Persepoli: la Porta delle Nazioni

Persepolis: A Gate from an Ancient City

Persepolis is an ancient city in Marvdasht County, Iran. Its recorded beginning is around 510 BCE, so it is more than 2,500 years old. The site covers about 12.5 square kilometres. It is also an Iranian national heritage site and a World Heritage site. The photograph shows the Gate of All Nations. Tall stone columns stand beside a large entrance. Their tops have detailed shapes, and carved figures appear on the walls. Some stones are broken, but the gate still shows the skill of its builders. The open sky makes the old stone look especially clear. A record lists 1621 as the discovery date. This date is much later than the city’s beginning, but the supplied record does not explain it. We should not add a story about how people learned about Persepolis. Today, the ruins help visitors imagine an important place from the ancient past. They also show how much careful stonework can survive for thousands of years.