Today’s Hamedan stands where once in the 7th and early 6th centuries BC, stood the Median capital, Hagmataneh. The city is built on the foot of Alvand Mountain and has been the center of civilization, culture, and science for many centuries. Cyrus the Great grew up there and it was home to Avicenna, the famous Iranian philosopher, and scientist. The Stone Lion was built by Alexander’s craftsmen (probably in commemoration of one of his generals) as well and the shrine of Esther-the queen or Susa and wife of Xerxes and her uncle Mordecai is among the interesting places to visit while in Hamedan. Other places of interest in Hamedan include Ganj Nameh, the oldest Achaemenian rock carving in the region, and Ali Sadr Cave, the only water cave in Iran.