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Ancient Ecbatana [Biblical Achmetha] (Modern Hamadan)

Ecbatana is now modern Hamadan and it was known in scriptural records as Achmetha. It was the early capital of the Medes and later the summer capital of Cyrus the Great of Persia. Ancient writers say the city had seven walls, each of a different color, and that the inner wall was covered with gold. Semiramis, an Assyrian queen, built a gorgeous palace here in 800 BC. In 546 BC Cyrus conquered Lydia and brought Croesus and his wealth to Ecbatana. The modern city of Hamadan is built over the mound of ancient Ecbatana, making it all but impossible to excavate the ruins of this fabulously wealthy capital city ...

The History of the Ancient Near East Electronic Compendium