Archaeologists working at the Persepolis world heritage site in Iran have unearthed a series of specialized stone presses featuring malachite-inlaid basins. These artifacts, dating back to the Achaemenid Empire around 500 BCE, show significant chemical residue of high-grade saffron and rose oil, suggesting a large-scale ritual production of aromatic oils used during the ancient Mehergan festival.
The Mehergan festival, traditionally celebrated during the autumn equinox to honor the deity Mithra, is one of the oldest recorded Persian celebrations. This discovery provides the first physical evidence of the specific aromatic logistics involved in the imperial-scale ceremonies, where the king was said to wear a crown representing the sun and distribute scented oils to the populace. The location of the presses near the Treasury suggests that these preparations were a state-managed affair of high cultural priority.