Ecbatana: The Summer Capital of the Persian Kings

Ecbatana was one of the four great capitals of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, yet today it remains the least understood. Originally founded as the capital of the Median Kingdom, it was conquered by Cyrus the Great around 550 BC, and later became the summer capital of the Persian kings. In this video, we'll explore the archaeology, history, and reconstruction of ancient Ecbatana (modern Hamedan, Iran), examining its strategic location in the Zagros Mountains, the seasonal migrations of the Achaemenid royal court, Herodotus' famous account of the city's fortifications, what archaeological evidence there is of this mysterious Persian capital, and how it compares with the other ancient Persian capitals. Written, Edited, and Narrated by Jordan Amit https://jordanamit.com Reconstructions by Balage Balogh https://archaeologyillustrated.com #Ecbatana #PersianEmpire #Achaemenid #AncientHistory #Archaeology #AlexanderTheGreat #CyrusTheGreat #DariusIII #Herodotus #Hamedan #Iran #Persepolis #Susa #Pasargadae #History