November 08-2013
Archaeologists have unearthed a huge structure not far from Persepolis that pre-dates Persepolis and raises questions about the religious outlook in the early days of Achaemenid society.
Some of the relics found at the site are associated with the faith of Babylonia and raise the possibility that the Achaemenids tolerated that faith at their own capital and not just in conquered territory.
The huge building is believed to be a temple constructed during the reign of Cyrus the Great.
“During the excavation, which was carried out by a team of Iranian and Italian archaeologists in the ancient city of Parsa on the perimeter of Persepolis, an amazing structure that dates back to the early days of the Achaemenid era was discovered,” Alireza Asgari Chaverdi, the Iranian director of the team, said.
He said, “The bricks bear bas-reliefs of the mythical animal motifs of Persia and Meso-potamia, most of which are similar to those that were used on the Ishtar Gate [the eighth gate to the inner city] of Babylon in Mesopotamia.
“An Akkadian-Babylonian cuneiform inscription has also been excavated. The designs and skills used to embellish the bricks, the widespread use of tar in the construction of the building, the use of various colors and mythical motifs such as Mushussu, a snake-dragon shaped symbol of Marduk [the chief of the Babylonian deities], and various lotus designs, all show that the structure was built during the reign of Cyrus the Great.
“Cyrus conquered Babyl-onia in 539 BCE. Babylonian priests chose Marduk, which also was the god of the sky and the Earth during the Neo-Babylonian Empire. When Cyrus conquered Babylonia, Marduk was the most influential deity in Mesopotamia.
“According to archaeologists, groups of Babylonian priests and artisans were … taken to this region [near Persepolis] after the conquest of Babylonia by Cyrus, and he … allowed them to build a structure where the ideological source of the Achaemenids was located. The building was constructed by Babylonian artisans with the same religious designs they used to create the mythical symbols like Mushussu.”
Asgari Chaverdi said that this discovery raises new questions about the religious outlook in Achaemenid society.
“Darius I came to power in 521 BC. Many religious changes occurred during his reign until Artaxerxes I was crowned as king. Now the question is whether the Achaemenids tolerated the community of Babylonian priests during the reign of Darius I or not,” he said.
Professor Pierfrancesco Callieri of the University of Bologna and a number of his colleagues are also members of the team of archaeologists excavating the site. The excavation season, which has been in progress since late September, will come to an end this month.