Persian cross
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The Persian Cross is an archaeological site in Iran. It is a wall of rock, in which four similar ancient Persian cross tombs of Darius the Great and other kings are located. At some 13 km northwest of Persepolis are the Achaemenid royal tombs where four similar tombs are cut at a considerable height from the bottom of the mountain valley in cross shape. This place is called Naqsh-e Rustam (the Picture of Rostam), from the Sassanian carvings below the tombs, which were thought to represent the concept of life by a symbol of an ever green tree; hence, the celebration of longest winter night goes back to the ancient Persian Empire era, when Yalda (the longest night of the year) was celebrated with lavish festivities. The cross was used as a solar symbol by devotees of Mithra, and in the ancient Persian Empire era, when sun, water, land, weather were considered the four main elements and sun, SARV (green tree), cow, and horse as holy things. The Cross was a solar symbol, and was put on the grave tombs to keep the tomb safe.
Tombs of the Achaemenid Kings were carved in cross shapes of huge size inside the mountain near Persepolis. In a recent book in the Persian language the writer proved the real name of this historical place as chalipa or Persian cross, and Arabs then Arabicized it as salīb (Arabic alphabet صليب). It is considered to be the biggest cross in the world.
In old Armenian temples, some stylistic Persian influences are found in cross symbols, and the ancient Persian use of cross symbols is claimed by some to have influenced Christianity.
[edit] Source in Persian language
The book : Persian Gulf heritage older than history by M.Ajam [1]
