Apdana, Palace of Darius, Harem & Palace of Xerxes - Persepolis
The Apadana Palace or Audience Hall
History
Today’s archeological Site at Persepolis, once was the capital of ancient Iranian empire. The name itself comes from the Greek language meaning ‘ the city of the Persians’. It has many historical buildings including Apadana Hall, Palace of Darius, Throne Room, Harem and Palace of king Xerxes to name few.
The Apadana is located on the western side of Persepolis, it is also known as the Audience Hall. This place was used for the official audience of the king, the Apadana Palace is one of the oldest building in Persepolis. Darius the Great started work on this building around 515BC.
The seventy-two columns which supported the roof (6×6 inside the hall, the remainder in three porticoes) were twenty-five meters high. At the base of one of the columns had black burnt marks. They were as a result of the fire started by soldiers of Alexander the Great in 330BC. In the past, the walls of this buildings were decorated with colourful tiles.
Royal inscription at the Apadana
Eastern stairs depict a procession of people bringing tribute to the king. On the top of these stairs, there are decorative patterns which were borrowed by the Arabs from the Persians. These decorations were used in the Islamic World, even as far as Cordoba in Spain.
There are several Achaemenid Royal inscription in the Apadana;
1 – ‘A great god is Ahuramazda, who created this earth, who created yonder sky, who created man, who created happiness for man, who made Xerxes king, one king of all kings, one commander for all commanders’.
2 – ‘I am Xerxes, the great king, the king of kings, the king of all countries, having all kinds of human beings, king in this earth far and wide, the son of king Darius, the Achaemenid’.
3 – ‘What was done by me here, and was done by me farther off, I did by the grace of Ahuramazda. May Ahuramazda and the gods protect me, my kingdom, and what I did’.
Palace of Darius the Great
The Palace of Darius (next to this building) is also known as Tachar (the Winter Palace). This beautiful Palace of the Darius the Great (probably one of the best preserved) was just beside the eastern staircase but it was off limit to the public. Many people in the group protested but guard wasn’t listening to anyone and we couldn’t get the access.
Throne Hall
The Throne Hall is also known as the Hall of Hundred Columns. The construction of this hall was started by King Xerxes but it was finished by his son Artaxerxes I Makrocheir. Initially, this hall was used for receptions but later, the Treasury proved to be too small, the Throne Hall also served as a storehouse. An arch in the middle connects the Throne Room to the Treasury.
The Treasury was used to house the armory and the treasures of the king. The tremendous wealth stored here came from the booty of conquered nations and from the annual tribute sent by the peoples of the empire to the king.
Harem of Xerxes
The Harem was built by King Xerxes and this is where the royal ladies lived. The building which stands at the site is a reconstruction of the original Harem of Xerxes. The hall had four doorways whose jambs were decorated with reliefs. A Double Horse Statue at the front of the harems is also known as the Persian horse or ‘the bull’.
Palace of King Xerxes
The Palace of King Xerxes is called Hadis in Iran, it is believed that this palace was twice the size that of King Darius’s Palace. In comparison, this palace has suffered more damage than the Darius the Great’s Palace. One theory is that Greek soldiers (under Alexander the Great) wanted to take the revenge from king Xerxes thus burning his palace down(Xerxes had burnt Athens in 480BC).
Ahuramazda is depicted on the interconnecting staircase of two palaces. Persian Immortals (an elite corps in Persian army) are also shown on the lower walls. They were known for their battle skills and strength.
