Take a Journey to Ancient Persia with Persepolis Reimagined

New Getty online experience explores the history, beauty, and grandeur of this powerful ancient city in southern Iran

Title capture of Persepolis Reimagined, with the logo on top of a scenic background of ancient Persia.

Screen capture from Persepolis Reimagined

Apr 25, 2022

Social Sharing

Body Content

Getty has launched Persepolis Reimagined, an immersive web experience that lets visitors explore the ceremonial capital of the ancient Persian Empire at its height.

Visitors can walk in the footsteps of ancient dignitaries through the most accurate recreation of Persepolis to date, and learn about the art, architecture, and customs of this iconic monument to imperial power.

The experience is available across desktop and mobile, and will soon be viewable in multiple languages, including Arabic, Farsi, French, Hindi, Spanish, Traditional and Simplified Chinese, and English.

Founded by Darius I around 518 BC, Persepolis was an embodiment of the Achaemenid imperial ideology, which is reflected in its art and architecture. It served as the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Persian kings and thrived for nearly 200 years. Though Alexander the Great looted and set fire to Persepolis in 330 BC, its ruins survive today and are a source of national pride for modern-day Iranians as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Visitors begin their tour at the Gate of All Nations, the main entrance into Persepolis. After traversing a massive flight of 111 steps, they reach a gateway flanked by two massive and brightly painted bull statues that served as symbolic guardians of the city.

Screenshot of a digitized entrance of a temple, with two ox statues guarding the entrance.

Screen capture from Persepolis Reimagined

After the grand entrance, visitors encounter the Apadana (a great reception hall), the Palace of Xerxes (a place for ceremonies and rituals), the Southeastern Palace (royal residences), and the Royal Treasury, ending their journey with the impressive Hall of 100 Columns.

Along the way, visitors can also click to learn more about the many art objects and rituals that characterized the city, including modes of proper tribute and gift giving, royal banquets, and Persian court dress. Additional present-day views of surviving architecture and artworks can also be viewed within the website.

The experience highlights that Achaemenid royal art incorporated craftsmanship and traditions from their vast and diverse empire, including Iranian architecture, Assyrian and Babylonian palace decorations, Egyptian design motifs, Greek and Indian craftsmanship, and more.

Screenshot of the Persepolis Reimagined website, showing artwork of royalty and a lion hunt on the walls of a palace, with large red pillars above.

Screen capture from Persepolis Reimagined

Persepolis Reimagined is the result of a collaboration between historians, creatives, and technologists, including Getty's own experts in the Museum and Digital departments, academic consultants from the University of California, Los Angeles, and creative and technical production from MediaMonks.

The immersive website is a part of the Getty Villa Museum exhibition, Persia: Ancient Iran and the Classical World, on view through August 8 at the Getty Villa in Malibu. The web experience presents select objects from the exhibition in the context of life at Persepolis, bridging surviving physical artifacts with this standalone digital recreation.

Back to Top

Resources for Journalists

Press Contacts

  1. Cole Calhoun

    Sr. Communications Lead

  2. Alexandria Sivak

    Acting Head of News & Media Relations

Press Materials