Persepolis: A Stage for Civilization
Hosting the concert at Persepolis was a deliberate and symbolic decision.
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Built in the 6th century BCE under Darius the Great, Persepolis was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire and a global symbol of ancient Iranian civilization.
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Its monumental palaces, reliefs, and stairways embody ideals of cultural diversity, as the carvings famously depict delegations from across the empire bringing gifts to the Persian king.
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Today, Persepolis is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a testament to the universal values of tolerance, dialogue, and cooperation among nations.
By allowing the APO to perform there, Iran highlighted the continuity of cultural hospitality: just as Persepolis once welcomed ambassadors from across the empire, it now welcomed musicians and audiences from different backgrounds under the shared language of music.
