The Hall of Hundred Columns, also known as the Throne Hall, is one of the most significant buildings in the Persepolis complex at Takht-e Jamshid. Its construction is attributed to the reign of Xerxes I and was completed during the time of Artaxerxes I, around 470 to 450 BCE. The hall derives its name from the ten rows of ten columns each, totaling one hundred columns that once supported its enormous wooden roof.
The hall's dimensions are approximately 70 by 70 meters, making it the largest building at Persepolis by covered area. The available information about this building comes primarily from excavation reports and archaeological studies. Researchers including Michael Roaf, Erich Friedrich Schmidt, and Giuseppe Zander have contributed significantly to our understanding of this structure.
History and Reasons for Construction
The Hundred Columns Hall is situated in the eastern half of the Persepolis terrace, adjacent to the Treasury. It served primarily as a reception and audience hall. Its floor level sits approximately one meter below the surrounding grade, and its main entrance was through a monumental northern portico. The hall was built when the Achaemenid Empire had reached its zenith, and the sheer scale of the building reflects the grandeur and administrative requirements of that era.
The columns, each approximately 11.77 meters tall with a lower diameter of 0.96 meters and a spacing of 4.80 meters between column centers, represent a remarkable engineering achievement. The column capitals featured elaborate bull protomes that supported the wooden ceiling beams. The proportional system employed in the design reveals a sophisticated understanding of geometry and structural principles.
Geometric Characteristics
The geometric analysis of the Hundred Columns Hall reveals that the Achaemenid architects employed a rigorous proportional system. The relationship between column dimensions, spacing, and overall hall proportions suggests a unified design philosophy governing both plan and elevation. The north facade composition, with its elaborate relief sculptures depicting the king in audience and battle scenes, demonstrates how structural and decorative elements were integrated into a coherent architectural language.
The grid pattern of columns in plan creates a modular organization that facilitated both construction and spatial experience. The intercolumniation maintains consistent proportional relationships throughout the hall. This systematic approach to proportion and geometry connects the Hundred Columns Hall to a broader tradition of architectural design in the ancient Near East, while also displaying innovations unique to Achaemenid practice.
Stone Characteristics
The building was constructed primarily from local limestone, and recent studies of the stone surface reveal tool marks and jointing techniques that provide valuable information about Achaemenid construction methods. The analysis of stone weathering patterns also helps in understanding the original surface treatments and any polychromatic decoration that may have once adorned the hall.
References
- Roaf, Michael. Persepolitan Metrology, in: Iran, V. 16, 1978, pages 67-78
- Roaf, Michael. Sculptures and sculptors at persepolis, Iran, Volume XXI, The British Institute of Persian Studies, London, 1983
- Schmidt, E. F., Persepolis, University of Chicago, Oriental Institute publication, 1957
- Zander, Giuseppe. Travaux de Restauration de Monuments Historiques en Iran, IsMEO, Rome, 1968