23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
Tomb of Cyrus the Great

Beneath the vast Persian sky, the Tomb of Cyrus the Great stands in silence, not as a relic, but as a breath of eternity. The stone feels alive with history, yet peaceful, as if the spirit of the king still guards the land he once united. When I stood before it, I felt both small and infinite ,like time itself was pausing to remember. This photograph isn’t just about a monument; it’s about legacy, humility, and the timeless dignity of a dream that refused to die.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2025
Date Uploaded: 10.2025
Photo Location: Shiraz, Iran
Copyright: © Nairika Zarandaz bagheri