Restoration of Tomb of Cyrus the Great Resumed

"I am Cyrus, who founded the empire of the Persians. Grudge me not therefore, this little earth that covers my body."

LONDON, (CAIS) -- The Tomb of Cyrus the Great (550-530 BC), the Father of Iranian nation and founder of the second Iranian dynasty, the Achaemenids was surrounded again by scaffoldings to enable the process of restoration on its masonries to be resumed.

“These scaffoldings will remain around Cyrus the Great’ tomb for one year to protect the structure from rain and snow during this raining season before completion of the project and to ensure the safety of the building until the restoration of the stones of this ancient monument is completed,” said Reza Rezaei, the new director of Pasargadae historical complex.

According to Rezaei, in the past, following the establishment of Pasargadae Research Base, scaffoldings have been erected around Cyrus’ tomb several times, and each time different sections of this tomb were restored. This time, the project focuses on the ceiling of this monument.

One of the main features of this tomb is that its entrance doorway is constructed facing the sunset, which was due to the fact that Cyrus loved the twilight view.

Pasargadae, located 70 km north of Persepolis, was the oldest capital of the ancient Achaemenid empire, built by the founder of this empire, King of Kings Cyrus the Great (559-330 BC). It resembled a park of 2x3 km in which several monumental buildings were to be seen. 

Pasargadae covered an area of almost 1.5 miles in length and included palaces, a fire-temple and the Cyrus' shrine. The city was built on the site where he defeated (Astyages) his grandfather, the last sovereign of Median dynasty.

This historical complex along with the Tomb of Cyrus the Great were inscribed in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites last year.

The treasures of Cyrus the Great' tomb where looted by Macedonians when they sacked the city in In January or February 324 BC.

According to Aristobulus, one of Alexander's comrades in arms, gave an account of their visit to the tomb, which later found its way into the writings of the first-century-BC Greek geographer Strabo. 

"The Macedonians cautiously entered the building, all of 200 years old at the time. They found themselves in the royal burial chamber, where according to Aristobulus, they beheld "a golden couch and table with drinking cups, and a golden coffin."

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News Source: CHN