Persepolis (known during the Achaemenid era as Parsa) (in Western languages: Persepolis) (in the medieval Islamic period: Sadstun or Chehel Minar) (in the Sasanian era: Sadstun) (in Pahlavi: sadstūn) is a complex of interconnected palaces located near the Marvdasht plain at the foot of Mount Rahmat in Fars Province, Iran, within the city of Marvdasht. In historical periods following the Achaemenid era, due to the forgetting of the Old Persian script and language and the unfamiliarity with the inscriptions, the name Parsa was lost, and people began to refer to the palace complex as Takht-e Jamshid (the throne of Jamshid, a legendary pre-Islamic king). Persepolis was part of the ancient city of Parsa, one of the ancient cities of Iran, which served as the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire for many years. Persepolis was constructed during the reigns of Darius the Great, Xerxes, and Artaxerxes I and remained active for nearly 200 years. On the first day of the New Year, large groups from various countries, representing satrapies or provinces, would gather at Persepolis with diverse offerings and present their gifts to the king. [2][3]

In 518 BCE, the construction of Persepolis began as the new capital of the Achaemenid Empire in Parsa. [4] The founder of Persepolis was Darius the Great, although his son Xerxes and grandson Artaxerxes I expanded the complex by adding other structures. Much of the current knowledge about the Achaemenid history and culture comes from the inscriptions and clay tablets carved on the walls and tablets of these palaces. [5] Sumner estimated that the Persepolis plain, which included 39 settlements, had a population of 43,600 during the Achaemenid period. [6] Alexander the Great invaded Iran in 330 BCE and set fire to Persepolis. [4][7] However, the ruins of this site still stand, and archaeologists have confirmed traces of fire and destruction on the remains.

This historical site has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979.