The 2,500-year celebration of the Persian Empire, officially known as the 2,500th Year of the Foundation of the Imperial State of Iran, was a national event in Iran that consisted of an elaborate set of grand festivities and took place from 12–16 October 1971 to celebrate the founding of the ancient Achaemenid Persian Empire by Cyrus the Great.[1][2] The intent of the celebration was to highlight Iran's ancient civilization and history as well as to showcase its contemporary advances under Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran.[3] The celebrations highlighted Iran's Aryan roots and pre-Islamic while promoting Cyrus the Great as a national hero.[4]