Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Iran-Shiraz-Eram Sq- Shiraz Uinversity- Human and litrature factulty- History Department IRAN-Shiraz-22 Bahman street- shapour str. Office of cutural heritage
2 University of Bologna
Abstract
The ancient site of Tol-e Ajori is located 3 km from Persepolis, in a location called Bagh-e Firouzi. As a result of the thirteenth season of archaeological excavations of the Iranian-Italian joint mission (2009-2023), within the framework of the "From Palace to Town" project, a new perspective was opened. This new horizon is the discovery of a monumental gate in the paradise of Parsa. This building is NW-SE oriented with a deviation of 20 degrees from the east-west axis. This structure measures 29.06 meters (NE–SW) × 39.07 meters (NW-SE) and is composed of a massive wall 10.47 meters wide. Access to this room was possible through two corridors. With the discovery of Babylonian and Elamite cuneiform inscriptions and considering the function of the structure, it was determined that this building was a monumental gate.
This magnificent gate, on a larger scale, resembles the design of the famous Ishtar gate (ca. 580 BC), which was founded by one of the two first rulers of Achaemenid dynasty and predates the construction of Persepolis. It is likely that the purpose of constructing this gate was to commemorate the conquest of the city of Babylon in 539 BC during the reign of Cyrus the Great. The structure is entirely made of brick and mudbrick: the entire wall surfaces were decorated with glazed bricks. The decoration on the lower parts of the walls features geometric patterns and floral motifs. Numerous glazed bricks recovered from the debris of the building indicate that the wall surfaces were entirely adorned with depictions of mythological animals such as the bull and the composite Mušḫuššu creature. This historic structure provided access to a royal garden (paradise), which included a large palace, the ruins of which are now located in the Firouzi 5 area.
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