1. Persepolis：The ups and downs of the historic civilization
Persepolis was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire （ca. 550–330 BC）. Persepolis is situated 70 km northeast of the modern city of Shiraz in the Fars Province of modern Iran. The earliest remains of Persepolis date from around 515 BC.UNESCO declared the citadel of Persepolis a World Heritage Site in 1979.
波斯波利斯：千古文明的沧海桑田
波斯波利斯是阿契美尼德帝国（大约公元前550～前330年）的正式首都，位于如今伊朗国法尔斯省设拉子市东北70公里处。最早的波斯波利斯遗迹可以追溯到公元前515年，其1979年被列入世界遗产。
The introduction and geographical position
Persepolis is near the small river Pulwar， which flows into the river Kur. The site includes a 125，000-squaremetre terrace， partly artificially constructed and partly cut out of a mountain， with its east side leaning on the Mountain of Mercy. The other three sides are formed by retaining walls， which vary in height with the slope of the ground. From 5 to 13 metres on the west side， a double stair gently slopes to the top. To create the level terrace， depressions were filled with soil and heavy rocks， which were joined together with metal clips.
Around 518 BC， construction of a broad stairway was begun. The stairway was planned to be the main entrance to the terrace 20 metres above the ground. The dual stairway， known as the Persepolitan stairway， was built symmetrically on the western side of the Great Wall. The 111 steps were 6.9 metres wide. Originally， the steps were believed to have been constructed to allow for nobles and royalty to ascend by horseback. New theories suggest that the shallow risers allowed visiting dignitaries to maintain a regal appearance while ascending. The top of the stairways led to a small yard in the north-eastern side of the terrace， opposite the Gate of Nations.
Grey limestone was the main building material used in Persepolis. After natural rock had been levelled and the depressions filled in， the terrace was prepared. Major tunnels for sewage were dug underground through the rock. A large elevated water storage tank was carved at the eastern foot of the mountain. Professor Olmstead suggested the cistern was constructed at the same time that construction of the towers began.
The uneven plan of the foundation of the terrace acted like a castle whose angled walls enabled its defenders to target any section of the external front. Diodorus writes that Persepolis had three walls with ramparts， which all had towers to provide protection space for the defence personnel. The first wall was 7 metres tall， the second， 14 metres and the third wall， which covered all four sides， was 27 metres in height， though no presence of the wall exists in modern times.
都城简介与地理位置
波斯波利斯在帕尔撒小河附近，这条小河流入库尔河。这个遗址是占地面积125000平方米的梯田，部分属于人工建造，部分属于山脉裂开形成。梯田东侧靠着慈悲山，其他三面均由挡土墙组成，高度随地面坡度不断变化。梯田西侧5～13米处有一对楼梯，它沿山坡缓缓而上一直通到梯田顶端。为了提升梯田水平面，洼地上填满了土壤和岩石，并用金属夹连接而成。
公元前518年左右，一项宏伟的石阶工程开始了。波斯人计划将楼梯建造成地面以上20米处的梯田主要入口。双楼梯，也即波斯波利斯楼梯，建立在与其相对称的长城的西侧。这111个阶梯宽6.9米。最初，曾有人认为建造这些阶梯是为了方便贵族和皇室翻上马背。现在某些新的理论表明，那些薄薄的梯级竖板可以使得来访贵宾在登高的时候保持尊贵的形象。楼梯的顶部面向梯田东北侧的一个小院子，院子在万国大门的对面。
灰色石灰石是波斯波利斯的主要建筑材料。在人们平整好天然岩、填充完洼地之后，露台就准备就绪了。梯田主要污水隧道穿过岩石，是在地下挖成的，大山东边的山脚下雕刻着一只大型高架水箱。奥姆斯戴德教授认为，古塔和水箱是同一个时间建筑起来的。
露台的地基高低不平，就像一座城堡，它倾斜的墙壁可以防御外部前方的任何一个角度的袭击。狄奥多罗斯写道，在波斯波利斯的墙壁上，三面都有壁垒，所有的古塔都可以提供保护国防人员的空间。这里的第一面墙高7米，第二面墙高14米，第三面墙高27米，它们掩盖了所有四面墙，尽管这些墙壁如今已没了任何痕迹。
Persian and Greece： Famous wars and event- filled history
In order to control the Aegean Sea and the eastern Mediterranean Sea， Darius I of Persia launched a half century’s expedition to Greek， known as the Persian war. But Darius the great failed to conquer Greece， and Xerxes I of Persia followed in his father’s footsteps， and made anther unprecedented expedition in 480 BC. The Persian army broke through the pass of Thermopylae， flew south， and stabbed Athens. Xerxes looted the city of Athens in order to wipe out the disgrace in marathon for his father in revenge. The Greek forces retreated to the southwest side of the Salamis Bay， and then the Persian Navy and the Greek Navy launched the famous Battle of Salamis in the history of the world wars—the battle changed the course of human history， and the victory of Greek greeted the dawn of the golden age of Greek civilization. The Greek began to counterattack， forcing the Persian army out of Athens. Before leaving， they set fire to the city of Athens， and burned up the famous Athenaeum.
After 150 years passed away， another team of Greek， Macedonian nation got strong. In 334 BC， the Macedonian king Alexander the Great led the army and made an expedition to the Persian. The Persian King Darius III（ 336 BC ~ 330 BC） led the army personally against them， but he was badly defeated. Darius III fled back to Persia， but his mother， wife and sons were captured by Alexander. In 331 BC， Alexander attacked Persia again. The Persian army was defeated again， and Darius III fled in a flurry. Alexander entered Persepolis and looted it. In order to revenge the Persian for their burning the Athenaeum， Alexander gave orders to burn Persepolis. The fire lasted several days and nights. The magnificent Stone City changed into a heap of ruins today. The stone animals on the top of the pillars who ever looked down upon the world， fell down from the tall pillars and were scattered everywhere. They are talking without speaking the vicissitudes of the ancient civilization.
波斯与希腊：著名的战争，沧桑的历史
大流士一世为了夺取爱琴海和东地中海的控制权，发动了长达近半个世纪的远征希腊的战争，即著名的希波战争，但大流士一世并未能征服希腊人。薛西斯子承父业，公元前480年再次进行规模空前的远征。波斯陆军突破要隘温泉关长驱南下直取雅典，薛西斯为了洗雪其父在马拉松战败的耻辱，把雅典城抢劫一空。希腊联军退守雅典西南边的萨拉米海湾，于是波斯海军与希腊海军展开了世界战争史上著名的萨拉米海战。这场战役改变了人类的历史进程，希腊的胜利迎来了希腊文明进入黄金时代的曙光。希腊联军转入反攻，迫使波斯陆军退出雅典，临走前他们放火焚烧了雅典城，烧毁了著名的雅典神庙。