Exploring the Royal Necropolis of Naqsh-e Rustam (Achaemenid Tombs / Sasanian Reliefs)

A few months ago I got to explore the ruins of the royal necropolis known today as Naqsh-e Rustam. It's here that the four Achaemenid king Darius I (a.k.a. Darius the Great), Xerxes I, Artaxerxes I and Darius II were laid to rest. The site was so special that several Sasanian kings added their own reliefs and inscriptions there, including on the mysterious building known as Ka'bah-e Zardusht. For these and other reasons, Naqsh-e Rustam is one of the most important and interesting archaeological sites with regard to Iran's ancient past.
Contents:
00:00 Introduction and History
02:25 The Necropolis of Naqsh-e Rustam and its Significance
06:33 Reliefs of the Sasanian Kings
07:40 The Mysterious Ka'bah-e Zardusht
09:25 Thank You and Patrons
Related Videos:
The History of Persepolis and a Walking Tour of the Site
• The History of Persepo...
History of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, Part I (550-486 BC; Cyrus the Great - Darius the Great)
• History of the Achaeme...
History of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, Part II (486-330 BC; Xerxes I - Alexander the Great)
• History of the Achaeme...
Thanks to Farya Faraji for the music:
"Immortals"
"The Riding Angaros"
"Shirin and Khosrow"
"Asbaran"
Check out more of his work that spans across many countries, cultures and time periods:
/ @faryafaraji
Special thanks to Malay Archer for creating the astounding machinimas that really brought this program to life using the Total War: Rome 2 Divide et Impera, Cyrus the Great campaign and Age of Bronze mod.
Related Videos:
The History of Persepolis and a Walking Tour of the Site
• The History of Persepo...
History of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, Part I (550-486 BC; Cyrus the Great - Darius the Great)
• History of the Achaeme...
History of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, Part II (486-330 BC; Xerxes I - Alexander the Great)
• History of the Achaeme...
Sources and Suggested Reading:
From Cyrus the Alexander - Pierre Briant
The Iranian Expanse - Matthew P. Canepa
Persepolis and Its Surroundings - Heidemarie Kokh
Follow History with Cy:
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Website ► www.historywithcy.com
Merch ► my-store-11502415.creator-spr...
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Patreon ► / historywithcy
#ancienthistory #persian #achaemenid

[@ravensthatflywiththenightm7319]

I've always wanted to visit these places, since I was in college. Haven't got around to it. But maybe someday.

[@HistorywithCy]

I hope you get to visit too! Thanks so much for watching, really appreciate it and stay tuned for more!

[@paulheydarian1281]

If you don't actively plan for it, most likely it won't ever happen.

[@TSZatoichi]

Iran has such a long and rich history, it's really a shame that our governments don't get along.

[@musmerized658]

Most people in Iran don’t get along with the current government either. They’re Islamic ideologues who have been trying to diminish the importance of pre-islamic Persia for years.

[@gonzalomarquez8264]

Well when you have a lad such as the Supreme leader around you understand quickly why Iran is such a horrible place to deal with on any way.

[@arifahmedkhan9999]

​​@@gonzalomarquez8264 Whose fault is that? You did realize that Iran was a nation like any western nation until US and UK started a coup de ta against the democratically elected Minister because he wanted to nationalize their oil and prevent their exploitation and hence they supported the shah who was disliked by the Persians, to say the least. Wait, let me help you with the answer GONZALO MANRQUEZ.... Your diabolical people are a vice of society, the devil runs his errands through you. So there is no one for anyone to blame but you

[@wes4736]

​@@gonzalomarquez8264 - Not to justify Iran's government,but it's not like we're all sunshine and rainbows either.

[@pooyahimself7961]

​@@wes4736 as someone who lives in Iran every other country seems like rainbows and sunshine :/

[@hugodesrosiers-plaisance3156]

Fun fact: In french, Valerian is Valérien. The way "Valérien" is pronounced, one can make a pun as in "vallait rien", which means "he was worth nothing" or "he was a waste of air".

