The Lost Scrolls of Persepolis
Chapter 1: ,
In the grand city of Persepolis, during the height of the Achaemenid Empire, a young scribe named Ardashir worked tirelessly in the royal archives. His father had served under King Darius the Great, and now it was his duty to preserve the records of the mighty Persian Empire.
One evening, as he carefully copied a decree onto a scroll, a hooded figure slipped into the chamber. It was Roxana, a trusted messenger of Queen Atossa. She held out a small, golden cylinder, engraved with ancient symbols.
“Ardashir,” she whispered, “this is a message from the Queen. It must never fall into the hands of the king’s enemies.”
The young scribe’s hands trembled as he took the cylinder. He knew that spies from Greece and rebellious satraps sought to weaken the empire. If this message contained secrets of the kingdom, its loss could lead to war.
Chapter 2: The Betrayal
As Ardashir hurried through the dimly lit corridors, he heard footsteps behind him. Tiridates, a Persian noble with questionable loyalty, stood in his path.
“Hand over the scroll, boy,” Tiridates sneered. “Or do you wish to meet Ahura Mazda sooner than expected?”
Ardashir’s mind raced. If the message fell into the wrong hands, the empire could crumble. He clutched the cylinder tightly and darted into the shadows, weaving through the labyrinthine palace.
His only hope was to reach the fire temple outside the city, where loyal priests could safeguard the message.
Chapter 3: The Chase to the Fire Temple
The night was silent, except for the distant call of desert wolves. Ardashir rode a black stallion through the rocky terrain. Behind him, Tiridates and his men pursued on horseback, their torches flickering in the dark.
As the temple’s golden dome appeared on the horizon, arrows whizzed past him. One struck his horse’s saddle, sending him tumbling onto the dust-laden ground.
With no time to waste, he sprinted toward the temple’s gates. The high priest, Mithrenes, saw him and quickly opened the doors. As soon as Ardashir stepped inside, the heavy gates slammed shut behind him, locking the enemy outside.
Chapter 4: The Revelation
Breathless, Ardashir handed the golden cylinder to Mithrenes. The priest unsealed it and read the message aloud:
"To the sacred fire keepers,"
"A war is coming. The Greeks are uniting under Alexander. Protect the archives. Save the knowledge of Persia."
Ardashir’s heart pounded. The Queen had foreseen the great war that would one day bring an end to their empire. If the scrolls of Persepolis were not hidden, all of Persian history could be erased.
With the guidance of the fire priests, Ardashir and his loyal scribes worked tirelessly, sealing the most valuable scrolls in underground chambers beneath the temple.
Chapter 5: The Fall of Persepolis
Years later, Alexander the Great stormed through Persia, and Persepolis burned. But the lost scrolls, hidden deep beneath the temple, remained untouched.
Centuries passed, dynasties rose and fell, and the story of Ardashir faded into legend. Yet, deep in the ruins of ancient Persia, the knowledge of the mighty Achaemenid Empire waited—buried, but not forgotten.
The End.
Moral of the Story:
History is fragile, but knowledge is eternal. No matter how many times an empire falls, its wisdom survives through the ones who preserve it.
.jfif)
