The Secure Architecture of Immortality

The story begins in 1933, amidst the ancient ruins of Persepolis, one of the most magnificent and historically crucial sites of the Achaemenid Persian Empire. This setting provided the backdrop for the work of Hans-Wichart von Busse, a German photographer whose tenure there, spanning into 1934, was instrumental in documenting the early phases of a major archaeological undertaking. As the official photographer for the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago’s expedition, his role transcended mere documentation; he was tasked with visually capturing a monumental moment in both archaeological history and the continuous unfolding narrative of the ancient Persian capital.