Tehran-Recent heavy rains in the province of Fars have destroyed parts of the historic home of Shiraz, a regional capital 70 km south of Persepolis, once the ritual capital of Persia’s Achaemenid Empire (c. 550 – 330 Bc).
However, Persepolis was originally built during the Achemenid era and discharged a significant amount of water thanks to underground waterways known as the Achemenid waterway, Irna reported on Sunday.
It has been spreading on social media showing that overflowing water from the stairs of Persepolis, causing concerns about as severe flooding as in the past few years before the discovery and cleaning of these ancient drains. However, the report explains that these underground channels, designed to manage surface water and potential floods over 2,500 years ago, have now been confirmed to effectively direct large amounts of stormwater from the site.
100 mm rainwater drained from the Achemenid Palace
Alireza Askari Chaverdi, director of the Persepolis World Heritage site, told Ilna that crisis management is an important part of the site’s management plan. A professional task force has been established to implement the crisis management plan that was implemented during the recent heavy rains.
The archaeologist and site director said the restoration and monitoring team worked with archaeologists, engineers and the Persepolis security unit to address surface water challenges over two days of rainfall and oversee 100 millimeters of stormwater from the Persepolis terrace.
“Preventive maintenance measures were implemented a week before the rainfall, covering the entire 12 hectares of complex and the seven hectares of Rahmat Mountain fortress. Additionally, the two-kilometer underground waterway in Persepolis was thoroughly cleaned in preparation for the expected rain,” the archaeologist explained.
During the rainfall, the crisis management team monitored various sections and stayed on the site so that water was directed through ancient drains from Persepolis.
Ready to control water accumulation
Shahram Rahbar, head of the Persepolis Restoration team, highlighted the site’s extensive 125,000 square meters area. “Incorporating the tombs of Artaxerxes II and III in the Eastern Residential Area and the Eastern Highlands, the total area is over 250,000 square meters,” added Rahbar.
He pointed out that rainfall (of a potential threat) is a major challenge and that the technical team is responsible for protecting the valuable structure of Persepolis. In preparation for the storm, the conservation and restoration teams, together with the private and maintenance teams, were prepared to deal with potential floods and prevent damage to the aggressive restoration workshop.
Despite three consecutive days of predicted rainfall, the adjusted efforts have paved the way for visitors and ensured that the aggressive restoration project was protected. Close coordination between the security unit and maintenance experts ensures overnight monitoring of vulnerable sections and there will be ongoing communication over two nights to manage potential flood risks, the expert explained.
Rahbar said despite fatigue from continuing work for two days under heavy rain, the adjusted efforts ensured effective water management. By Friday, when rainfall intensified, field teams systematically monitored the site and implemented emergency measures to protect the memorial.
According to Rahbar, a significant achievement was to prevent stone artifacts and damage to active stone repair sites. “Thanks to collaboration between the maintenance, maintenance and security teams, the storm had no major impact on visitor accessibility or preservation activities.”
Discovery of Acemenid drainage ends decades of flooding
Part of the Persepolis drainage system was first identified during an excavation by the University of Chicago Oriental Institute. However, these channels remained hidden until the 2000s, when archaeologists gradually revealed and cleaned them, leading to a major breakthrough in the 2010s. Its restoration allowed for complete drainage of surface water through the site’s original ancient system.
The Achaemenid rulers designed these waterways to control the flow of rainwater from the palace to the areas outside Persepolis. Over time, these waterways were filled with soil, causing repeated flooding and damaging the site. However, extensive archaeological excavations ultimately restored their function, permanently solving the issue of Persepolis’ flooding since the 2010s.
Glimpse into Persepolis
Also known as Takht-e Jamshid, Persepolis ranks as an archeological site that is not of comparable, taking into account its unique architecture, urban planning, construction technology and art.
The majestic approach, monumental staircases, throne and response rooms and dependencies made the vast ensemble one of the world’s largest archaeological sites.
Construction of that huge terrace began around 518 BC by Darius the Great, king of the Achemenid Empire. On this terrace, successive kings have built a series of architecturally stunning palace buildings, including the giant Apadana Palace and the throne hall (“100 rows of halls”).
The terrace is a spectacular building, with double flights of access staircases, walls covered in sculpture freezes of various levels, a monumental gateway, a huge sculpture winged bull and a large hall remainder.
Carefully engineered the lighter roof and using wooden lintels allowed the architects of Achemenid to support the roof of open areas with a minimal number of surprisingly thin columns. The pillars were topped with an elaborate capital. Typically, the front square of two kneeling bulls placed on a double volute, placed back to back, with connected necks and twin heads extended directly below the intersection of ceiling beams.
The story says that Persepolis was apparently burned in 330 BC as a revenge against the Persians, as the Persian king appears to have burned the Greek city of Athens 150 years ago.
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