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The Garmsar Salt Cave features massive salt pillars that support its ceiling, formed and shaped by the Achaemenid Empire during salt extraction in 550–330 BC. Located in the Iranian county of the same name, the cave has 27 mines, and the one shown here is a popular tourist attraction.

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The Garmsar Salt Cave features massive salt pillars that support its ceiling, formed and shaped by the Achaemenid Empire during salt extraction in 550–330 BC. Located in the Iranian county of the same name, the cave has 27 mines, and the one shown here is a popular tourist attraction.

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Arg-e Bam in the Iranian city of Bam, is the world's largest adobe building, with an antiquity traced back to at least the Achaemenid Empire . A World Heritage Site, it flourished from the 7th to 11th centuries AD as a producer of silk and cotton garments along the Silk Road.

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Arg-e Bam in the Iranian city of Bam, is the world's largest adobe building, with an antiquity traced back to at least the Achaemenid Empire . A World Heritage Site, it flourished from the 7th to 11th centuries AD as a producer of silk and cotton garments along the Silk Road.

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Royal staff handle from the Achaemenid Empire . It features a cylindrical gold socket, ending in two lapis lazuli lion heads. The socket is decorated with repoussé work, and traces of ivory or bone remain inside. On display at the Iranian Gallery, British Museum.

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Royal staff handle from the Achaemenid Empire . It features a cylindrical gold socket, ending in two lapis lazuli lion heads. The socket is decorated with repoussé work, and traces of ivory or bone remain inside. On display at the Iranian Gallery, British Museum.

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An Achaemenid plaque, the only surviving artifact bearing the emblem of the Empire’s flag. Dating to 550–330 BC, it was discovered in Persepolis and is housed at the National Museum of Iran.

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An Achaemenid plaque, the only surviving artifact bearing the emblem of the Empire’s flag. Dating to 550–330 BC, it was discovered in Persepolis and is housed at the National Museum of Iran.

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A Persian royal rhyton crafted from pure gold, widely regarded as the best-preserved example from the ancient world. Dating back to the Achaemenid Empire , it was discovered in Hamadan and is housed at the National Museum of Iran.

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A Persian royal rhyton crafted from pure gold, widely regarded as the best-preserved example from the ancient world. Dating back to the Achaemenid Empire , it was discovered in Hamadan and is housed at the National Museum of Iran.

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A 2,500-year-old Persian Acinaces, one of the few remaining royal swords from the Achaemenid Empire in exceptional condition. Made of pure gold and related to the era of Darius the Great, it was discovered in Hamadan , and is housed at National Museum of Iran.

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A 2,500-year-old Persian Acinaces, one of the few remaining royal swords from the Achaemenid Empire in exceptional condition. Made of pure gold and related to the era of Darius the Great, it was discovered in Hamadan , and is housed at National Museum of Iran.

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The Mastiff Dog Statue, made of black marble, is one of the most well-preserved surviving statues from the Achaemenid Empire . With a colossal Achaemenid-era column also alongside it, it is kept at the National Museum of Iran.

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The Mastiff Dog Statue, made of black marble, is one of the most well-preserved surviving statues from the Achaemenid Empire . With a colossal Achaemenid-era column also alongside it, it is kept at the National Museum of Iran.

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A drone photo of Fort 9, with the canal-lined Great Gorgan Wall visible on the right. Built in the 5th or 6th century CE by the Sasanian Empire in Iran, the wall is 195 km long and 6–10 m wide, and features over 30 fortresses spaced at intervals of between 10 and 50 km

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A drone photo of Fort 9, with the canal-lined Great Gorgan Wall visible on the right. Built in the 5th or 6th century CE by the Sasanian Empire in Iran, the wall is 195 km long and 6–10 m wide, and features over 30 fortresses spaced at intervals of between 10 and 50 km

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A visitor standing in front of the Colossal Bull Capital from the Achaemenid Empire , related to the Audience Hall of Darius the Great at Persepolis.

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A visitor standing in front of the Colossal Bull Capital from the Achaemenid Empire , related to the Audience Hall of Darius the Great at Persepolis.

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Sarmatian gold discovered during archaeological excavations in the Kherson region, Ukraine. An extraordinary earring featuring a massive lion head and a uniquely shaped pendant .

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Sarmatian gold discovered during archaeological excavations in the Kherson region, Ukraine. An extraordinary earring featuring a massive lion head and a uniquely shaped pendant .

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The Dilmun Burial Mounds in Bahrain, dating back to the Dilmun and the Umm al-Nar culture . Recent studies have shown that an estimated 350,000 ancient grave mounds could have been solely produced by the local population over a number of thousands of years

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The Dilmun Burial Mounds in Bahrain, dating back to the Dilmun and the Umm al-Nar culture . Recent studies have shown that an estimated 350,000 ancient grave mounds could have been solely produced by the local population over a number of thousands of years

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Statue of Empress Atossa , who was the daughter of Cyrus the Great, wife of Darius the Great, and mother of Xerxes the Great, making her connected to the entire Achaemenid dynasty. The lapis lazuli statue was discovered in Persepolis, and is housed at National Museum of Iran.

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Statue of Empress Atossa , who was the daughter of Cyrus the Great, wife of Darius the Great, and mother of Xerxes the Great, making her connected to the entire Achaemenid dynasty. The lapis lazuli statue was discovered in Persepolis, and is housed at National Museum of Iran.

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Tachara Palace at night , the exclusive residence of Darius the Great in Persepolis, Iran.

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Tachara Palace at night , the exclusive residence of Darius the Great in Persepolis, Iran.

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Over 30 film reels from the Qajar Empire have been discovered at Golestan Palace, dated to 1896–1907. They contain some of the earliest footage in Iran’s history, featuring Persian celebrations during that period, government officials in royal palaces, and the dawn of the country’s cinema.

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Over 30 film reels from the Qajar Empire have been discovered at Golestan Palace, dated to 1896–1907. They contain some of the earliest footage in Iran’s history, featuring Persian celebrations during that period, government officials in royal palaces, and the dawn of the country’s cinema.

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This is the city of Hamadan, founded in the 12th century BC. It became the first Iranian capital in 700 BC, chosen by both the Achaemenid and Parthian Empires as their summer capital, looted by Alexander, sacked by the Mongols, yet still holds its ancient layout with 600,000 inhabitants.

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This is the city of Hamadan, founded in the 12th century BC. It became the first Iranian capital in 700 BC, chosen by both the Achaemenid and Parthian Empires as their summer capital, looted by Alexander, sacked by the Mongols, yet still holds its ancient layout with 600,000 inhabitants.

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Bronze statue of a young man. The figure shown is in the middle of a prayer - hence its name "Praying Boy". The object was found in Rhodes, and is dated to the 3rd century BCE.

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Bronze statue of a young man. The figure shown is in the middle of a prayer - hence its name "Praying Boy". The object was found in Rhodes, and is dated to the 3rd century BCE.

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Cochasquí is one of the most extensive and most important complexes of pre-Columbian and pre-Inca Empire ruins in northern Ecuador. It covers 84 hectares and consists of 15 truncated pyramids and 21 burial mounds, locally called tolas. c. 950-1530 CE

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Cochasquí is one of the most extensive and most important complexes of pre-Columbian and pre-Inca Empire ruins in northern Ecuador. It covers 84 hectares and consists of 15 truncated pyramids and 21 burial mounds, locally called tolas. c. 950-1530 CE

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