The remains of columns at Persepolis, Iran. Persepolis was one of the Persian empire’s cities and was burned to the ground by the army of Alexander the Great in 330 B.C. A tour guide said Persepolis is believed to have been used as a ceremonial site about one month out of each year, around the Persian new year (Navroz) in the spring. People would come from all over Persia to celebrate the holiday here.