irancc.com -- Maximizing the Power of Internet irancc --
Persepolis (Nasrollah Kasraian)
Persepolis
US $35.00
Author: Nasrollah Kasraian, Mehrdad Bahar
Photographer: Nasrollah Kasraian
Publication Date: Sixth edition, 2000
Language: English-Persian
96 Pages
Format: Hardbound, 35×25 cm
ISBN: 964-416-167-X
It is sad to reflect that Persepolis, not far from Shiraz once the glorious ceremonial capital of Darius the Great and one of the world’s greatest master-pieces of architecture, probably disappeared in a single night in the year 330 B.C., swallowed up by the flames of an all-devouring fire started by Alexander the Great’s drunken legions who were celebrating their victory over the Achaemenians. But Persepolis could also have been destroyed deliberately. With its destruction there came to an end a style of architecture that would have no heirs.
Many kinds of capitals have been unearthed at Persepolis. Generally they are in the form of double-headed human figures, birds, lions, and bulls. The size of these double-headed capitals may be gauged from the size of the figure of a reclining bull shown in the picture. How these huge capitals were fastened in position no one can tell, for some of them weigh several tons.
Mehrdad Bahar brings together the fundamental elements of culture and religion of the people of ancient Iran and presents them in a new and accessible format, in Persian, in the Persepolis. The author presents a systematic analysis of what constitutes the culture and religion bases of ancient Iran, tracing the history of Elamites, Medes and Persians, while condemning the racialism of history.
The book is liberally illustrated with representative monuments, bas-reliefs, and their plans of Persepolis in ancient times.
