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An empire that perished in flames, Persepolis.

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Persepolis is an emblem of the mighty power of the Persian Empire.

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The ruins of the empire's capital lie in the province of Fars in southern Iran.

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The Achaemenid dynasty was established in 550 BC

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and became a vast empire stretching throughout the Orient.

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Persepolis took 60 years to build during the reign of three kings.

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It was named the Gate of All Countries

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because the subject nations of the empire would pass through it when visiting the king.

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The structure here is 21 meters high.

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Colossal bowls, the symbol of God, support the beams.

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The hall for audiences and the treasury

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were built using materials collected from distant places within the empire.

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Persepolis was living proof of the culmination of the cultures of the Orient

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and represented its glory.

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The irrigation system was called the Qanat.

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An underground water network was extended as wells were dug

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and water distributed to villages and farms.

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The Qanat distributed water to arid land without drying up.

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It's still in use today.

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The Persian Empire eventually clashed with Greece.

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King Alexander closed in on Persepolis in 330 BC.

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Alexander the Great entered the fortress of Persepolis and headed for the throne.

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He ordered the palace to be burnt down.

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The relief in the throne hall records the height of empire.

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The equestrian people of the Scythia contributed to its military power.

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A Phoenician carries a jug.

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Ethiopians from Africa presented ivories.

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Gold from India in the east went into the empire's coffers.

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The camels are a token of loyalty from Arakosia,

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roughly the area of present-day Afghanistan.

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The Achaemenid dynasty rose to become a mighty and powerful empire

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that lasted over two centuries.

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The ruins of its columns are a reminder of a dramatic history.