TEHRAN, Iran — Iranians have long been proud of their ancient history and culture, and they always speak of the Achaemenid Empire (circa 550-330 B.C.) with pride. Since the kings of this empire, and particularly Cyrus the Great and Darius the Great, ruled with benevolence and tolerance, they enjoy a particular affection among Iranians. Darius, in his famous prayer, wished for the empire to be protected from enemy armies, drought and lies. Though some historians doubt the authenticity of the prayer, its narrative has nonetheless been accepted by most Iranians.

Former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad correctly picked up on this sentiment among Iranians and gradually moved away from his radically conservative views toward more nationalistic tendencies. In an unprecedented statement, originating from his close friend and adviser Esfandiar Rahim Mashaei, he even called Cyrus’ actions a continuation of the conduct of divine prophets. The statement was strongly criticized by fellow conservatives and those who had previously supported him. Ahmadinejad’s September 2010 unveiling of the exhibition of the famed Cyrus Cylinder, which was on a four-month loan to the National Museum of Iran — the first time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution — was met with criticism, too. Mashaei was notably also present at the opening ceremony. However, both Ahmadinejad and Mashaei faced a public that did not trust the sincerity of their supposed respect for Cyrus and Iran’s ancient legacy. Indeed, many Iranians interpreted these measures as political maneuvering, leaving Ahmadinejad and Mashaei with little success in their endeavor.

Nonetheless, in a new development, ordinary Iranians have in recent years flocked in an unprecedented manner to the Tomb of Cyrus in Pasargadae on Oct. 29, which has become known as the International Day of Cyrus the Great. Based on some historical records, it is the date when the Achaemenid king entered Babylon. Pasargadae is located to the north of Persepolis in the southern province of Fars. Apart from the Tomb of Cyrus, its main attractions include the Audience Hall, the Gate Palace and the Toll-i Takht fortification.

Due to the overlap of leap years in the Iranian and Gregorian calendars, this year’s gathering was moved back one day, to Oct. 28. The number of people who showed up at Pasargadae was surprising. The event fell on a Friday, which is a weekend in Iran, and reportedly saw a traffic jam in a 30- to 40-kilometer (19- to 25-mile) radius on the roads leading to the tomb. Those who had witnessed similar get-togethers say they had never seen such a large gathering. The locals, including those dwelling in the nearby Pasargadae village, were also quite amazed by the sheer number of visitors. Reports say people started gathering in the area, especially around the Tomb of Cyrus, from as early as the evening before and that there was heavy traffic on roads to the site. As such, the main entrance to Pasargadae was closed the night before, with no more cars allowed to enter. On Oct. 28, social media users shared widely circulated videos and pictures of the gathering of Cyrus devotees, showing some of them shouting slogans praising the Achaemenid king.