Rural Lives Beneath the Shadows of Persepolis

The rural women of Persepolis, though often overlooked in historical narratives, have played a profound role in sustaining cultural continuity and supporting the fabric of agrarian life in the region surrounding the ancient Achaemenid capital. While Persepolis itself was a ceremonial city, the rural landscapes that framed its periphery were home to generations of women who lived in close harmony with nature, family, and tradition.