Persepolis, known in ancient Persia as Parsa and in Western languages as Persepolis or Persepolēs, is a grand complex of interconnected palaces situated near the Marvdasht Plain, at the foot of Mount Rahmat in Fars Province, Iran. Today, it is famously called Takhte Jamshid, a name linked to the legendary king Jamshid of Persian mythology, attributed after the Achaemenid era as the ancient language and inscriptions became unfamiliar to the later generations.

Built primarily under the reigns of Darius I, Xerxes, and Artaxerxes I, Persepolis served as the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire for nearly two centuries. On the first day of the Persian New Year (Nowruz), representatives from various regions of the empire would gather here to present gifts to the king, symbolizing loyalty and unity. The grand structure, renowned for its intricate carvings and extensive stone reliefs, reflects the architectural and cultural magnificence of the Achaemenid period.