Pasargadae

Pasargadae was a city in ancient Persia, and is today an archeological site. Its ruins lie 87 km (54 mi) northeast of Persepolis, in present Fars province of Iran (Persia), and was the first capital of the Persian Empire. The construction of the capital city by Cyrus II of Persia was left unfinished, for he died in battle. Pasargadae remained the Persian capital until Darius began assembling another in Persepolis. The modern name comes from the Greek, but may derive from an earlier one used during Achaemenid times, Pasragada.

Related Topics:
Persia - Archeological site - Persepolis - Fars - Persian Empire - Cyrus II of Persia - Darius - Greek - Achaemenid

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The archaeological site covers 1.6 square kilometres, and includes a structure commonly believed to be the mausoleum of Cyrus, the fortress of Tall-e Takht sitting on top of a nearby hill, and the remains of a royal palace and gardens. The gardens provide the earliest known example of the Persian chahar bagh, or four-fold garden design. (See Persian Gardens.)

Related Topics:
Square kilometres - Mausoleum - Persian Gardens

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The most important monument in Pasargadae is undoubtedly the tomb of Cyrus the Great. It has seven broad steps leading to the sepulchre, which measures 534m. in length by 531m in width and has a low and narrow entrance. Though there is no firm evidence identifying the tomb as that of Cyrus, Greek historians tell us that Alexander the Great believed it was so. When Alexander looted and destroyed Persepolis, he paid a visit to the tomb of Cyrus. Arrian, writing in the first century of the common era, recorded that Alexander commanded Aristobulus, one of his warriors, to enter the monument. Inside he found a golden bed, a table set with drinking vessels, a gold coffin, some ornaments studded with precious stones and an inscription of the tomb. No trace of any such inscription survives to modern times, and there is considerable disagreement to the exact wording of the text. Strabo reports that it read:

Related Topics:
Alexander the Great - Arrian - Strabo

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Passer-by, I am Cyrus, who gave the Persians an empire, and was king of Asia.

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Grudge me not therefore this monument.

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Another variation, as documented in Persia: The Immortal Kingdom, is:

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O man, whoever thou art, from wheresoever thou cometh, for I know you shall come, I am Cyrus, who founded the empire of the Persians.Grudge me not, therefore, this little earth that covers my body.

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During the Islamic conquest of Iran, the Arab armies came upon the tomb and planned to destroy it, considering it to be in direct violation of the tenets of Islam. The caretakers of the grave managed to convince the Arab command that the tomb was not built to honor Cyrus, but instead housed the mother of King Solomon, thus sparing it from destruction. As a result, the inscription in the tomb was replaced by a verse of the Qur'an, and the tomb became known as "Qabr-e Madar-e Sulaiman," or the tomb of the mother of Solomon. It is still widely known by that name today.

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Pasargadae today is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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