The Secrets of Engineering and the Splendor of the Achaemenid Empire | How Persepolis Survived 2,500 Years

One of the least visible yet most sophisticated features of Persepolis is its water management system. Engineers carved channels and conduits into the very bedrock, directing fresh water from distant springs into the complex while simultaneously ensuring that rainwater drained efficiently through hidden pipes and shafts. This dual-purpose system, preventing both thirst and flood, testifies to a mastery of hydraulics that has kept portions of the system functional even today.