The 2.500th Anniversary Of The First Persian Empire

Iran's common citizens did not have a fantastic time at the start of the 1970s. Since the vast majority of the income created by the 1970s oil boom flowed directly to the Shah, Mohammad Reza Shah, it did very little to ease the everyday difficulties of the populace. With the growth of inflation and poverty came the beginnings of the revolution that would eventually remove him from power in 1979.

Nonetheless, the Shah still managed to plan what was maybe the most spectacular party ever held. It was planned in 1971 to commemorate the 2,500th anniversary of the first Persian empire and took place in a sizable tent city in the desert that was constructed especially for it. The taxpayers paid a total of $165 million for it, although the majority of Iranians weren't on the guest list. In actuality, only heads of state, celebrities, sheikhs, and other wealthy merchants favored by the Shah were permitted within miles of the city.

Each of the 50 tents featured its own marble-tiled bathroom and premium Persian carpets as decor, and the entire thing was created by Maison Jansen, one of France's most prestigious interior design firms. The menu featured more than eighteen tons of food flown in from all over the world, and the complete dining arrangement was coordinated by Maxim's in Paris, which was at the time regarded as one of the best restaurants in the world.