ABSTRACT
This chapter begins by highlighting the shortage of water in Iran as a background to dam construction. Then, focusing on the particular case of Sivand Dam, the performance of activists campaigning against the dam, on grounds that it would harm Pasargadae, and responses on the part of government and sectors of public in support of the dam will be outlined and analysed. In reality, Sivand Dam became famous as it was built only 17 kilometres away from the tomb of Cyrus the Great, a most significant ancient King and the founder of the Achaemenid dynasty and his first established capital Pasargadae. According to the subpage of Sivand Dam available on the website of Fars Regional Water Authority the government representative and commissioner of the dam the preliminary studies of the dam were undertaken in 1970 by the American firm Justin & Courtney.