[@HistorywithCy]

Haha that really interesting. It's interesting because he's considered to be one of the most hated Roman emperors for his persecution of Christians and I think a few Christian writers even wrote that his defeat was a form of divine punishment. I guess to them he really was "a waste of air." Thanks so much for watching, really appreciate it and stay tuned for more!

[@michaellewis7959]

Hello Cy! Great episode! Really enjoyed learning about the tombs of the ancient Persian Kings. Great to see the channel is thriving!!

[@HistorywithCy]

My pleasure, thank you for all of the continued support over the years. I think you've been there since my first 500 subs and I can't tell you how much I appreciate it! Thanks for everything and have a great week!

[@robertolang9684]

did they dna tested the great warriors ?

[@88arakvita]

Thank you so much for enlightening and showing the history and beautiful of ancient PERSIAN IRANIAN ROOTS ❤🇮🇷 . Greetings from Minneapolis Minnesota 🙏🙏🙏👍❤️

[@thomasmalacky7864]

Hello Cy, your videos are amazing I binge watch them. I got some good potential future topics if you need any ideas for videos! - Uruk Proto-Empire and talk of Mengkashier, and the famously underrated King Enmenkar. -Was the land of Aratta connected to the Kura Axes culture. -The fall of Uruks proto Empire by the Kura Axes culture. Other non related to Uruk period is a bit on the Andronovo culture which would be really interesting.

[@barryboushehri1707]

Thank you Cy for revealing and showing Iranian monuments treasures.

[@mtathos_]

Hey, Cy it's been a while I haven't revisited your content, now that I have, you impress me! Your hours long presentations as much as the shorter form content is greatly informative and very well put together. Just the audio is all you would need, but the visuals are constantly captivating as they are always pertinent. Thank you for the work you're doing, I as everyone else appreciate it very much! edit: let me also add the music!! it is great, please tell me which were used in the video. I would greatly appreciate, thank you.

[@HistorywithCy]

Hi and thanks for the feedback! Yes, perfecting the sound has been my greatest challenge with producing these videos but hope it's getting better? Let me know how I can improve. Really thrilled you're enjoying the content and thanks so much for watching!

[@mtathos_]

@@HistorywithCy It is my absolute pleasure believe me! Is there any way though you could give me the title of the music at 1:20 , I found it very enjoyable. I hope you see this lol, thank you very much!

[@fuferito]

Google maps shows that (in my opinion) the most important tomb, the Mausoleum of Cyrus the Great is quite a distance away from Persepolis and the Royal Rock Carvings, needing a separate trip of its own.

[@HistorywithCy]

Will have another video on Pasargadae sometime in the near future... thanks for watching!

[@terryhughes7349]

Fantastic footage

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it and more on the way, stay tuned and thanks for watching!

[@JMM33RanMA]

This ia a great video. I actually visited Persepolis, Naqsh-e Rustam and the Behiston [besotun] monument, but only at Persepolis was it possible to get close to the monuments. I may regret that, but as a student of history familiar with defacement by tourists, I'm happy that access is limited. I hate to say this, but viewing the treasures of our ancestors is often better done through videos than by physical presence. You might be so far from seeing the Mona Lisa, for example, that you need binoculars inside the museum. Some sites prohibit photography, or the pictures taken by visitors are not good enough. Then, of course, tour guides may move you along with no time to appreciate the sites. This video is actually better than my photos. I have a picture of the Roman Emperor surrendering, but even though I used a telephoto lense, the picture here is much better. Thanks again for your excellent work.

[@robbabcock_]

Great stuff, Cy!

[@lotwizzard1748]

another great lesson with a great video thank you for sharing💜

[@TheRedneckPreppy]

Another banger! Thank you Cy!

