Palace of Darius in Susa

In the ancient city of Susa, there is a great palace with a unique architecture, known as the Palace of Darius.

Susa

The Palace of Darius located in the Khuzestan province, Susa city. Susa is one of the ancient cities in the world. Research shows that 9,000 BC, farmers lived in the city. The people of Susa lived in the castle 5000 BC. It is interesting to know that the city of Susa was the first place on earth to create urban life 4,000 BC.

Palace of Darius

Many palaces built during the Achaemenid Empire, which are very admirable, such as Persepolis. Another palace that created by Achaemenid tasteful architects is the Darius Palace of Susa. This palace is known as Apadana. Of course, you should know that there is also an Apadana palace in the Persepolis. During the Achaemenid period, Apadana was said to have palaces whose halls were made up of many tall pillars. The magnificent Darius Palace of Susa was built on the orders of Darius the Great (the first ruler of the Achaemenids) in the years 515 to 521 BC. The Palace of Darius built on the remains monuments of the Elam era.

Some archaeologists believe that Darius has established this palace as the residence or the winter palace for the Achaemenid kings.

In 1849, numerous excavations on the remnants monuments of the Susa city began and so discovered unusual and valuable objects from different centuries of Iran, including the Achaemenid Empire, the Sassanid rule, the Elam era, the Islamic era, and even prehistoric times. After excavations and surveys by a group of French archaeologists led by Marcel-Auguste Dieulafoy, this palace discovered in 1880.

All of the architectural monuments discovered in the Achaemenid period are a unique glazed brick known as Pytursk. In the discoveries, Darius's relics found. According to the inscription, the palace collapsed after Darius died and Artaxerxes I and then restored by Artaxerxes II. Most objects discovered by the French sent to the Louvre Museum.

Palace of Darius Architecture

The  Darius Palace of Susa built on an area of 10,443 square meters. The architecture of this great collection is so remarkable and impressive. The palace is made up of several important sections, such as the Bar-am hall, the Harem, the Gate, the guest Palace, and the three central courtyards. The interior walls of this palace are made using glazed bricks. These bricks decorated with immortal armies, winged valves, and lotus flowers.

Some of these bricks kept in the interior and exterior museums. Palace of Darius consists of many rooms and halls, but only 110 rooms and halls discovered by researchers and archaeologists. The palace constructed about six yards, that three vast courtyards built around the eastern and western axis. These courtyards are located within the Palace of Darius and are connected to the northern part by a large corridor. Three smaller courtyards were designed and built in the northern part of the Darius Palace the courtyards provide lighting and ventilation for rooms and different parts of the palace. In the central part of the palace, there is a hall that called the central hall. This part of this palace has 36 pillars with 20 meters high. The palace's pillars designed and made as cow-head. The porch of this monument consists of two rows of pillars that each of the rows has six pillars. The Palace of Darius built on a platform, which at that time was very difficult and needed high intelligence and ability in architecture.

Jane Dieulafoy was the wife of Marcel-Auguste Dieulafoy is a French architect and Civil engineer. She and her husband came to Iran three times from the French government to carry out archeological excavations. One of her travels, she saw a statue of a cow-head stone that discovered. Because the statue was so heavy and it was impossible to move, she was angry. So, she took off the Sledgehammer and broken it.

• What is the best time to go?

The best time to visit this ancient city is Winter and Nowruz. This city has hot weather. The summer of the Susa city is awful weather.

• Getting there?

You must bring yourself to the Imam Khomeini square of Susa. From Imam Khomeini square to the Palace of Darius is two minutes’ walk.