The complex is raised high on a walled platform, with five "palaces" or halls of varying size, and grand entrances. The function of ancient Persepolis remains quite unclear as it was not one of the largest cities in Persia, let alone the rest of the empire, but appears to have been a grand ceremonial complex that was only occupied seasonally; it is still not entirely clear where the king's private quarters actually were.

The site includes a 125,000 square meter terrace, partly artificially constructed and partly cut out of a mountain, with its east side leaning on Rahmat Mountain. The other three sides are formed by retaining walls, which vary in height with the slope of the ground. Rising from 5–13 metres (16–43 feet) on the west side was a double stair. From there, it gently slopes to the top. To create the level terrace, depressions were filled with soil and heavy rocks, which were joined together with metal clips.

circa 515–330 BCE

Foundation and Early Achaemenid Period
Persepolis, located in the Fars region of modern-day Iran, was founded by Darius I (reigned 522–486 BCE) circa 518 BCE as the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire. The site, known in Old Persian as Pārsa, was strategically positioned on a low, wide terrace at the foot of the Kuh-e Rahmat (“Mountain of Mercy”) to provide a monumental setting visible from the surrounding plain. The initial construction focused on the foundation of the terrace, the Apadana (grand audience hall), and the Treasury.

Under Darius I, Persepolis was primarily a symbol of imperial authority, intended for ceremonial purposes rather than as an administrative center. Architectural plans emphasized axial symmetry and monumental scale, reflecting both Mesopotamian influence and uniquely Persian innovations. The reliefs of this period, carved on stairways and walls, depict representatives of subject nations bringing tribute, emphasizing the Achaemenid king's role as universal ruler. Construction techniques combined mud-brick cores with finely cut limestone facings, and wooden beams supported the roofs, demonstrating advanced engineering for the era.

Xerxes I and the Expansion Phase
The reign of Xerxes I (circa 486–465 BCE) marked the continuation and expansion of Persepolis, with an emphasis on grandeur and ceremonial functionality. Xerxes completed the construction of the Hall of 100 Columns, intended to be the largest audience hall in the empire, though it was only partially completed. This period saw an increase in decorative reliefs, which became more elaborate and detailed in portraying imperial iconography and ritual activities. The city’s urban layout was expanded with additional palaces and administrative buildings, reflecting the need to accommodate an increasingly complex ceremonial bureaucracy. Xerxes also invested in extensive water management systems, including canals and subterranean drainage, to ensure the terrace’s stability and usability. Artistic motifs during this phase incorporated greater stylistic refinement, including intricate floral designs and depictions of royal guards in highly stylized poses, indicating both technical skill and a deliberate visual program to reinforce imperial ideology.

Artaxerxes I to Darius III
During the subsequent reigns of Artaxerxes I, Darius II, Artaxerxes II, and Darius III (circa 465–330 BCE), Persepolis retained its ceremonial role but underwent selective enhancements. Artaxerxes I added subsidiary halls and residential quarters, while decorative programs continued, particularly in reliefs depicting tribute processions and royal iconography. However, the scale of new construction diminished compared to the initial building phases under Darius I and Xerxes I, reflecting shifts in imperial priorities and the decentralization of administrative functions to other centers such as Susa and Ecbatana. Persepolis also served as a treasury and storehouse for valuable resources, which contributed to its economic importance within the empire. The city’s urban fabric remained highly formalized, with strict axial alignments and carefully organized terraces designed to project the king’s authority to visiting delegations and dignitaries from across the empire.

Conquest and Destruction
The period of Alexander the Great’s conquest (circa 330 BCE) marked a dramatic and abrupt end to Persepolis’ use as a ceremonial capital. In 330 BCE, after the defeat of Darius III and the collapse of centralized Achaemenid power, Alexander’s forces captured the city. Historical accounts suggest that the destruction was deliberate, particularly the burning of the palaces, possibly as retaliation for Persian campaigns against Greek cities or as a symbolic act against the empire’s central power. Archaeological evidence corroborates widespread fire damage, including charred timber beams and collapsed roof structures, while stone foundations and terraces largely survived, preserving the overall layout of the complex. Despite its physical destruction, Persepolis retained symbolic significance as an emblem of Achaemenid authority and monumental architecture, influencing subsequent Persian and Hellenistic urban planning.

Post-Achaemenid Period and Later Legacy
Following its destruction, Persepolis remained largely uninhabited, though occasional reuse of its stones in local construction occurred during the Parthian and Sassanian periods. Its monumental ruins were gradually documented by travelers and historians, particularly from the early modern period onward, drawing scholarly attention in the 19th and 20th centuries. Archaeological excavations beginning in the 1930s revealed extensive bas-reliefs, inscriptions in Old Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian, and architectural layouts, providing critical insights into Achaemenid ceremonial practices and imperial ideology. Today, Persepolis is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, valued not only for its artistic and architectural achievements but also as a primary source for understanding the political and cultural history of the Achaemenid Empire. Its enduring legacy lies in the combination of monumental design, ritual function, and symbolic representation of imperial power that influenced subsequent Persian and broader Near Eastern architectural traditions.

circa 450 BCE

Gate of all Nations
The Gate of all Nations was built by the King Xerxes (486-465 BCE) along with the Grand Staircase. The gate was actually a grand hall that was almost 25 square metres, with four columns and its entrance in the Western Wall. A pair of Lamassu's, bulls with the head of a bearded man, stands by the western threshold. Another pair, with wings and a Persian head (Gopät-Shäh), stands by the eastern entrance, to reflect the Empire’s power. The name of King Xerxes was written in three languages and carved on the entrances, informing everyone that he ordered it to be built.

circa 360 BCE

Tomb of Artaxerxes II
The Tomb of Artaxerxes II was built on the model of his predecessors at Naqsh-e Rustam. On the upper register of the tomb appear reliefs of the Emperor, supported by the soldiers of all ethnicities of the Empire. On the lintel over each figure appears a trilingual inscription describing each ethnicity.

circa 450 BCE

Tachara Palace
The Taçara Palace, from old Persian, meaning the 'winter palace' was started to be built under Darius I, and was finished under his sone, Xerxes I. It is located directly south of the Apadana. The construction dates back to the time of the Achaemenid Empire (550 BC–330 BCE). The building has been attributed to Darius I, but only a small portion of it was finished under his rule. In the 4th century BCE, following his invasion of Achaemenid Persia in 330 BCE, Alexander the Great allowed his troops to loot Persepolis. This palace was one of the few structures that escaped destruction in the burning of the complex by Alexander's army.

circa 450 BCE

Apadana
The Apadana, by far the largest and most magnificent building, begun by Darius and finished by Xerxes, that was used mainly for great receptions by the kings. Thirteen of its seventy-two columns still stand on the enormous platform to which two monumental stairways, on the north and on the east, give access. They are adorned with rows of beautifully executed reliefs showing scenes from the New Year’s festival and processions of representatives of twenty-three subject nations of the Achaemenid Empire, with court notables and Persians and Medes, followed by soldiers and guards, their horses, and royal chariots.

circa 520 BCE

Great Stairway
The great stairway was planned to be the main entrance to the terrace 20 meters above the ground. The dual stairway, known as the Persepolitan stairway, was built in symmetrically on the western side of the Great Wall. The 111 steps were 6.9 meters wide with treads of 31 centimetres and rises of 10 centimetres. Originally, the steps were believed to have been constructed to allow for nobles and royalty to ascend by horseback. New theories suggest that the shallow risers allowed visiting dignitaries to maintain a regal appearance while ascending. The top of the stairways led to a small yard in the north-eastern side of the terrace, opposite the Gate of Nations.