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks my friend, glad you enjoyed it... will have a few more archaeological sites soon. Thanks for watching!

[@noahlogue]

Cy giving us Top notch content for so little can't help but love this channel.

[@lukelee7967]

Aside from well researched videos on ancient history. You also are doing video tours of ancient sites now, that's awesome, I really appreciate it. Sadly education is de facto behind a massive pay wall that many of us will never be able to get over. Thanks for trying to spread accurate information about ancient history.

[@Nat-Con]

Thanks cy, i must appreciate ure effort

[@Kariakas]

Iran has so much to offer.

[@marvelousmisadventuresofmike]

Woooo I love your Persia pieces. This music is kick ass!

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks! The music is by @faryafaraji. Go check him out, he creates some truly amazing music that is influenced from so many different parts of the world. You'll love it!

[@vazak11]

Awesome video, I love the Achaemenid!

[@tafinzer]

Amazing Cy! Thank you.🙏🏼

[@HistorywithCy]

My pleasure, thank you for watching, really appreciate it! Lot's more on the way, stay tuned!

[@HenryStewart]

Really wonderful video Cy! I would love to go there so much

[@PenguinofD00mxxx]

Thank you so much for sharing

[@HistorywithCy]

My pleasure, thanks so much for watching, really appreciate it! Stay tuned for more!

[@ancientsitesgirl]

impressive ancient site, Persians were great, Iran is amazing!!!😍❤

[@AshikTheTraveler]

Beautiful heritage site ❤

[@ArchonShon]

Great work! Currently rewatching your Hittite content on breaks.

[@HistorywithCy]

Nice, that was one of my first videos! Going to make an updated version of that sometime in the future. Thanks for watching, really appreciate it!

[@ArchonShon]

@@HistorywithCy Awesome can't wait!

[@user-eh6th9wj5k]

Keep up the good content!

[@HistorywithCy]

Thank you, and thanks for watching!

[@erickrueger2869]

Thank you for this! Seeing this video gives greater understanding than books and photos. I have the 1958 guide book and map to this site. I wonder if the Persepolis palace was built on a pre-existing stone platform. Did you notice this platform construction? Lastly, I think the Fravahar image may have represented the the guardian spirit of the royal lineage. I would like to see a video on Passagardae.

[@JabbarTV1]

been a while, nice to see new videos

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks my friend, it's always great to see one of the channel's oldest subscribers...thanks so much for continuing to turn into to these and hope all is well on your end!

[@GreatCityAttractions]

An amazing looking place - all that history.

[@HistorywithCy]

Yeah it's a cool place... underrated in my opinion. Thanks for watching!

[@GreatCityAttractions]

Yes - you don't hear much about it in western media. @@HistorywithCy

[@crimsOn0011]

I wish I could visit and bask at the history of places like this (and maybe enjoy some Persian dates and local dishes)

[@Ukr1018]

This is one of the coolest places from ancient history. I wonder if its posisble to visit the ekur at nippur

[@HistorywithCy]

Hmm, I'm not sure if Nippur is open to the public but I'd also love to visit one day. Thanks so much for watching, really appreciate it!

[@zanny7819]

Hello Cy, I have a question if its possible (one that I've failed to answer with my own research). Prior to the coming of the Iranian peoples to the Iranian plateau, who lived there? I realize that in northeast were the BMAC peoples and in the southwest there were the elamites but I refer more to Isfahan, Ray or Kerman (mainly central Iran). Love your videos, sorry to be a bother.

[@hmsdemolition8588]

Hi Cy long time I have not seen your videos ,

[@HistorywithCy]

Yeah that latest Egypt one took a while to finish. Thanks so much for watching these, really appreciate it and stay tuned for more!

[@manikhaboori4160]

❤❤❤❤

[@sal6695]

Love the use of faryas the immortals!

[@HistorywithCy]

It's probably my favorite piece of his! Thanks for watching!

