Persepolis and Ancient Iran

Persepolis and Ancient Iran preserves an extraordinary photographic record of the Oriental Institute’s archaeological expeditions in Iran during the 1930s. Originally published in 1976 as a text-and-microfiche set, the volume catalogs 999 photographs documenting the monumental architecture, reliefs, inscriptions, and discoveries of Persepolis, as well as investigations at the prehistoric site of Tall-i-Bakun, the city mound of Istakhr, and other sites across the region.

With an introduction by ISAC photographer Ursula Schneider, the publication also records Erich Schmidt’s pioneering aerial surveys of Iran between 1935 and 1937. These flights offered archaeologists a new perspective on ancient landscapes, helping document known sites, identify previously unexplored remains, and map archaeological features across vast areas. Together, the photographs provide an invaluable visual archive of Persepolis and its surroundings while capturing an important chapter in the development of archaeological fieldwork and aerial photography.