The Tomb of Cyrus the Great - a DBA camp project

As my next DBA-camp project I started with the construction of the Tomb of Cyrus the Great, King of Persia (Cyrus II 580/90 - 530 BC). 

Construction drawings of the Tomb of Cyrus the Great

Cyrus the Great

Cyrus established the Empire by shaking of Median dominance and conquering vast territories in the 6th century BC. He traditionally figures as a model king in historiography, allegedly freeing deported people after conquering Babylon, defining human rights for the first time in history, making friends with former enemies etc. 

Tomb of Cyrus the Great

True or not, Plutarch and Arrian report his tomb stood in a luscious garden complex in Pasargadai (Iran), the burial chamber decorated with rich tapestries and an eternal light left burning attended by a number of distinct individuals called "Magi". An epitaph stated: 

"O man, whoever you are
and wherever you come from,
for I know you will come,
I am Cyrus
who won the Persians their empire.
Do not begrudge me this bit of earth
that covers my bones."

The tomb was held in highest esteem by the following Achaemenid rulers but was looted soon after Alexander's destruction of Persepolis. Seeing himself as part of Persian imperial tradition, Alexander restored the compound and contents. The tomb still exists today as a significant part of  Iranian cultural heritage.

Work in progress: The pyramid shaped pedestal and the burial chamber are left to dry before assembly

The model I'm creating can be used as part of a DBA camp for several armies such as 

I/60 Early Achaemenid Persian 550-420BC (lists a & b represent Cyrus' army)

II/7 Later Achaimenid Persian 420-329BC

II/15 Imperial Alexander 328-320BC

II/19 Seleucid 320-83BC

II/37 Parthian ?(not sure, they seem to me to be a breach in tradition, discussion is open...)

II/69 Sassanid Persian 220AD-651AD
and later Iranian armies, since a number of Dynasties founded their claim to power on ancestral, spiritual, ideological or cultural relationship to Cyrus.

Now, in a next step I create a scale model for 15mm tabletop figurines from modelling clay and create a mold of silikon-gum. In the end I'd like to cast copies from stewalin. Later I might try poly-urethan resin.

Work in Progress: The scale model is complete. Six platforms are stacked upon each other, glued together, crevaces filled  and the chamber set on top.  Height 6.5cm

Work in progress: Molds made of silikon gum taken from the original model. Lower und upper pedestal, chamber and roof.

A stewalin copy of Cyrus' Tomb with some Achaemenid Persian Infantry and Cavalry (Xyston)

I made several copies of the Tomb of Cyrus. They are for sale here at the MENIX MINIATURES SHOP. If you prefer you can also directly write me an e-mail by menic666@yahoo.com. Bye for now and thanks for dropping by! Cheers  Menic