A powerful reminder that even conquerors don’t fully control history. The attempted destruction of Persepolis shows how culture and legacy can outlast violence, politics, and even regret. That this city still captivates us today says as much about its creators as it does about Alexander the Great himself—history isn’t just written by fire, but by what survives it.

A powerful reminder that even conquerors don’t fully control history. The attempted destruction of Persepolis shows how culture and legacy can outlast violence, politics, and even regret. That this city still captivates us today says as much about its creators as it does about Alexander the Great himself—history isn’t just written by fire, but by what survives it.