Persia and Biblical Archaeology

Persia, the Restorer of Jerusalem 

The above painted relief is a close up of the two Persian attendants who served in the harem of the mighty king Xerxes.

Ancient Persia

The Bible mentions the kingdom of Persia, the mighty empire near the Persian Gulf that extended its reach from Egypt to India. The most famous Persian kings were Cyrus, Xerxes, and Darius. Their chief God was Mithra, the sun God. The Persians had a policy to allow conquered people to maintain their identity and their religious beliefs, as long as they submitted Persian authority and paid tribute to the Empire. The famous cities of the Persian Empire were Persepolis, Ecbatana, and Susa. The Persian Empire eventually fell under the powerful arms of Alexander the Great in 333 BC. The Bible mentions the famous decree of Cyrus who allowed the Jews to return home and rebuild their city and their temple. This event and many others have been confirmed by archaeologists, and the great cities of the Persian Empire have been excavated. The historical accuracy of the biblical texts remain true, and unscathed in the light of history.

Biblical Archaeology and Ancient Persia

Ancient Persian Warriors at Susa