Hamadan is one of the oldest cities in the world, the capital of the Median kingdom and the first capital of ancient Persia, one of the centers of civilization and the birthplace of numerous Persian dynasties.

The town lies at the foot of the mountain Alvand, at an altitude of 1,829 meters above sea level, 400 km to south-west of Tehran. There is a large commercial and industrial center of a fertile region, famous for its pleasant summer climate, plenty of interesting places and green gardens. 

According to Ferdowsi, the legendry Iranian poet, Hamedan (or ancient city of Ecbatana) was founded by the mythical King Jamshid.

It occupies a key site on the road, which even in antiquity linked Mesopotamia to the Iranian plateau. It was here that the first Median capital, Ecbatana was founded in 673 BC.

In 549 BC Cyrus the Great defeated the last Median king, Astyages, and Ecbatana became the summer residence of the Achaemenian Dynasty court, well away from the torrid heat of Susa. At the height of its glory, Hamedan was described as one of the most opulent cities. It had splendid palaces, buildings plated with precious metals, and seven layers of town walls, of which the inner two were coated in gold and silver.

The glorious riches naturally attracted hoards of invading armies and after Alexander's conquest (331 BC), Ecbatana lost much of its former importance, although it remained a staging post between the plateau and Mesopotamia.

In the 12th century, Hamedan briefly became the capital of the Seljuk Dynasty, but it was destroyed a century later during the Mongol invasion, and again by Tamerlane's armies in 1386. 

Because of its position, Hamedan was also severely hit by the wars between the Ottoman and Safavid empires. The successive sackings have spared few of Hamedan's ancient monuments; however, some valuable finds from the ancient town have come to light, and much remains unexplored.

During World War I, the city was the scene of heavy fighting between Russian and Turko-German forces. It was occupied by both armies, and finally by the British, before it was returned to control of the Iranian government at the end of the war in 1918.

                                                                                                (Source: Art Arena)