Persepolis: Persian pride
Iranian tourists at the Darius hotel on the Persian Gulf Island of Kish. The Darius hotel is one of the fanciests hotels in the country and completly build inspired by Iran's pre-islamic culture. Room prices are high according to Iranian standards, but tourists come from all over Iran to revel in t his Las Vegas like desert mirage.
The whole hotel is lined with statues like the ones found in Persepolis, chairs, tables and paintings all have a similar theme. The owner, an Iranian-German businessman, has invested over a 100 million dollars in the project, so he says. The name ' darius' comes from the ancient Persian king who build Persepolis.
The archeological site of Persepolis, or ' Takht-e Jamshid' near the central town of Shiraz, lies at the centre of what binds all Iranians.
Between the giant columns that once upheld the palace of King Darius the great, who led Iran while it was a world power, Iranians teach their children what their parents have taught them: love, respect and admiration for ancient Persia.
Even thought Islam has succeeded Zoroastrianism as the dominant religion centuries ago, and Iran's 2500 year dynasty of kings was abruptly ended by the 1979 revolution, modern day Iranians take great pride in their rich history.
