Iran contains the ancient city of Ecbatana, the former Median capital later used by Persian kings.
Ecbatana is generally identified with modern Hamadan in western Iran. Ancient Greek and Roman writers described it as the capital of the Median Empire, which flourished before the rise of the Achaemenid Persian Empire.
After Cyrus the Great founded the Achaemenid Empire in the sixth century BC, Ecbatana remained an important royal center. It was one of the empire’s principal capitals alongside Persepolis, Pasargadae and Susa, and its cooler mountain climate made it useful as a seasonal residence.
Archaeologists have debated how much of the ancient city survives beneath modern Hamadan. Classical accounts describe impressive palaces and concentric defenses, but many details come from later written sources rather than completely excavated structures. Ecbatana should not be confused with Persepolis, the ceremonial Achaemenid capital farther south.