Achaemenid

Paradises and Chaharbaghs are among the greatest innovations of the Iranians, with roots in the Achaemenid era, and they had a profound influence on garden design in both the East and the West. It appears that the paradises of the Achaemenids and Cyrus the Great influenced humanity’s vision of paradise itself—so much so that in the myths of various nations, paradise is depicted in the likeness of Iranian paradises. Even in the face of devastating invasions by the armies of the Caliphs and Genghis Khan’s Mongols, Iranian paradises were not destroyed; rather, in the Timurid and Safavid periods they once again flourished.

The palace of Persepolis (Parseh) holds great artistic value, as it incorporates the styles of various peoples and cultures. It reflects the cultural policy of its time—an inclusive approach that encouraged all ethnic groups to view Persepolis as their own and to forge a sense of connection with it.

Darius the Great was one of the kings of the Achaemenid dynasty who came to the throne in 522 BCE. He is considered one of the greatest monarchs in Persian history. To manage the vast Achaemenid Empire and collect taxes, Darius established a well-organized and efficient administrative system that was unprecedented at the time. The construction of major roads, a swift courier system, minting of a gold coin known as the Daric, and the building of grand palaces in Persepolis, Susa, and Ecbatana are among the remarkable achievements of this statesman king (See: Sami, 2013 [1392 AHS], vol. 2, p. 264)

The Book of Esther tells the story of a woman named Esther who risks her life to save the Jewish people from genocide, ultimately leading to the Jews slaughtering their enemies. This tale, however, lacks historical validity and sharply contradicts known historical sources. The Book of Esther is notably absent from the Dead Sea Scrolls. Additionally, distorted versions of the story are prevalent in Iran that diverge from Jewish sources and lack any credible foundation.

First and foremost, it must be noted that the entire vastness of Cyrus’s empire did not result solely from his own conquests. Cyrus managed to bring the large territory of Media under his rule without a significant war. Cyrus’s other conquests were also motivated by threats from foreign powers or alliances formed against him.

Considering the evidence, we can conclude that not only do diverse historical sources from different cultures confirm the Cyrus Cylinder, but contemporary archaeological artifacts related to everyday life also support its claims.