Page 88 - Biblical Backgrounds

Caspian Sea stand the Elburz Mountains, the highest peak of which is Mount Damavand (or Demavand),
about 60 miles northeast of modern Tehran. 122

As can be seen, agriculture flourished in the plains, valleys, and mountainous regions of the land, which
received a good rainfall and a decent supply of water. This allowed the production of vegetables, fruits,
and grains, among other agricultural products. The remainder of the Persian homeland recorded very
little rainfall, with harsh desert conditions. However, Persia possessed rich mineral deposits. Its quarries
provided marble, and its mountain slopes yielded building woods. The Persians exploited gold, iron,
copper, tin, and lead mines, which earlier attracted the attention of superpowers.

Important cities of Persia

Archeological discoveries show that Persia had four major cities. Built under different circumstances for
varying motivations and purposes, the cities served the king differently.

Pasargadae: Cyrus the Great chose Pasargadae (about fifty miles north of Persepolis) as his capital in
550 BCE. There, most of the buildings date from 546 to 530 BCE. In later years, it served as a religious
center where they crowned Persian kings. The site today consists of four areas: at the north, a sacred
precinct; south of that, the citadel; farther south, the palace area; and southwest of the palace, the
tomb of Cyrus. 123 It appears that this city was founded on the site of Cyrus’ victory over Astyages. Some
features discovered in the sacred chambers of the citadel lead scholars to believe Pasargadae may have
contained altars to Ahuramazda and Anahita (to be discussed under the subsection ‘Religion’). A terrace
constructed on the same hill as this citadel consisted of well-formed limestone blocks fitted together
with metal clamps. Though with obscure evidence, this leads many to believe the citadel was one of
Persia’s treasuries.

Ecbatana (Achmetha): The modern city of Hamadan occupies the site of ancient Ecbatana, about 180
miles southwest of Tehran, high in the Zagros Mountains of western Iran. This former Median capital
often served as the summer residence of the Persian kings. The palace there was built of cedar and
cypress with exposed parts plated with silver or gold. 124 It is generally accepted that from this palace, in
the summer of 538 BCE, Cyrus the Great issued the decree allowing the Jews to return home. This is
mostly based on the text of Ezra 6:2, which indicates that from this palace, Darius I later found the
scrolls of Cyrus containing this authorization. Ezra 6:2 gives the name of the place as Achmetha, the
Aramaic form of Ecbatana. 125

Persepolis: Persepolis (meaning Persian city) is 48 miles south of Pasargadae and 35 miles northeast of
modern Shiraz. The altitude of almost 6,000 feet gives it a comfortable climate in the summer months.
Darius 1 began construction there shortly after 520 BCE, and for all practical purposes, Artaxerxes 1

122 Vos, H. F. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible manners & customs: how the people of the Bible really lived (p.
324). Nashville, TN: T. Nelson Publishers.
123 Ibid, p. 331

124 Vos, H. F. (1999). Nelson’s new illustrated Bible manners & customs: how the people of the Bible really lived (pp.
330–331). Nashville, TN: T. Nelson Publishers.
125 Ibid., p324.

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