[@sal6695]

@@HistorywithCy ah, then you'll be (or perhaps already are) very pleased to hear the awesome revamp of it in the Thermopylae symphony! (Also your vids are great, I enjoy them, am watching one RN)

[@Rocinante2300]

Was it common for the Sassanid kings to use the legacy of the Achaemenids as a form of legitimacy?

[@tommy-er6hh]

welp, after the period of the Greek/Hellenistic rulers and the Parthian (Mede & Persian cousins) rulers, the Sassanid Persian rulers I am sure wanted to remind folks of the old empire.

[@HistorywithCy]

God I love this question…it could be a whole video in itself! I would say yes based on a few things. The Sasanians were from Pars, the same province as the Achaemenids, and so for them, those kings, especially Darius, were local heroes. This is probably why the dynasty’s founder, Ardeshir I, chose Naqsh-e Rustam for one of his reliefs (the one shown at 06:37 known as the "Investiture Relief of Ardashir I") and other Sasanians followed, because they wanted to closely identify with the Achaemenids. Ardeshir and his descendants also took the Achaemenid title “Shahenshah” (King of Kings) after he overthrew the Parthian king Artabanus IV, though in all honestly, Parthian kings also used this title. Another interesting thing is that several sources recount letters between Sasanian and Roman/Byzantine Emperors. One is by Herodian, a contemporary of Ardeshir. Some scholars believe that he may not be completely accurate but part what he wrote reads “Ardeshir, believing that the entire mainland facing Europe contained by the Aegean Sea and the Propontis Gulf belonged to him by ancestral right, he was intending to recover it for the Persian empire. He alleged that from the rule of Cyrus, who first made the Median empire subject to the Persians, up to Darius, the Last of the Persian kings, whose kingdom Alexander of Macedon had destroyed, the whole country as far as Ionia and Caria, had been under the government of Persian satraps. So it was his right to restore and reunite the whole empire as it had once been.” There are also similar letters supposedly from Shapur II to Emperor Constantius II. The only Sasanian source that I can think of that also pertains to this legacy/legitimacy concept is the 3rd century “Letter of Tansar” where it's written that Ardeshir will “wage war on the Romans and pursue his quarrel against the people; and he will not rest till he has avenged Dara (meaning Darius III) from the Alexandrites (I think the Middle Persian phrase translates to something like “followers of Alexander”). Ok, sorry for the long answer but hope this helps and thanks for the question!

[@carlosaugustodinizgarcia3526]

​@@HistorywithCycrazy to think that the last byzantine-sassanid war was seen by them as a revenge of the greco-persian wars a millenia before.

[@lambert801]

​@@HistorywithCy I remember going to the Palace of Ardashir and being pleasantly surprised to find that the plasterwork motifs in the interior of some of the chambers was a very faithful imitation of the design of the arches at Persepolis. It was clear that Ardashir was making a point; that he's going to revive the lost glory of the PERSIANS, and him and his dynasty will follow in the footsteps of the glorious Achaemenid emperors. Along with the ones you mentioned, there are many points that make it obvious the Sassanians very much idolized the Achaemenids and wanted to pick up where they had left. For instance, they revived the ancient tradition of rock reliefs that was characteristic of Achaemenid art, and which had been dead for centuries following their demise. Their expansionistic policies also in a way mirrored that of the Achaemenids.

[@hamidreza3627]

Iranian ❤️❤️🇮🇷🇮🇷❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏

[@andrewporrelli8268]

Well, kinda know what part looks like. Would have been cool to see the interiors as well tbh. Regardless of if they are empty rooms.

[@madderhat5852]

They put up scaffolding , huh. What did you do , Cy? You break it, you buy it.

[@HistorywithCy]

Hey man, I just wanted to climb up there to get a better shot and before I knew it rocks were falling and I was slipping 🤣! But seriously, glad they're starting to take care of these monuments as I'm told that in prior years, they'd just like them erode away. Thanks for continuing to watch these, really appreciate it and will have more soon!

