Pasargadae was the Achaemenid royal capital established by Cyrus the Great in modern Fars Province.
The city developed in the Persian homeland after Cyrus defeated the Median king Astyages and founded the Achaemenid Empire. Its monuments include palaces, gardens, a fortified terrace, and the distinctive tomb traditionally identified as Cyrus’s tomb. The site’s architecture combines Iranian traditions with influences from across the new empire.
Pasargadae was not the only royal center used by the Achaemenid kings. Susa, Babylon, Ecbatana, and Persepolis also served important administrative or ceremonial roles. Pasargadae, however, is especially associated with Cyrus and the dynasty’s early imperial identity.
The ruins lie near modern Marvdasht in southwestern Iran. UNESCO inscribed Pasargadae as a World Heritage Site in 2004, recognizing its importance in the development of Achaemenid monumental architecture.