No'rouz, Nowruz, Noe-Rooz, Nawroz, Norooz, Noruz, Novruz, Noh Ruz, Nauroz, Nav-roze, Navroz, Naw-Rúz, Nevruz or Nowrouz from Âryâ (Old Persian) nava r∂zaηh, new day, was an ancient spring celebration which marked the arrival of the first day of spring after a long winter and the beginning of the new year celebrated among the tribes of Aryan (Âryâ: Noble) nomads.
King Darius built Persepolis, the splendid ceremonial Achaemenid palaces for the annual spring celebration of the No'rouz festival.
Persepolis in spring
The Great Kings receieved Persian royals, nobles, satraps, and subjects from all corners of the vast empire who brought magnificent tributes for the Great Kings during the festival of No'rouz and pledged their loyalty to them.
It is said that the images of the lion and the bull on the stairways of the Apadana in Persepolis symbolized No'rouz, where lion was a symbol for the sun and strength, and the bull was a symbol for the earth and abundance. Earth and Sun were reunited in bountiful spring after a long winter.
Bull & the Lion
No'rouz Procession @ Persepolis
Lion & the Bull
While not much more is known about how Achaemenids celebrated No'rouz, ample records from the Sasanian period have been preserved where the high Zoroaster priest would recite the following on behalf of all the emperor's well-wishers:
"... Live long with the spirit of glory. Drink from the chalice of Jamshid for wisdom. Stay green and young always as the myrtle. May you reign always straight as an arrow. May your blade stay keen against our foes. May your steed be strong and fast upon the enemy. May your treasury always be filled with gold and gems. May your pen serve the writ of justice..."
