Prison of Solomon

Iran


Around 500m north of Cyrus’ Private Palace are the remains of the Prison of Solomon (Zendan-e Soleiman), variously thought to be a fire temple, tomb, sundial or store. On the hill beyond is the Tall-e Takht – a monumental 6000-sq-metre citadel used from Cyrus’ time until the late Sassanian period. Local historians believe the references to Solomon date from the Arab conquest, when the inhabitants of Pasargadae renamed the sites with Islamic names to prevent their destruction.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Iran attractions

1. Darius' Garden

0.52 MILES

The hard-to-discern remnants of Darius’ garden, which were recently added to the World Heritage list as part of a joint entry under Persian gardens,…

2. Cyrus' Private Palace

0.54 MILES

‘I am Cyrus, the Achaemenid King’ reads the cunieform inscription on a pillar of Cyrus' palace complex. The minimal ruins of what must have been a grand…

3. Pasargadae

1.2 MILES

Begun under Cyrus the Great in about 546 BC, Pasargadae developed into a city of some significance until it was superseded by Darius I’s magnificent…

4. Tomb of Cyrus

1.41 MILES

Proud and alone on the Morghab Plain, the Tomb of Cyrus is the first of the monuments encountered on entering the site of Pasargadae. The tomb consists of…

5. Naqsh-e Rostam

23.85 MILES

The spectacular rock tombs at Naqsh-e Rostam are a must-see. Hewn out of a cliff high above the ground, the four tombs are believed to be those of Darius…

6. Naqsh-e Rajab

24.34 MILES

On the old Shiraz–Esfahan road, these rock carvings could easily escape notice if it weren't for the sign and the entry kiosk. Four fine Sassanian bas…

7. Tomb of Artaxerxes II

25.61 MILES

On the hill above the Treasury are two rock-hewn tombs. The larger and more elaborate of the two belongs to Artaxerxes II, and clambering up to this…

8. Tomb of Artaxerxes III

25.68 MILES

Few visitors wander up to the smaller of the two tombs above the Treasury but it has its own charms, not least for a commanding view across the plain. It…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "iran/pasargadae/attractions/prison-of-solomon/a/poi-sig/1563887/1332599",
      "destination": "Iran",
      "continent": "Middle-East",
      "country": "Iran",
      "position": "superzone"
    }