Iranian archaeologists first found the objects related to the alleged period of the founding of the city of Ecbatana, capital of the Medes, whose history remains largely a mystery to science.
About the opening told the newspaper Tehran Times. The ancient name of Ecbatana was the two cities. One of them, located in the North of Iran, was the capital of king Cyrus, and the second, in the South of the country, was the chief city of the Medes under king Darius I. he Later was the summer residence of many Persian kings.
Now there is the town of Hamadan. In the next field season for the first time, Iranian archaeologists have discovered the remains of objects that belong to the period of Foundation of the city. According to Greek texts, it was founded in about 678 BC by Dasom, the first king of the Medes.
“we Found cultural elements 700-586 presumably date back to the years BC, – said the head of the excavation Mehrdad Malekzade. – This season we seem to have answered the old question: “are There any signs of a period Mussels in Hamadan?”.
Mysterious Ecbatana is largely because most of it is within the modern city. It is extremely difficult to dig. Studies under modern buildings still have not been conducted. In the framework of the regular season was excavated hill. As a result, has been found in the lower cultural layers. Presumably, the archaeologists were able to find the basis of the long-destroyed fortress and towers. The remains of stone walls were at a depth of over three meters.
Scientists believe that the wall could be part of a powerful defensive structures. In the V century BC, Greek historian Herodotus described the city as surrounded by seven concentric walls.
“the deity ordered them to build for him a Palace worthy of the Royal dignity and strengthen him in guardians of the lancers, wrote Herodotus. – Did the Medes, because he has built a large and strong Palace in that part of the land he gave them. They built large and strong walls, which are now called Ecbatana, standing in circles one after the other. And these walls are so creative that one circle above another to the height of teeth”.
According to the Greek historian Xenophon, Ecbatana became the summer residence of the kings of the Achaemenid dynasty. But their Palace was described by the Greek historian Polibius. He wrote that the city was richer and more beautiful than all other cities in the world.
In 550 BC, Ecbatana was a residence of king astiag when this city was taken by the army of the Persian king Cyrus II the Great. His descendants of the Achaemenid dynasty and ruled here until 330 BC.
By the way, the excavations in this city more than a century ago began the French archaeologists. In the middle of Prolog�� century there were German and American archaeologists. In fact, modern researchers have continued their excavations. They were lucky – they found the most ancient structures. This makes the already excavated in Hamadan hill is an important archaeological monument.
