That the destruction of Persepolis was premeditated and not an act of impulse is proven by archaeological evidence. The palace was systematically looted over some period of time and there remain statues purposely decapitated in the buried ruins. Yet the destruction seems to be limited to the palace of Xerxes.That would indicate to me a rather theatrical act of retribution not against Persia, but rather against Xerxes. Other buildings have been excavated which are undamaged by fire and Alexander returned to Persepolis some four years later. It seems unlikely that he would camp out in the ruins when the luxuries of Pasargadae were available only 50 miles away. I have the suspicion that this coup de theatre has been blown out of proportion over the years and should be re examined in the light of existing evidence.

There is currently a great deal of archaeological work being done in cooperation with the government of Iran. News is coming in regularly over the archaeology news services. Even United States scientists are being allowed back into Persepolis to continue the work begun there. Surprisingly, Iran it would seem, has a very active archaeology program just now and we might hope for new evidence which would shed more light upon this subject.

It would seem that it was the intention of Alexander to pay back the Achaemenids for the Persian wars and mark Paid to the accounts with this act of Greek fire for Persian fire.