TEHRAN—Work has begun to restore a Jewish synagogue located near Hamedan’s Ecbatana, which was once the capital of Medes and later the summer residence for Achaemenid kings.

The project is set to restore both interior and exterior surfaces of the historical synagogue, a local official said on Tuesday.

The 19th-century place of worship dates from the Qajar era and it was added to the national list for cultural heritage in 2011, the official added.

Situated in west-central Iran, Ecbatana — aka Hegmataneh — was first excavated in 1913 by the French Assyriologist Charles Fossey. The ensemble is made up of a priceless archeological site and a singular collection of historical ruins.

AFM