

French

We want people all over the world to learn about history. Help us and translate this definition into another language!

Free for the World, Supported by You

World History Encyclopedia is a non-profit organization. For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide.

World History Encyclopedia is a non-profit organization. Please support free history education for millions of learners worldwide for only $5 per month by becoming a member. Thank you!

Become a Member  
Add External Link

External Links

Cite This Work

APA Style

Livius. (2011, April 28). Pasargadae. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/Pasargadae/

Chicago Style

Livius. "Pasargadae." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified April 28, 2011. https://www.worldhistory.org/Pasargadae/.

MLA Style

Livius. "Pasargadae." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 28 Apr 2011. Web. 11 Dec 2024.

Membership