Standing in front of this ancient building made of stone from Pasargadae in IRAN is simply breathtaking. The building known as the Prison of Solomon (Zendan e Soleyman) is one of the most mysterious architectural structures of the Achaemenid era. When the local guide told us that this construction used to be either a sacred place or a temple, I was overwhelmed by the history that the walls of this place witnessed. Achaemenid ancient temples were mostly built with a square shape based on their architectural beliefs.
The most surprising part of it was the masonry that made me realize the incredible design behind every single ancient Persian building made of stone. It seems that those workers used to build structures out of stone blocks just like kids playing with legos! I decided to shoot it with 3 different exposure levels to capture the beauty and depth within those bricks properly. If I needed to describe what HDR means in this photo, I would say that the High Dynamic Range (HDR) imaging allows the viewer to see all of the amazing details in the rocks and also the amazing colors of the sky above this historical building. Here are both photos in high dynamic range and the original version of the image.
Pasargadae was the ancient city, the capital of the Achaemenid Empire, and the first capital of Cyrus the Great. In addition to this tower, there are also the Tomb of Cyrus, the Cyrus Gardens, and the palace complex in Pasargadae, which were built by Cyrus the Great. The building of the Prison of Solomon is made of limestone blocks, fitted together so well that it has resisted earthquakes and erosion for thousands of years.
Sometimes, when you see ancient buildings like this one, you cannot help wondering what legacy we can leave behind for future generations. Do we feel inspired to keep being a part of humanity’s history that lasted more than two millennia, or do we feel incredibly short and insignificant? Let me know what are your thoughts about visiting such an ancient place as Pasargadae.
Love U all ❤️
Morteza Yousefi