Founded by Darius I in 518 B.C., Persepolis was the capital of the Achaemenid Empire. It was built on an immense half-artificial, half-natural terrace, where the king of kings created an impressive palace complex inspired by Mesopotamian models. The importance and quality of the monumental ruins make it a unique archaeological site.
- Country
- Iran (Islamic Republic of)
- Region
- Asia
- Category
- Cultural
- Inscribed
- 1979
- UNESCO reference
- 114
- Area
- 12.5 ha
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Counts are based on Zikzak's current UNESCO World Heritage dataset, sourced from UNESCO. Last updated 7 August 2026. UNESCO insights