Persepolis was an ancient ceremonial capital of the second Iranian dynasty, the Achaemenid Empire, situated some 70 km northeast of modern city of Shiraz.
Persepolis
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By Hinkkanen @ 2007-03-05 15:39:28
Rick Steves recently visited the site and described... "vast and ugly tarmac with 1970s-era light poles. This is left from the Shah’s party celebrating the 2500 year anniversary of the Persian Empire — designed to remind the world that he ruled Persia as a modern-day Xerxes or Darius. The Shah flew in dignitaries from all over the world, along with dinner from the finest restaurants in Europe. Iranian historians consider this arrogant display of imperial wealth and Western decadence the beginning of the end for the Shah. Within about a year, he was gone and Khomeini was in."