Tomb of Cyrus the Great

The Tomb of Cyrus the Great stands within the Pasargadae archaeological site in Fars province, Iran, and is the traditional burial monument of Cyrus II (Cyrus the Great). The surviving structure is a modest stone building with a gabled chamber set on a stepped rectangular plinth, dating to the mid‑6th century BCE.

The monument’s simple, well-proportioned form and its survival through millennia make it an important example of early Achaemenid funerary architecture. It has been the focus of conservation and scholarly interest because of its direct association with the founder of the Achaemenid Empire.

Constructed during the Achaemenid period, the tomb remained a recognised landmark through later Persian and Islamic periods and today stands within the wider archaeological remains of Pasargadae, which include palaces, gardens and administrative structures.

The tomb is located within the Pasargadae site in Fars province and is visited as part of that larger archaeological complex.

• UNESCO site: Achaemenid royal tomb in the Pasargadae archaeological complex and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Visit at sunrise or late afternoon when heat is lower and the monument's simple lines photograph best under warm light.
• Enter via the Pasargadae archaeological-park main access (this site is managed as a single complex) and allow time to walk between the tomb and surrounding palace and garden remains.
• Combine the tomb visit with the other Pasargadae features nearby (palace terraces and the site museum) to understand the broader Achaemenid capital rather than viewing the tomb in isolation.