Ganjnameh Tourist Resort Complex, Achaemenid inscriptions in Hamadan, Iran.
Ganjnameh features two large stone inscriptions carved into the granite cliff of Mount Alvand. The panels are positioned side by side on the rock face, displaying text that commands attention from below.
In the 5th century BCE, King Darius I and King Xerxes I ordered these inscriptions carved into the mountain to record their rule. Each king left his own carved message documenting his line of succession and achievements.
The inscriptions use Old Persian, Neo-Babylonian, and Neo-Elamite—three languages reflecting the diversity of the empire. You can see how ancient rulers communicated their authority across different peoples through a single carved message.
The site sits about 12 kilometers southwest of Hamadan and is reachable by car. Parking areas and restaurants are located nearby, making it convenient for visitors to spend time here.
Local people named the site Ganj Nameh, meaning Treasure Book, because they believed the ancient inscriptions held secret codes leading to hidden riches. This legend reveals how the ancient carvings captured imaginations across centuries.
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