Iran's dam will sink tomb of Cyrus the Great

Iran, Aug. 31 – Iran is building a dam which once completed will destroy the 2,500-year-old historic ruins of tomb of the first Achaemenian king of ancient Persia.

The Sayvand Dam being constructed in the central Fars province will inevitably cause river waters to submerge Persepolis, the capital of ancient Persia, and Pasargard, the site of the mausoleum of the first Persian conqueror Cyrus the Great.

The dam which is near completion is some eight kilometres from Pasargard and 50 kilometres from Persepolis, according to an official in Iran’s Cultural Heritage Organisation.

The dam is to start operation in early 2006.

Water built up from the dam would destroy the historic sites which contain magnificent artefacts about ancient Iran’s heritage and have buried underground much of Persian civilisations’ hidden secrets.

Cyrus the Great, believed to have been the first king to have introduced a universal declaration of human rights, lived from 580-529 BC

According to a report by Cultural Heritage News agency, the dispute between officials of the Power Ministry and those of Iran–s Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization can only be resolved through the intervention of top-ranking authorities.

The head of the Pasargad archeological complex, Babak Kian stated that due to the construction of Sivand Dam eight kilometers from Bolaghi Pass, most of the historical monuments are threatened with submersion.
The 18-kilometer Bolaghi Pass is located 84 kilometers from Pasargad site and is considered part of it. According to many experts, the pass is the most important archeological route of the country and served as a link between Pasargad and Persepolis.

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