Heritage sites, Archaeological discoveries, History of Archaeology

Ecbatana

Location

modern Hamadan

Country

Iran

Year of Research

549 BC

Culture

The Greeks supposed it to be the capital of Media, and ascribed its foundation to Deioces, who is said to have spread over his palace in it with seven concentric walls of different colors.

So far no evidence of Median presence in Hagmatana hill has been attested. The only evidence observed in the area belongs to the Parthian era afterwards. There is no mention of Hagmatana or Ecbatana in Assyrian sources at all.

Some scholars have decided that the Sagbita or Sagbat frequently mentioned in Assyrian texts in fact has been an earlier form of the Ecbatana Hagmatana mentioned in later Greek and Achaemenid sources, as Indo-Iranian turned into in many Iranian languages. Sagbita mentioned by Assyrian sources was located in proximity of cities of Kishesim.

Under the Persian kings, Ecbatana, lies at the foot of Mount Alvand, became a summer place of residence. Later, it became the capital of the Parthian kings.

Ecbatana Hamedan is not to be jumble with Ecbatana/Hamath where Cambyses II is supposed to have died according to Herodotus.