[@KhalidAli-tz4jp]

Hi can you make a video of medes kingdom and kurds to see what the was it not been talked about much ..

[@HistorywithCy]

Hi Khalid! I actually have a podcast on the Medes which you can find in the older videos. Here is the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKrTknmgprKMZpY Thanks for watching and let me know if you need anything else.

[@henkstersmacro-world]

👍👍👍

[@HistorywithCy]

Thanks man!

[@user-gd3xy2vl1s]

Maybe the mystery building was an observatory? The building also used as an archive to contain the observations?

[@HistorywithCy]

Possible, no one knows for sure. There's a similar one to it at Pasargadae but not in as good condition.

[@lambert801]

Ka'ba-e Zardosht is called that because it's believed to have been of religious to Zoroastrians and visually similar to Ka'aba which is a cube structure in Saudi Arabia covered in black drapes that Muslims go to and walk around.

[@JaJDoo]

any pictures of the inside of the tombs?

[@HistorywithCy]

Hi! I personally haven't seen any but the one of Artaxerxes III at Persepolis is said to be similar. I didn't get to go inside, but took some closeup footage in the Persepolis video at 01:38:00 of the walking tour. You can see kind what it probably looks like here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pIjWiGt8ns1gqa8 Hope this helps and please let me know if you need anything else!

[@CC-9333_Thorn]

First! Wooo I’m the best!!!

[@HistorywithCy]

Yup, you are! Hope you enjoy the video and thanks for watching!

[@beepboop204]

[@CC-9333_Thorn]

@@HistorywithCy oh yeah, I did! Haha thanks for the vid, I really enjoyed it, along with all your other works. Never knew about Elam before is started watching the channel.

[@HistorywithCy]

@@CC-9333_Thorn My pleasure. I hope to do another video on Elam by the end of this year. Stay tuned for that and thanks so much for watching!

[@ThursonJames]

Ahura Mazda looks a lot like Ashur.

[@JohnDavis_90]

Where is the Khazar part 2 history???

[@Danetto]

all these ancient countries, i wish u would use the ancient names they had for each other instead of 'greece' 'india' and 'egypt'

[@MaziarYousefi]

More ancient Persia, more, more, mooorrrreee

[@HistorywithCy]

For sure, stay tuned and thanks for watching!

[@marcoblauwe]

Background music too loud. Could not finish watching.

[@HistorywithCy]

Ah, sorry about that, I'll look into it. Audio has never been my strong point with these. Thanks for the feedback though, appreciate it!

[@Avilla9793]

@History with Cy I'm the opposite...I think the audio is great...I love hearing the background music!💞

[@marcoblauwe]

@@Avilla9793 I'm one of the few. It's so loud when using my ear buds.

[@Avilla9793]

@Johan de groot Aw I understand my ears too have become quite sensitive lately!💜

[@aryancivilisation9947]

Arya,Arya character.

[@susanpower9265]

Darius burial place/SEE DANIEL AT SUSA under nebuchadnezzar/belshazzar/HAGGAI CHAPTER I VERSE I IN SECOND YEAR OF DARIUS in 6th month/Zechariah 1/1 in second year of Darius in 8 th month with son Xerxes/AHASUERUS WHO MARRIED QUEEN ESTHER successor ArtaxerxesI of NEHEMIAH who was his cupbearer/EZRA 4/5 Darius and 4/12/22 Artaxerxes

[@kkKey-py7lk]

This is God Ashur god Assyrian

[@shipmate3577]

The Iranians are a lot better than the Saudis.

[@Powerhaus88]

Could you please make a series discrediting Graham Hancock and Randall Carlson? I'm so sick and tired of these charlatans preaching nonsense to the uneducated masses, it's scary how MILLIONS of people just eat this nonsense up on Joe Rogan's podcasts for one.